FAQ

How does the Homework Clock Work?

The Homework Clock was created in Silverlight 4, a web based platform created by Microsoft. The Official Website can be found at www.silverlight.net.
You can download Silverlight 4 here: www.microsoft.com/getsilverlight/Get-Started/Install/Default.aspx

What are the Homework Clock's Features?
The Homework Clock consists of 2 tabs (3 for Autoswtiching)

Main

• The Homework Clock has 2 timers, one for work and one for off task.
• You can switch between timers, stop a timer, and clear both timers.
• If Ratio is enabled, it will show up below the timers.
• If the Color box is enabled, it will show up beneath the ratio.

Edit

• The active timer can be edited by changing the value in the corresponding text box.
• You can enable ratio, allow for approximation of ratio, and change the delay in updating the ratio.
• You can enable the color box and change the acceptable range, which provides a color representation of your ratio, from green to yellow.

Auto (Homework Clock Auto only)

• Enabling "By File Name" gets the original filename of the foreground window and switches the timer to off task if the filename corresponds to any of the filenames in the list.
• Enabling "By Window Title" gets the window title of the foreground window and switches the timer to off task if the window title corresponds to any in the list. This allows for limited internet "filtering".
• You can add or remove file names or window titles from the list
• Each list is saved in text files to the "Homework Clock" directory in "My Documents", along with files required for Autoswitch to function. This allows the Homework Clock to save changes. You can also change window.txt and filename.txt directly.

Note: If you get any of the following errors:

• "window.txt" could not be read
• The autoswitching function requires windowsHook.dll to be registered. Please run "AutoSwitch Install.bat" with administrator privileges to use this feature

Check to see if there is a directory called "Homework Clock" in My Documents. If not, run AutoSwitch Install again. If it still doesn't appear, you can manually download it from the Downloads section of this website, although you will still have to run AutoSwitch Install in order to register windowsHook.dll

Do I have to Install the Homework Clock?

Because the Homework Clock was created using Silverlight, it does not have to be installed and it can be run inside of a browser. However, for Windows users it is recommended to install the Homework Clock to enable the following functionalities:

• Auto Switching
• Stay on top (over windows)
• Portability

How do I Install the Homework Clock?

• To install the Homework Clock, navigate to the "Run In Browser" section of this website (Alternatively you can go to the Downloads section of this website and download "Homework Clock".Unzip the file to a location you can remember, and open "HomeworkClock.html")* * * * If you have Silverlight installed, the Homework clock should now appear in the browser.
• Right Click on the Homework Clock and select "Install Homework Clock onto this Computer". You can choose to create shortcuts to the Desktop or Start Menu if you wish.
• The Homework Clock should now appear in its own window. If you created shortcuts in the desktop or the start menu, you can run the Homework Clock from there.

Installing Autoswitch

• Navigate to the Downloads section of this website and download "Homework Clock Auto"
• Unzip the file to a location you can remember
• Run "AutoSwitch Install.bat". First Run normally, then if you get an error run it as an administrator.
• Launch "HomeworkClock.html" from the unzipped files
• Continue with steps 2 and 3 when normally installing.

Installing Basic

• Follow the Autoswitch Install instructions, but download "Homework Clock Basic" instead of "Homework Clock Auto"

Run in Browser Doesn't work for me

• Make sure you have at least Silverlight 4 installed
• To verify if Siverlight is installed, visit Microsoft's Silverlight installation page.
• If you are using the Flashblock or MediaWrap add-on for firefox, disable it.
• Make sure you have the Silverlight Plugin Installed
• Run your browser in safemode, if available
• Clear your Cache (only for the Run in Browser webpage) - Press and hold [Ctrl] on your keyboard, then Press [F5] or click on the Refresh button (square button on the toolbar with opposite-facing arrows).

I get the error mesage "Operation Not Supported" when running the Autorun Installer

You may not have the most recent build of the Homework Clock. Check to see that "Clockhelper.dll" is in the directory. If the error persists, download the Homework Clock again and Reinstall. If the error still persists, contact us.

Shouldn't the ratio switch if there is more break time than work time? (e.g. 1:2 to 2:1)

The Ratio provides users with a largest to smallest comparison no matter if break time is larger or work time is larger. This helps to keep the Homework Clock simple and easy to use.
I get the following error: The Module "My Documents\Homework Clock\ClockHelper.dll" was loaded but the call to DllRegisterServer failed with error code 0x80070005.

This error may occur if you run AutoswitchInstall without administrator rights. Run AutoswitchInstall.bat with administrator rights (Right click AutoswtichInstall.bat and select "Run As Administrator").