Help - Using Action Enforcer Version 2.0

If you're using the Action Enforcer 3.0 desktop application, click here to view the help page for that version.

Below you'll find a series of short videos, as well as some additional information to help you get up-and-running with Action Enforcer.

User's Guide

Online Version Notes: The online version of Action Enforcer differs slightly from the desktop version in these ways:

  • The desktop version's background images can be changed by specifying either a URL or a location on your local computer. The online version can only specify a URL for a background image, not a location on your computer.
  • For the online version, when a timer completes, the interface will reflect the completion, and an alarm will sound, but a taskbar balloon indicator won't appear, as it would in the desktop version.
  • For the online version, reports cannot be printed directly. You will need to copy and paste the data to another application, such as Notepad, for printing from there.
  • For the online version, action lists cannot be imported and saved quite the same way as with the desktop version, but instead you Load (from a .txt file from a URL), and Copy (the copied data will go to the clipboard, which you should paste into an application such as Notepad, and then save it as a .txt file).
  • Custom settings are unique to each computer in the online version. This means that if you access the online application from your computer using Internet Explorer, and adjust any settings, those same settings will be available if you access the application from Firefox on the same computer. However the settings will not be the same if you access the application from a different computer. This is actually the same way the desktop application works, but it's worth keeping in mind.

Videos:

FAQs:

Other Resources:

Be sure to click the full-screen button on each video for the best viewing experience!

Quickstart

Creating And Working With Actions/Action Lists

Creating And Working With Timers/Timer Groups

FAQs

  • Q: Why does text appear twice (ttwwiiccee) when entering a new action?

    A: This is due to a strange conflict between Action Enforcer and a program called ActiveWords. A workaround is to either disable ActiveWords when using The Action Machine, or start Acton Enforcer first, prior to starting ActiveWords.
  • Q: I'm not seeing the entire interface, what's wrong?

    A: This is usually due to your screen resolution settings. Action Enforcer requires a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768. Check to make sure yours is set to at least this setting.
  • Q: I cleaned up files on computer recently, and my saved data has disappeared. How can I get it back?

    A: Some Windows 'cleaner' utilities will remove the Action Enforcer data file (named ActionMachine.sol) when they 'sweep' your computer clean.

    To restore this file to its original location or to set your sweeper utility from removing it in the first place, you need to know its location on your computer, which is:

    Main Drive > Documents and Settings > [Your User Name] > Application Data > Macromedia > Flash Player > #SharedObjects > [Random Folder Name] > localhost > ActionMachinePL.sol
    (this path may vary slightly in different Windows operating systems environments)

    Or, for Windows Vista and Windows 7:
    Main Drive > Users > [Your User Name] > AppData > Roaming > Macromedia > Flash Player > #SharedObjects > [Random Folder Name] > localhost > ActionMachinePL.sol

    Specifically, the Action Enforcer data file is something CCleaner considers a Flash cookie. I believe it has an option to prevent the deletion of these (Flash cookies) in the cleanup process.

    If you set it to keep Flash cookies, you shouldn't have this issue again.

    Note: If you're running the online version of Action Enforcer, you'll find the data file in a slightly different location. Instead of the URL ending in > localhost > ActionMachinePL.sol it will end in > www.actionenforcer.com > ActionMachinePL.sol (in other words, replace localhost with www.actionenforcer.com).
  • Q: How can I minimize the system resources used by Action Enforcer?

    A: For best results, minimize Action Enforcer to the System Tray when you're not interacting or viewing it.