surflog_logo

 

Squidwork’s garage is launching another neat plugin that fetches the browsing history from 4 major browsers available on Windows systems. SurfLog collects the browser history for Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari browsers and stores that data inside the LabTech database. The plugin in version 1.0  reads the last 30 days of logs and displays them on the computer console, allows you to launch a new scan and refresh your current view. You can also use the Clear All Logs button to remove all current logs for the computer your viewing or export the data into Excel.

 

Client-Stats

 

client-history

 

Each column is sort able so you are able to see by Browser Type, URL, Site Title, User Profile or the number of visits to a URL. The plugin comes with one script that collects the data and should be scheduled on widows client groups for once a day.

The Surflog script only grabs the last 24 hours of logs to keep from get to much data that it then cannot import  correctly in to the LT database using LT scripting. For this reason you should schedule script to run every 24 hours or less. It will not duplicate any entries into the database so you can run it every hour if you like and only new items will be added to the database. The Surflog script also manages the retention policy and will clear out logs based on the set policy. You can set the policy on the Info Tab of the Client console under the sub tab [SurfLog].

Enable SurfLog on a per client basis

Client Console ->Info Tab -> SurfLog Tab -> Enable Surflog Collection

You can enable Surflog Collection on a per client bases by enabling each client that you would like the collection process to run on. You should schedule the script to run on all windows systems for all systems in labtech then use the enable feature to allow scanner to run or not for each client. The script will validate whether or not to run based on this setting.

SurfLog History Retention

Client Console ->Info Tab -> SurfLog Tab -> Retention Policy

You can set the retention policy for each client between 1 and 90 days, as the collection script runs it will look at the policy for the client and will clear out history based on the retention policy set.

 

A “Client” must be enabled for any scans on systems under that client to run even if directly scheduled on that system! 

SurfLog Key Word Highlight

Client Console ->Info Tab -> SurfLog Tab -> Key Words List

If you place a comma “,” separated list of words in this field the view of each log under this client will highlight those rows where the words show up in the URL, Title and Visit From columns.

 

surflog-EDF

 

 

 

 

excelFileWe added the ability to surf the links from the history and you can now export the browser history to Excel.

 

 

 

 

 

New in version 1.1.0 Cloud hosted LT servers are now fully supported. Just edit the collector script to enable or disable cloud support. See [Grab Surf Logs] script notes for more information.

Get SurfLog 1.1..1

 

download

Feel free to donate to our cause if you find this software useful, Help keep our software free.

 ———New in Version 1.0.5———–
Added new Client Tab with Client level view of all browser histories.

 

———New in Version 1.0.6———–
Added threading to Excel exports.
Fixed display of Keyword box.
Added UK Time Support to Powershell collector scripts.

——-New in Version 1.1.0 —————-

Rewrote Export function, now really fast and works!
New look and feel
All new graphs and pie charts
Fixed several display issues

 

—-New in Version 1.1.0.25 —————–
Added support for LT10.5
Plugin now loads script and edfs automatically, no script imports needed
Added auto plugin updater so you will not need to update plugin manually again.

 

We give a shout out to  www.nirsoft.net for their  BrowserHistoryView application that provides the CSV creator. Thanks for a great tool.

 

Cubert 😎

 

 

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96 Responses to “LabTech – SurfLog Plugin stores browser history for IE, Chrome, Firefox and Safari”

  1. Dale says:

    Unfortunately, Jordan, I was never able to figure out what was causing the issue so just ended up removing it.

  2. Jordan says:

    What version of office were you using? I’m using 2007 and thinking that possibly has something to do with it. Getting an error in event logs everytime it crashes:

    Could not load file or assembly ‘Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel, Version=14.0.0.0

    14 is Office 2010 if im not mistaken

  3. Nick says:

    I am also having the issue where the surf log tab is not showing under the info tab within the client. Whenever the script runs it fails “not enabled”. How do i get the tab to show under info so i can enable it??

  4. Nick says:

    … Never mind… I was being dumb. I was going to the endpoint ie workstation rather than the site/customer level. script is running now, fingers crossed

  5. Eric says:

    I keep getting the ‘Ops we hit a error’ message when I click the Surflog Tab, any suggestions would be great.

  6. @Eric

    Just restart your LTDBAgent on the LT server. The tables are most likely missing causing the error. The DBagent generates the new tables when it loads plugins but has not been told yet that Surflog exists yet.

  7. Eric says:

    @Cubert

    Thanks it worked and it is working exactly how I need it to.

