AB Tutor Control Release History

Version 6.6.3 as of Jan 2011

Bug Fixes:

• Fixed a bug with using compression during file transfers.
• Fixed bug with sending very long command line parameters with the 'Launch' command. The command would launch OK, but the client program would close and re-start.
• Fixed a problem when fetching large amounts of Log File data from many machines at once. Previously, AB Tutor would crash due to the large amount of data it was handling.
• Added support to handle virtual desktops on XP machines

Version 6.6.2 as of Nov 2010

Bug Fixes:

• Fixed a bug when using the Log File Viewer and no log files are available to fetch. The message box 'Fetching, please wait' would not disappear. A work around for older versions is to simply press the ESC key.
• Fixed problems with Web Site blocking/logging policies not working if other network filtering software is also installed. (e.g. Sophos Web Inteligence etc.)

Version 6.6.1 as of Nov 2010

Bug Fixes:

• Fixed a problem when controlling Windows 7 machines using the Mirror Driver and logging off/on. The remote computers screen would stay black or dark.
• Fixed a problem with the remote cursor not being shown when using the new 'Mirror Driver back buffer' feature.
• Fixed a bug when using Usernames in groups and users logging on to Windows 7 machines.

Version 6.6 as of Nov 2010

New Features:

• Added new 'Custom Lock Message' feature to allow teacher to specify the text, colour and background for their own lock screens. (Select 'drop-down' arrow next to the lock button and select 'Lock Messages')
• Added a new additional security option to enable the ABClient Service to startup in 'Safe Mode with networking' (See 'Tools' - ' Connection Security' - 'Additional' tab )
• Added the ability to enter IP address subnet ranges to scan for remote machines during a Find/Scan (See 'Tools' - 'Settings' - 'Network' tab, press 'Add' button)
• Added an option to Scale the remote screen during a full screen 'Watch/Control' if the remote screen is larger than the local Tutor screen. (See 'Tools' - 'Settings' - 'View/Show' tab)
• Added a new feature to improve remote screen grabbing by using the mirror drivers back buffer. (See 'Tools' - 'Settings' - 'View/Show' tab).
• Added a option to set the number of days to retrieve remote log files. Previously it would always retreive upto 30 days of data depending on the last time data was retrieved. (See 'Policies' - 'View Log Files')

• Fixed a problem when controlling Windows 7 machines using the Mirror Driver and logging off/on. The remote computers screen would stay black or dark.
• Fixed a problem with the remote cursor not being shown when using the new 'Mirror Driver back buffer' feature.
• Fixed a bug when using 'Username's in groups and users loging on to Windows 7 machines.
• Fixed a problem when Windows is run in a high DPI font mode and displaying the startup dialog box. Previously you could not see the password box or OK buttons)
• Fixed a problem with setting the 'Caps lock' button when in remote control
• Fixed problems with Web Site blocking/logging policies.

Version 6.5 as of July 2010

• Added the remote machines operating system to the 'Client Version' column and under the popup tip for the remote machine.
• Added a trap to stop connections to the wrong machine when the DNS/DHCP servers are not synchronized correctly. A message is displayed and 'Invalid Connection' status shown.

• Fixed problems with Connecting to nComputing sessions on Windows 7 Machines.
• Fixed a problem with the 'Privacy Policy' icon not showing after logoff/logon.
• Network adapters with multiple IP addresses assigned are now selectable when scanning for clients.
• Fixed a bug when using the 'Logon' command to Windows 7 machines with the Windows Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) enabled.
• Fixed a problem when connecting to a MultiPoint server running the nComputing U170 boxes.
• Fixed bug with Web Blocking policies not working on Windows 7 machines.
• Fixed problems with reconnecting to Windows 7 machines after they wake-up from sleep or hibernation.
• Fixed file handle leak on Windows Server machines. This caused resource memory problems when left running for long periods.

