Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Auto Close Idle(ACI):

  1. Do I need to do anything special to make ACI work in a Terminal Server or under Citrix?
  2. I was just testing ACI with Notepad, but ACI doesn't close it.
  3. I was trying ACI with Navision, but ACI doesn't seem to see it. Is there a specific setting that I need to change?
  4. Do I need to change any shortcuts or modify the program configuration in anyway?
  5. Can I manage the users from any workstation?
  6. Do I have to install ACI Server on the same computer as the database server?
  7. What TCP/IP port does ACI use?
  8. Does it work over the Internet or behind a firewall?
  9. What happens when the user is working on another program while keeping the application in question in the background?
  10. When the user moves the mouse over the application, will it be considered active?
  11. Will it use a database session?
  12. Can ACI monitor multiple programs at the same time?
  13. Does ACI work with Navision native database? Navision with MS SQL?
  14. What Navision versions does it support?
  15. Will it corrupt my database?
  16. Will it close Navision in all cases?
  17. Some users don't want their application closed. Is this possible?
  18. Does ACI Client run standalone?
  19. Does ACI support multiple languages?
  20. How ACI is licensed?
  21. There is a feature I want to be implemented in ACI. Can you do it?
  1. Do I need to do anything special to make ACI work in a Terminal Server or under Citrix?
    No, just install ACI Client on the terminal server, and it will auto start the next time a user logs on, whether in full desktop mode, or by running an initial application, or by clicking on a published application shortcut.

    However, some versions of Citrix do not notify ACI when a new single published application session is started. In this case, you will find that ACIClient.exe does not start when the single published application session is started, which you can verify by using Task Manager, and view the processes for all users. You should see one ACIClient.exe process for each user. In this case, you need to edit the published application shortcut and prefix it with the following:

    "C:\Program Files (x86)\Auto Close Idle Client\ACIClient.exe" /R

    If the operating system is 32-Bit, use the following instead:

    "C:\Program Files\Auto Close Idle Client\ACIClient.exe" /R

    This will start ACI Client as the target application, and ACI Client would start the target application that you specify after /R command line option. Make sure that there is a space after "/R" above. The same applies if you are using ACI with an initial application under terminal services without Citrix. See "Terminal Services in Single Application Mode" under "Installing ACI Client" in ACI HelpContents for details.

    If you can't edit the path to the file, then you need to publish ACI Client itself, then add /R command line option as above, change the title and icon for the shortcut so it appears the same as the target application.
     
  2. I was just testing ACI with Notepad, but ACI doesn't close it.
    In Vista and after, Notepad is using a custom dialog that is not a Standard Windows Dialog. Please try ACI on another application, such as the one you plan to use ACI with.
     
  3. I was trying ACI with Navision, but ACI doesn't seem to see it. Is there a specific setting that I need to change?
    This happens when the Application Title or executable file name is not set up correctly. It's case sensitive, so use "Navision" or "NAV" instead of "navision". Also, using the word "Navision" only, for example, could unintentionally monitor a program like "Navision User Guide.pdf - Acrobat Reader". It's best to use EXE Path wildcard option, and set the EXE to monitor to "\fin*.exe". This would match both fin.exe and finsql.exe.

    After setting the title or EXE path, you can look in the App Title column in ACI Manager to see which application ACI Clients are actually monitoring, by default this is updated every 10 seconds.
     
  4. Do I need to change any shortcuts or modify the monitored program configuration in anyway?
    No.
     
  5. Can I manage the users from any workstation?
    Yes, just go to any computer that you installed ACI Client on, and right click the tray icon and select "Enter Admin Mode". The default password is "admin", all lower case. You can also run ACI Manager in standalone mode by changing ACI Client shortcut, and adding "/mo" command line option, which stands for Manager Only mode.
     

  6. Do I have to install ACI Server on the same computer as the database server?
    No. You can install ACI Server on any computer that you like; however, choose a computer that you normally leave on 24/7, as ACI Clients will not monitor the target software unless they are connected to ACI Server to obtain their configuration information.
     
  7. What TCP/IP port does ACI use?
    It uses TCP/IP port 9400 by default, which can be changed to any port by editing an INI file, or by specifying "/p:" command line option to the installer/accumulative updater. See the Help file for more details...
     
  8. Does it work over the Internet or behind a firewall?
    Yes. ACI Client can automatically detect the server if it's on the same LAN using broadcast packets. When ACI Client is behind a router, you can specify the IP Address and port number to use in command line options to the installer/accumulative updater, or by editing an INI file. See "Setting up ACI Client to work from behind a router" under "Installing ACI Client" in ACI HelpContents for details.
     
  9. What happens when the user is working on another program while keeping the application in question in the background?
    Any application other than the monitored application is ignored. If the idle time limit is enabled for the user and is reached, ACI will close the application, in most cases without bringing the application to the foreground.
     
  10. When the user moves the mouse over the application, will it be considered active?
    No, moving the mouse over the application is ignored. Only keyboard and mouse activity on the target application are considered when determining the idle time.
     
  11. Will it use a database session?
    No. ACI does not connect to your database server in anyway.
     
  12. Can ACI monitor multiple programs at the same time?
    Yes, however, monitoring additional applications may require additional ACI licenses. Some applications consist of a main process that start other processes or executables that does some aspect of the main applications. These are considered to be part of the same application. If these run independently from each other, then additional ACI licenses maybe required. Please contact us for more details if you would like to use ACI with additional applications.
     
  13. Does ACI work with Navision native database? Navision with MS SQL?
    Yes. It works with both.
     
  14. What Navision versions does it support?
    It supports all versions, this includes Navision Financials, Navision Attain, and Dynamics-NAV.
     
  15. Will it corrupt my database?
    No. ACI will simulate closing the application as any user does, by clicking on the close button on the upper right corner of the application's main window. It will never terminate the task which usually leads to data loss or corruption. In the case of Navision, it will click Cancel at every pop window until the application is closed.
     
  16. Will it close Navision in all cases?
    No. It will not close Navision when there is a popup a window as a result of the C/Side command CONFIRM(). This command shows a message to the user and 2 buttons: Yes or No, without cancel. Examples include "Delete Customer?", "Do you want to update the sales lines?". It's a bad idea for ACI to answer all Yes or all No to these dialogs. If any of these dialogs appear, you can respond to them by using the "Remote Control" function. This allows you to see the user's screen and use your keyboard and mouse to interact with the application remotely. However, in most cases the user usually responds to these dialogs quickly, so the application is left in closable conditions.
     
  17. Some users don't want their application closed. Is this possible?
    Yes. You can set both "Auto Close" and "Allow Close by Others" to "No" to certain users. In this way ACI acts like in a "Read only" mode. You can see how long these users have been idle, but they will not be closed automatically. You can still close the application used by these users by right clicking on a user and select "Close this App".
     
  18. Does ACI Client run standalone?
    Because ACI was designed to be centrally managed, the client cannot run in standalone mode.
     
  19. Does ACI support multiple languages?
    Not at this time. However, it works with non-English versions of Navision. The user interface is currently available in English only. We are planning on translating the client side to other languages, however, the server side or ACI Manager will remain in English only.
     
  20. How ACI is licensed?
    ACI license allows unlimited number of clients and one server installation(ACI Server copy) plus unlimited free updates. Click here for details.
     
  21. There is a feature I want to be implemented in ACI. Can you do it?
    Please feel free to contact us, and use "Suggest a feature". We review all requests and based on your feedback we prioritize these requests.

Note: Navision® is a registered trademark of Navision A/S; which was acquired by Microsoft in 2002. We are not affiliated with Navision A/S or Microsoft in anyway.

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