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What it does
Prevents children to game for long hours, utility acts as a safeguard.
When the time has been reached (configured in the json config file), it shows a full screen Winform convering all open screens behind it. It will show a text that the time has been reached. And it will also show two blue buttons "Defer (+5m)" and "Unlock". The child can click "Defer (+5m)" to defer the time for +5 minutes for a number of times. This is also configurable, so it's not endless they can defer. Default is 2 times they can click the button (for up to 10min total). Parents can click the "Unlock" button, to do a few options after entering the correct PIN code:
- "Reset", rest the timer (reloads to the json config settings) + restart timing.
- "Defer (+1h)", defers time for +1h (60min), the defer button turns Orange and as a parent, the defer count will NOT increase.
- "Lock", exit the Parents mode and return to the "Defer (+5m)" and "Unlock" buttons.
- "Shutdown", force the PC to shutdown. Killing all app's (this function needs Administator rights, otherwise it will be grayed out!)
- "Disable Guard", this just quits the Child PC Locker utility.
ALT+F4 is intercepted, so the Winform can not be closed by pressing this key combination.
Before the lock/safeguard screen kicks in, 10 minutes up front, it will show on the screen in the right below corner a small Magenta popup.
The default PIN code is 54321, you should change this in the json config file! (In the movie Spaceballs, Skroob says "That's the same code as my luggage!")
Needed Sub-Folder
- .\Logs -> log files will be written here. The current log files is a .log and the previous one is a .bck (latest version will write the log file to the users folder, unless, not available).
Needed Files
- child_pc_locker.cmd -> Run child_pc_locker.ps1 in normal mode.
- child_pc_locker.json -> Configuration file in json format.
- child_pc_locker.ps1 -> The actual utility or script.
- child_pc_locker_debug.cmd -> Run child_pc_locker.ps1 in Verbose + Debug mode. In Debug mode, you can press ESC to exit.
- child_pc_locker_install.reg -> Registry file to install the tool under the current user (copy all files under "C:\Program Files\pclocker")
- child_pc_locker_uninstall.reg -> Registry file to uninstall the tool under the current user
- README -> This file
- LICENSE -> Software license
Structure of the 'child_pc_locker.json'
- Script.Verbose : "true" or "" to enable/disable Console output
- Script.Debug : "true" or "false" to enable/disable developer mode (Allows ESC to quit without questions asked!)
- Locker.ParentalPIN : enter a PIN code of max 8 numbers
- Locker.NotifyKidsBeforeExpire : "true" or "false" to enable/disable child upfront message (10 min before expire of play time)
- Locker.HideParentalButton : "true" or "false" to hide/show the "Unlock" button by default (if hidden, press F4 as a parent to make it visible)
- KidsSafeGuardAfter.Hours : number from 0-24 (hours)
- KidsSafeGuardAfter.Minutes : number from 0-60 (minutes)
- KidsSafeGuardAfter.DeferCount : number that allows number of defers (+5m extend) a child can request
- KidsSafeGuardAfter.UnlockTime : currently, unused (TBA feature)
- KidsSafeGuardAfter.LockTime : currently, unused (TBA feature)
Known issues
- One can still ALT+TAB and try to close the WinForm (or Powershell cmd window in Debug mode).
- Only tested with a single monitor/screen attached.
Updates
- Added a new configuration feature Locker.HideParentalButton that can hide the Parental "Unlock" button when the play time expires. (Pressing F4 shows the button). This prevents younger kids to try and click on the Unlock button.
- The title color will now stick to more bright color tones, to make the readability better.
- Updated the trigger batch files so "Program Files" works (or any other folder with a space in it).
- Log file now get's written to the user's Documents folder.
- KidsSafeGuardAfter.UnlockTime and LockTime are pre-defined in the json config file, at this time unused.
- Script.Debug is now also a property in the json config file and not only a cli parameter.