Version 6.4 as of Feb 2010

New Features:

• Added %DESKTOP% and %MYDOCUMENT% variable support to sending/collecting files. Sending files now defaults to placing the files in %MYDOCUMENTS%
• Added new option under 'Tools' - ' Settings' - 'View/show' to enable the capturing of Layered Windows. This was enabled by default in version 6.3 but caused mouse cursor 'flicker' whilst Watching remote screen some types of graphics cards. If you experience cursor flicker, then make sure this option is turned off.
• The Chat window now defaults to sending a message to all selected clients from the main window when first opened. Previously, it would only select the first item.
• Added new 'Server' computer type to Groups so Terminal Servers can be added directly and sessions are dynamically added/remove as they become available on that server.

• Fixed a bug when launching applications on terminal servers
• Fix a random crash when closing 'Show' sessions.
• Fixed bug that caused the 'Tabs' on the right hand side to become corrupted after restoring the Tutor program from minimised. (This was previously corrected if you resized the application again)
• Fix a bug where you can press the 'Alt+F4' keys to close a 'Show' session.
• Fixed problems with blocking network printers.
• Bug Fix: The Shutdown logging event did not work.
• Fixed a problem where the actual Terminal Server name would appear in the list after a while for Tutors even when the option to 'Hide' it was selected.
• Fixed bug when selecting 'Record Audio' during a Screen Capture.
• Fixed a random bug when creating a Policy and then clicking on the 'Policy' menu. The system sometimes crashed!
• Fixed a problem when blocking printers for a user on a Terminal Server, it would block all users on the server.
• Fixed a problem when detecting new users logging on when that users name was added to a group. (Windows Vista/Windows 7)
• Fixed a problem with background images (via Groups) when in Large Icon mode. The image is now lock to the top left corner.

Version 6.3 as of Oct 2009

New Features:

• You can now reorder the columns in the main AB Tutor list view (Click and drag the column heading)
• Dutch, Spanish and French translations added

• Fixed bug with using 'Find' on Vista/Windows 7 (using Multicast) that caused a message 'unable to bind to listening socket - access denied'.
• Fixed a bug when encrypting large ABControl.xml files
• Fixed bug with renaming a Group. This resulted in the members of that group being cleared.
• Fixed a backward compatibility issue with ABControl.xml and versions earlier than 6.3.
• Fixed problem with applying USB block policies when USB drives are already inserted.
• Fixed a problem with new 'Column' ordering when running on Windows Vista. They were not being restored correctly.
• Fixed a problem with sending keys when in 'Watch/Control' mode. Shift keys were not sent correctly.
• Bug Fix: If 2 Tutors watch the same computer and one stops then the other also stopped.
• 64bit Bug fixes: Some functions did not work on 64bit Windows. (e.g. Service/Process lists or showing the correct running applications)
• File/Folder names with none ASCII characters are displayed using their windows 'Short' name.
• Profile path on Windows Vista/Win7 only set to 'ProgramData' folder when installed and run from Hard drive. When run from memory sticks, the profile path defaults to install folder.
• Bug Fix: The Delete and Rename options to delete Capture files did not work (See 'Computers' - 'Screen Capture', then right click a Capture file)
• Bug Fix: Annotation now works on second monitor when showing both monitors during a 'Show'
• Bug fix: The settings for saving options in the 'Shut down' dialog box were not being saved correctly under the users profile.
• Bug fixed that caused a small delay when launching remote applications.
• Fixed a problem with using the 'Login' command when the remote machines was in Screen-saver mode. Previously you had to send the command twice.
• Fixed a problem with Screen savers being activated after a user logs in when using the 'Disable Screen savers...' option.
• Fixed a problem when using the 'Blank Screen' feature. This caused problems on some portables and also didn't work on Windows Vista/Windows 7.