  8. David says:

    I’m trying to export a set of logs for a customer and when I click ‘OK’ acknowledging that it may take some time LT just closes and never exports anything.

  9. Jeffrey says:

    I have installed the agent and was hoping to use it. I keep getting a Ops we hit an error.

  10. Jeffrey says:

    The script(5863) failed in the THEN section at step 35

  11. Ron says:

    I installed the plugin and imported the xml file. It did not create a tab under info but created it’s own tab. When I click on it, I get an error, “Ops we hit a error” and all I can do is click OK

  12. Ron says:

    I did not see the comment above about restarting the DB, it works now.
    sorry

  13. Ron says:

    in the scripts tab, it says, “not enabled, exiting script”

  14. Gerry says:

    Hi Cubert.

    Another great plugin. Thanks for sharing it. I got it working however I get an error when I try to export to Excel “Export to Excel went south”. I have about 12 entries in the history list?

    Any ideas what I might be doing wrong?

  15. Gerry says:

    Hi again – not sure if this help you in troubleshooting my error message “export went south” but I did some more testing and I notice that Excel process kicks off, then this file “CVR789C.tmp.cvr” gets created in appdata\local\temp with 0 bytes and then I get message Export of Excel went South.

    Hopefully this will help you troubleshoot the error?

  16. We just released version 1.1.0 that has a new look and graphs along with a brand new export function that actually works!
    Come check it out!

  17. rgreen83 says:

    What would be a practical limitation of the number of records that could be retrieved for a site? I have a site with about 200 daily users and tried 30 day retention, I think all the data is in the db but labtech locks up completely (tried waiting hours) when trying to view the surflog tab for this site. Also I dont know how to now get access to the config to lower the retention period for that site.

  18. Mat says:

    Hi Cube,

    I’ve imported the scrip and plugin as per the instructions, and it created the SurfLog folder in scripts, but the script didn’t appear. (not even in the root of the scripts folder). i’m running the cloud based version. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

  19. Mat says:

    sorry…me again….i found the script. it was in _Examples for some reason!

  20. Tony says:

    I have installed on Labtech 10 server, enabled collection on client. When script runs I get

    The script(5821) failed in the THEN section at step 38

    Start S5821
    IF F1 P1: P2: P3: T:39341.2432196
    L1 F139 P1:# Lets start by checking if we P2: P3: T:39341.3442196
    L4 F139 P1:# Lets see if we are enabled t P2: P3: T:39341.6442196
    L5 F103 P1:eeb999b4-2573-11e4-94fa-0e2809 P2:1 P3:SURFLOGENABLED T:39341.7442196
    L6 F70 P1:SURFLOGENABLED P2:3 P3:1 T:39341.8482196
    L7 F139 P1:# Lets see what our retention P2: P3: T:39341.9482196
    L8 F103 P1:e26eeb42-2576-11e4-94fa-0e2809 P2:1 P3:SURFLOGRETENTION T:39342.0482196
    L9 F103 P1:02766717-320d-11e4-83cc-0e2809 P2:1 P3:SURFLOGKEYWORDS T:39342.1522196
    L10 F139 P1:# Based on retention policy le P2: P3: T:39342.2562196
    L11 F70 P1:SURFLOGRETENTION P2:8 P3:1Day T:39342.3562196
    L12 F70 P1:SURFLOGRETENTION P2:8 P3:7Days T:39342.4562196
    L21 F67 Parameters Hidden T:39342.5562196
    L22 F129 P1::RUNSCAN P2: P3: T:39342.6572196
    L34 F154 P1:c:\windows\ltsvc\SurfLog P2: P3: T:39342.7572196
    L35 F114 P1:c:\windows\ltsvc\SurfLog\BHV.e P2:0 P3::RUNSHELL T:39496.8632196
    L38 F28 P1:Utilities\BrowsingHistoryView- P2:c:\windows\ltsvc\SurfLog\BHV.e P3: T:39502.1682196

    any suggestions

    Thank you

  21. Tony says:

    I figured out the issue in my previous post. However, when I try to export history to excel I get the following error

    Excel Export went south, Sorry! Could not find a part of the path ‘c:\temp\Surflog_ID-768_18-Sep-2015.csv’

  22. are you running latest version? and do you have a C:\temp folder you can write to?

  23. Tony says:

    Thank you for the reply. Yes I have the latest version of Labtech. Upon your advise, I checked my temp folder and for whatever reason, the permissions were wrong. I changed the permissions and now it works. Thank you, this is a great plugin.

