TimeClock Pearl Cloud Solution. We’ll set up and host TimeClock Pearl securely for you on our servers. Your employees clock in and out using a web browser on their own workstation. It’s perfect for businesses with one location, multiple locations, virtual offices, mobile, remote and work- from-home employees. You also have the ability to restrict, by IP address, the workstations from which employees can clock in and out. Your initial Cloud Solution purchase includes a copy of FileMaker Pro you’ll use to securely administrate your time clock. For a modest monthly fee we’ll host your time clock, do daily backups, provide technical support and automatically install future updates. Since it’s all on our equipment, you have no upfront costs for additional hardware, IT labor costs or software to host TimeClock Pearl. All you have to say is “TimeClock Pearl Cloud Solution” and we’ll do it all for you. You have a known fixed modest monthly fee that will save your business many times over in employee labor costs and productivity. Cloud Solution is initially a 12-month commitment on your part, after which it’s a month-to-month arrangement which you may cancel at any time.
Misc
Installation
TimeClock Pearl Kiosk Solution (for Windows and Macs) is downloaded from the TimeClock Pearl web site as a single compressed file. When downloading and running the installer, your computer decompresses the TimeClock Pearl 4 folder containing the TimeClock Pearl files including the FileMaker Runtime application and TimeClock Pearl.
TimeClock Pearl Network Solution. Since TimeClock Pearl is a cross-platform FileMaker Pro 12 data file (the same file works with either Windows or Macs), it’s downloaded as a compressed file. Save the download to your computer and then just double click on it to uncompress the TimeClock Pearl 4 folder. You’ll find the TimeClock Pearl.fmp12 data file inside the TimeClock Pearl 4 Folder as well as Network Set Up Instructions. Move the TimeClock Pearl 4 folder to the workstation or server from which it will be hosted. You only put the TimeClock Pearl Network Solution data file on one workstation or server hosting TimeClock Pearl. Access to TimeClock Pearl from other workstations is done via web-browser from those workstations. Since the download for this deployment option doesn’t include the FileMaker Runtime application, you’ll not be able to open TimeClock Pearl until you install, FileMaker software – either a FileMaker 30-day free trial using the link we provided in the Network Set Up Instructions or the FileMaker software we provided with your purchase of the
TimeClock Pearl Network Solution.
Backing Up TimeClock Pearl
You should regularly backup your TimeClock Pearl data file located in the TimeClock Pearl 4 folder. If you’re hosting TimeClock Pearl using FileMaker Server and FileMaker Server Advanced, they both offer automatic scheduled backups. If you’re using the Kiosk Solution of TimeClock Pearl (which uses the FileMaker Runtime application) or using FileMaker Pro to host the Network Solution of TimeClock Pearl, clicking on the “Backup” button on the Admin Menu screen will create a file named, “TCPearlBackUp” in your TimeClock Pearl 4 folder. Every time you back up TimeClock Pearl, the older “TCPearlBackUp” file will be replaced with the new one. If you want to retain each backup as an archive copy, you’ll need to rename the “TCPearlBackUp” file (e.g., adding the date to the file name) prior to backing up. Because hard drives occasionally fail, it’s advisable that you move or copy the backup file(s) to another location or media.
Help System
There is a "Help" button on each of the main screens to assist you with the functions available on that screen.
Displaying System Time
Clicking the bottom bar of the Time Clock (Home) screen displays the current system time.
Changing the size of TimeClock Pearl screens
Clicking the TimeClock Pearl logo on the Time Clock (Home) screen toggles the size of the TimeClock Pearl screen between normal size (100%) and 150%.
Technical Support
Several technical support options are available to you. • On-screen Tool Tips
• User’s Guide • Help Screens
• Online Knowledgebase FAQs • Online Knowledgebase Search
• Online Knowledgebase “Ask a Question”
• Customer Login Support Requests (30 days free; optional annual support may be purchased)
Recovering Damaged Files
It’s possible, if the computer hosting TimeClock Pearl crashes or is turned off while data is being written in TimeClock Pearl, for the data file to be damaged. If, when opening TimeClock Pearl, you get an error message that the file has been damaged and instructing you to use the Recover Command; follow the instructions below:
Kiosk Solution: With Windows, hold the Shift + Ctrl keys; with Macs, hold the Option + Command keys while opening TimeClock Pearl. Continue holding the two keys until a screen
appears allowing you to select the damaged TimeClock Pearl.fmpk file. Select it and click okay. The FileMaker Runtime application will recover the damaged file.
Network Solution: Open FileMaker Pro and from within FileMaker Pro, go to File on the Menu Bar, pull down to “Recover” and navigate to the damaged TimeClock Pearl.fmp12 file. FileMaker Pro will recover the damaged file.