Version 6.2 as of May 2009

New Features:

• New and enhanced 'Log File Viewer' has been created. This allows you to retrieve remote log files and store them locally. Once retrieved, you can filter and search all entries even when you are not connected to the remote machines.
• Process list refreshes every 4 seconds When viewing remote client Process information. (See Admin Tab - Processes)
• Added a new Security function to Groups. You can now set the computer names and/or usernames of those who can connect to a defined group.
• Added a new option under 'Tools' - 'Settings' - 'Advanced', to encrypt the ABControl.xml file. This secures the file from users viewing/editing the settings.
• Improved the readability of keyboard logging (via the Logging policy) by adding a option to only log visible keys pressed by the user.
• Added the ability to change the Active Directory domain name under the Group Manager (See 'Groups' - 'Group Manager' - 'Active Directory')
• We are now using a 'Windows Logo Approved' WHQL mirror driver enabling the mirror driver to be installed silently via Active Directory/Group Policies.
• Added the ability to clear events/violations from the events tab. This also clears the red event status message against a remote connection. Right click the mouse in the event list and select 'Clear' or 'Clear All'.
• Screen capture filenames are now back using meaning file names like in version 5. (e.g. 'Capture (ComputerName - Full Name (username) - Date time.jpg' )
• When you press 'End' during a question poll, all remote question popup windows are closed.
• Added an 'Export' command when you right-click in the Main window. This creates an html export file of the computers/users in the list which can then be printed if required.

• Tutors can now create and save Policies to the new v6 XML file. To restrict tutors from creating polices, you need to apply the group restriction 'Disable Policy Manager'
• Bug fix. In the 'Admin Tab' - Processes, the 'Kill Process' did not work.
• Fixed a bug when retrieving multiple inventories. The History list was not being filled correctly.
• Fixed a problem when running from a Memory Stick on Vista machines. The profile (ABControl.xml) file was not being picked up from the memory stick.
• Fixed problems with keyboard logging that added strange characters to the logs.
• Fixed a problem with keyword monitoring and copying large amounts of text to the clipboard. Only 255 characters of 'Context' text is stored as apposed to all the text which could be extremely large!

Version 6.1 as of Feb 2009

New Features:

• Added a 'Delete' question button to the Question Polling view
• Added a 'Poll question Folder' to allow a tutor/administrator to specify the folder to store questions.
• Added an 'Export' results button to the Poll Questions page to save users feedback to file.
• Added a 'Delete' menu item to the right-click popup menu in the Thumbnail view
• Added a 'Restart Client Program' option under 'Tools' - 'Client Maintenance'
• The Thumbnail views first tab is automatically filled with all machines in the selected Group, except when the is selected.
• Thumbnails are now stored in an XML file located in your 'My documents\AB Tutor Control' folder. This file can be edited if you want to re-order tabs or machines and also share with others.
• Changed the way Policies are applied to Sessions on a Terminal Servers. Previously, policies were applied to the machines and so were being applied to all new sessions created. Now they are applied to each session individually.
• Changed the way the Tutor program handles broadcast messages from remote clients. When a Group is selected, then broadcast processing from clients is not required.
• Added an option to Temporary Policies that will also remove the policy when the user simply logs off.
• also added an option to Temporary Policies that if a tutor removes it, it will get re-applied when the user logs off.
• Added a function to check for Winsock (LSP) errors and automatically fix any problems found.
• 'Allow duplicate Computer Names' options now added for terminal server clients.
• The Active Directory function in the Group Manager has been changed to allow for full AD browsing through OUs.

• Fixed a bug that caused the Tutor program to use excessive amounts of CPU.
• Fixed a bug when setting a Group of Policies (only the first few would get set)
• Fixed a bug with the Policy Active Times of Day not being saved.
• Fixed a display bug that showed a grey area beneath the list on computers in the main Window
• Fixed a problem on Vista and Terminal Servers where the client would broadcast the username over the network every 2 seconds instead of when the username changes.
• Fixed a problem with corrupt Annotation toolbar buttons.
• Fixed a bug when selecting previously saved poll questions. The wrong question was being displayed.
• Fixed a bug with thumbnails not refreshing when switching between tabs.
• Fixed a problem that displays an error message 'Invalid parameter'. This was to do with displaying the popup tooltip text for a computer where the amount of text to display was to long.
• Fixed bug where a 'System Action' policies shutdown message was not saved to the configuration file.
• Fixed a bug with exporting Polling question results to file.
• The Update download timeout was too short for slow connection to the internet. This has been increased to 4 minutes.