  24. Ryan says:

    I’m getting the same script error as Tony where it is failing on step 38. What was the issue/fix?

  25. Eric says:

    I am receiving this error.

    The script(5969) failed in the THEN section at step 38

    Start SurfLog\Grab Surf Logs
    IF True Parameter1: Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 34016.363
    L1 Script Note Parameter1: # Lets start by checking if we Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 34016.463
    L4 Script Note Parameter1: # Lets see if we are enabled t Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 34016.763
    L5 ExtraData Get Value Parameter1: eeb999b4-2573-11e4-94fa-0e2809 Parameter2: 1 Parameter3: SURFLOGENABLED Time Taken: 34016.863
    L6 Variable Check Parameter1: SURFLOGENABLED Parameter2: 3 Parameter3: 1 Time Taken: 34016.964
    L7 Script Note Parameter1: # Lets see what our retention Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 34017.064
    L8 ExtraData Get Value Parameter1: e26eeb42-2576-11e4-94fa-0e2809 Parameter2: 1 Parameter3: SURFLOGRETENTION Time Taken: 34017.164
    L9 ExtraData Get Value Parameter1: 02766717-320d-11e4-83cc-0e2809 Parameter2: 1 Parameter3: SURFLOGKEYWORDS Time Taken: 34017.265
    L10 Script Note Parameter1: # Based on retention policy le Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 34017.366
    L11 Variable Check Parameter1: SURFLOGRETENTION Parameter2: 8 Parameter3: 1Day Time Taken: 34017.466
    L12 Variable Check Parameter1: SURFLOGRETENTION Parameter2: 8 Parameter3: 7Days Time Taken: 34017.566
    L21 SQL Execute Parameters Hidden Time Taken: 34017.666
    L22 Script Goto Parameter1: :RUNSCAN Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 34017.767
    L34 Folder Create Parameter1: c:\windows\ltsvc\SurfLog Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 34017.867
    L35 IF File Check Parameter1: c:\windows\ltsvc\SurfLog\BHV.e Parameter2: 0 Parameter3: :RUNSHELL Time Taken: 34025.968
    L38 File Download Parameter1: Utilities\BrowsingHistoryView- Parameter2: c:\windows\ltsvc\SurfLog\BHV.e Parameter3: Time Taken: 34030.272

  26. Harmony says:

    Hi there – I have tried everything from here to get this to work. I am still not able to get scan results. It says it’s not enabled… what can I provide you to help me see what I am missing?

    Start Grab Surf Logs
    IF True Parameter1: Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 54427.937327
    L1 Script Note Parameter1: # Lets start by checking if we Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 54428.037993
    L4 Script Note Parameter1: # Lets see if we are enabled t Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 54428.3399828
    L5 ExtraData Get Value Parameter1: eeb999b4-2573-11e4-94fa-0e2809 Parameter2: 4 Parameter3: SURFLOGENABLED Time Taken: 54428.4407853
    L6 Variable Check Parameter1: SURFLOGENABLED Parameter2: 3 Parameter3: 1 Time Taken: 54428.5444522
    L7 Script Note Parameter1: # Lets see what our retention Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 54428.6449273
    L8 ExtraData Get Value Parameter1: e26eeb42-2576-11e4-94fa-0e2809 Parameter2: 4 Parameter3: SURFLOGRETENTION Time Taken: 54428.74578
    L9 ExtraData Get Value Parameter1: 02766717-320d-11e4-83cc-0e2809 Parameter2: 4 Parameter3: SURFLOGKEYWORDS Time Taken: 54428.8474456
    L10 Script Note Parameter1: # Based on retention policy le Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 54428.9485413
    L11 Variable Check Parameter1: SURFLOGRETENTION Parameter2: 8 Parameter3: 1Day Time Taken: 54429.0487208
    L12 Variable Check Parameter1: SURFLOGRETENTION Parameter2: 8 Parameter3: 7Days Time Taken: 54429.1493845
    L13 Variable Check Parameter1: SURFLOGRETENTION Parameter2: 8 Parameter3: 15Days Time Taken: 54429.2504271
    L14 Variable Check Parameter1: SURFLOGRETENTION Parameter2: 8 Parameter3: 30Days Time Taken: 54429.3509019
    L27 SQL Execute Parameters Hidden Time Taken: 54429.4519973
    L28 Script Goto Parameter1: :RUNSCAN Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 54429.5524215
    L34 Folder Create Parameter1: c:\windows\ltsvc\SurfLog Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 54429.653654
    L35 IF File Check Parameter1: c:\windows\ltsvc\SurfLog\BHV.e Parameter2: 0 Parameter3: :RUNSHELL Time Taken: 54506.7946788
    L38 File Download Parameter1: Utilities\BrowsingHistoryView- Parameter2: c:\windows\ltsvc\SurfLog\BHV.e Parameter3: Time Taken: 54511.09976

  27. Harmony says:

    Just an FYI regarding my previous post – I have verified that the “SurfLog” folder does exist on the user’s PC, however there is not BHV.e within it.

