PC helper – Computer activity

The SBZ Staff PC helper is a small Windows (and macOS) tray app. It helps the company review idle time and screenshots.

This guide is for company admins and for employees who have Computer recording turned on.

  1. What it does

    • Records input idle.
    • Uploads screenshots when the screen changed enough, while the helper is logged in.
    • Shows capture status in the tray: Recording, Not recording, or Not logged in.
    • PC idle alone does not prove the employee was not working.

  2. Who this is for

    • Admin — company settings, per-person recording, screenshot review, remote close of all helpers.
    • Employee / Online Employee — runs the PC helper on the work computer and can open their screenshots page.
    • The Accountant does not configure the PC helper.

  3. Before you start

    • You need an active SBZ Staff account.
    • An admin must enable Computer recording for the employee under Employees.
    • Install the SBZ Staff PC helper executable on the work computer (no extra runtime).
    • Capture runs all day while the PC helper is logged in (with tray acknowledgement).

  4. Screens and menus

    Company settings → Computer activity

    • Input idle (minutes) — after this many minutes without input, time counts as idle. Shorter idle slices are ignored.
    • Screen change to upload (%) — how much the thumbnail must change for a new screenshot (1–25).
    • Auto break when idle — subtracts idle time from worked hours on dashboards/reports. It does not start/end an attendance break.
    • Advanced — JPEG quality, max width, keep history (days), storage (SBZ Staff only / folder / SFTP).
    • Close all PC helpers — queues a close signal; each app exits on its next heartbeat (within about 1 minute). Does not log out or remove auto-start.

    Employees

    • Edit the employee and turn on Computer recording.
    • You see the Computer helper key (copy / new key). A new key stops the old one.
    • Live / Offline shows whether the helper sent a recent heartbeat (about 3 minutes).
    • The Screenshots button opens that person’s activity page.

    PC helper Screenshots screen — idle and work time per day

    On the Screenshots page you filter by from/to date or period and search by Window title. Per day you see idle time, work time, and thumbnails with time and application.

    Tray app (Windows)

    • Sign in with company AFM + employee AFM/AMKA + password, or with the Computer helper key only.
    • After login the app sends an enablement acknowledgement automatically (not GDPR consent).
    • Right-click the tray icon: My screenshots, Logout, Quit.
    • My screenshots opens a short-lived browser link to your screenshots page.
    • Logout / Quit ask a simple Yes/No confirm (no password again).
    • Quit removes auto-start and Task Scheduler; the app does not restart until you open it again.

  5. First tasks (admin)

    1. Open Settings → Computer activity and set idle minutes, screen-change %, and retention days.
    2. Under Employees, enable Computer recording for the people who need it.
    3. Give the employee either their normal login details or the Computer helper key.
    4. Ask them to sign in to the PC helper. The tray tooltip should show Recording.
    5. Open Screenshots from the employee list to verify.

  6. First tasks (employee)

    1. Open SBZ Staff PC helper.
    2. Sign in with company AFM / your AFM or AMKA / password, or with the key from your admin.
    3. Check the tray tooltip shows Recording while you are logged in.
    4. Open My screenshots from the tray menu, or My screenshots from the Dashboard.

  7. Everyday use

    • While you are logged in to the helper, capture continues all day. If you see Not recording, check the connection and that recording is enabled for your account.
    • On the Screenshots page you see day totals (idle / work), idle gaps, and images with time and window title. There is a short recording notice and More information.
    • You can filter by period and search by Window title.
    • An admin can delete a screenshot from the same screen when needed.

  8. Tips

    • Keep the helper running on the work computer; after the first login it can auto-restart (Task Scheduler / LaunchAgent).
    • If you renew the computer helper key, tell the employee right away.
    • Use Close all PC helpers only when you want every active app to exit temporarily.
    • Tray acknowledgement is not GDPR consent; informing employees remains the company’s responsibility.

  9. Related