  28. Everyone, I am working on a new release that should be out later today that will help with some of your issues like where is the BHV.exe file and when and where do I schedule scripts. We are also adding in our Plugin Auto Updater so your plugin will get new updates as we release them automatically. We have also automated the schedule process so you will only need to install the DLL and enable scans via the EDF and away you go. No more need to schedule any scanning or worry about offline systems.

    Cubert

  29. We have now released 1.1.0.25 which adds support for LT10.5 , Auto updating plugin and automatic script and edf creation. We also switched the delivery of the application to URL based from share based this will make it easy for cloud based MSPs to use the product.

    Come and get it!!

  30. Scottie says:

    I’m having trouble with the installation. I have installed the plugin via plugin manager, and restarted the DBagent. Plugin manager shows green for enabled, db loaded, and IIS loaded, but I cannot find the actual surf log script anywhere, nor do I have a surflog tab under the info tab. We use a cloud based labtech instance.

  31. Scottie says:

    scratch that, I found the surflog tab, which isn’t under the info tab in my case. I probably missed the note on that change. When I choose “scan now”, after the information message about checking the scripts tab for completion, I receive “Error -> There is no row at position 0.”

  32. Dave says:

    I have installed the plugin and enabled on the client info tab but I get no results. When I look at the scripts tab on a desktop I can see that the script has run but says “not enabled, exiting script”

  33. Harmony says:

    Same as Dave – Client is enabled. Have enabled logging on selected PCs – Here are the script run results:
    The script(5771) failed in the THEN section at step 38

    Start Grab Surf Logs
    IF True Parameter1: Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 41867.0616786
    L1 Script Note Parameter1: # Lets start by checking if we Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 41867.1619128
    L4 Script Note Parameter1: # Lets see if we are enabled t Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 41867.4642926
    L5 ExtraData Get Value Parameter1: eeb999b4-2573-11e4-94fa-0e2809 Parameter2: 4 Parameter3: SURFLOGENABLED Time Taken: 41867.5649602
    L6 Variable Check Parameter1: SURFLOGENABLED Parameter2: 3 Parameter3: 1 Time Taken: 41867.6670073
    L7 Script Note Parameter1: # Lets see what our retention Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 41867.7681057
    L8 ExtraData Get Value Parameter1: e26eeb42-2576-11e4-94fa-0e2809 Parameter2: 4 Parameter3: SURFLOGRETENTION Time Taken: 41867.8687195
    L9 ExtraData Get Value Parameter1: 02766717-320d-11e4-83cc-0e2809 Parameter2: 4 Parameter3: SURFLOGKEYWORDS Time Taken: 41867.9698178
    L10 Script Note Parameter1: # Based on retention policy le Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 41868.0714345
    L11 Variable Check Parameter1: SURFLOGRETENTION Parameter2: 8 Parameter3: 1Day Time Taken: 41868.171532
    L12 Variable Check Parameter1: SURFLOGRETENTION Parameter2: 8 Parameter3: 7Days Time Taken: 41868.2721448
    L13 Variable Check Parameter1: SURFLOGRETENTION Parameter2: 8 Parameter3: 15Days Time Taken: 41868.3729927
    L14 Variable Check Parameter1: SURFLOGRETENTION Parameter2: 8 Parameter3: 30Days Time Taken: 41868.4736524
    L15 Variable Check Parameter1: SURFLOGRETENTION Parameter2: 8 Parameter3: 90Days Time Taken: 41868.5743366
    L30 SQL Execute Parameters Hidden Time Taken: 41868.6753814
    L31 Script Goto Parameter1: :RUNSCAN Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 41868.776238
    L34 Folder Create Parameter1: c:\windows\ltsvc\SurfLog Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 41868.8770943
    L35 IF File Check Parameter1: c:\windows\ltsvc\SurfLog\BHV.e Parameter2: 0 Parameter3: :RUNSHELL Time Taken: 41873.9808369
    L38 File Download Parameter1: Utilities\BrowsingHistoryView- Parameter2: c:\windows\ltsvc\SurfLog\BHV.e Parameter3: Time Taken: 41878.2865467

  34. @ Harmony

    What Version are you running? You are dieing at line 38 of the script. This is where the script looks to find Utilities\BrowsingHistoryView.exe in your LTdrive location. In the latest version we have changed this to go out to the web and grab it on line 36 and 37 of plugin.

    I would delete any Surflog scripts, download the latest zip and install the DLL. Restart the LT DB Agent and the LT console. Then let it try again.

    It will recreate the script and run when the cycle fires off and you should see different results.

  35. Scottie says:

    I’m having the same problem as Dave. The script exits with “not enabled”. I have surflog enabled under the info tab on the needed clients and I have restarted all labtech related services with no change. Is there somewhere else that I must enable surflog?

  36. Scottie says:

    The script(5846) was successful in the THEN section.

    Start Maintenance\SurfLog Maintenance
    IF True Parameter1: Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 46870.527
    L1 Script Note Parameter1: # Lets start by checking if we Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 46870.627
    L4 Script Note Parameter1: # Lets see if we are enabled t Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 46870.927
    L5 ExtraData Get Value Parameter1: 592 Parameter2: 3 Parameter3: SURFLOGENABLED Time Taken: 46871.027
    L6 Variable Check Parameter1: SURFLOGENABLED Parameter2: 3 Parameter3: 1 Time Taken: 46871.127
    L70 Script Log Message Parameter1: Not Enabled, exiting script. Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 46871.227
    L71 Script Goto Parameter1: Parameter2: Parameter3: Time Taken: 46871.327

  37. Harmony says:

    Hey Cubert – I thought I had updated but may not have done it correctly. I would like to do as you suggest and start fresh but … When you say “I would delete any Surflog scripts” can you guide me as to where you mean to delete them from – every desktop I’ve fired them on? Sorry to be lame – I am pretty new to labtech.

  38. Harmony says:

    I got this far:
    The script(5771) failed in the THEN section at step 38

    L38 File Download Parameter1: Utilities\BrowsingHistoryView- Parameter2: c:\windows\ltsvc\SurfLog\BHV.e Parameter3: Time Taken: 62180.1020505

  39. Ben says:

    I’m having the same issue as Scottie. hen I choose “scan now”, after the information message about checking the scripts tab for completion, I receive “Error -> There is no row at position 0.”

    I’m running LT Cloud and the plugin is enabled and on but I can’t see the script anywhere in the Scripts folder. Is there something I’m doing wrong?

    I’e restarted the DB agent etc

  40. Harmony says:

    Has anyone successfully deployed SurfLog with LabTech 10 on premise? If so, can anyone tell me how to completely uninstall it and start from scratch so I can see if I can get it to work? Thanks in advance for any guidance.
    Harmony

  41. Robert says:

    Same issue here when deployed with Labtech 10 on premise. It does not work. I receive “Error -> There is no row at position 0.

  42. Mike says:

    Same as Robert. On Prem V10 not working.
    “Error -> There is no row at position 0.”

  43. Sorry I was out at ITNation all last week so was out of town. I will look in to this today and see what may be going wrong with latest version.

    The script should appear once the first automated scan runs. It looks for a EDF to be present and checked for a client but what looks to be happening is in the script it can not find this edf we created. If you open and edit the are we enabled EDF check line in script you can reset it to the “correct” edf value for your system.

    I’ll look in to this and get back with you all.

  44. Eric says:

    Loving the idea of this plug-in. I’ve only installed the new version on an on-prem LT server and I can verify that it doesn’t work with the same error as above:

    “Error -> There is no row at position 0.”

  45. Peter says:

    Hi Cubert, I’m trying this on Lab Tech 10.5 ( release .226 )
    I have installed the plugin, restarted the db agent 3 times but am still unable to find any script in our system. We have the EDF’s, tabs etc. I have enabled it for 1 client, if I try to firce a scan I get the same error as the guys above ( There is no row at postition 0. )
    We have one table in the database for it, I can tsee any searches or groups either. Should we have some?
    Oh, and I installed over 6 hours ago as well.

    Thanks for HUGE contributions you make to Lab Tech / Lab Tech Geek.
    A living legend one might say!

    Regards Peter.

  46. Ted says:

    Hi Cubert, great job on ALL the plugins that you do for the LabTech community. I noticed in my LTPluginErrors that I’m getting allot of the following messages: “LTAgent v105.225 – 12/7/2015 12:08:24 PM – Get Sql Error: Operand should contain 1 column(s) Select” any idea how we can correct this issue?

    Thanks,
    Ted

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