Send a Requires Urgent Assistance message to multiple computers

[timbo343]

Our SLT are wantingn some kind of emergency button which will alert X users on the domain so that if a teacher requires urgent assistance, this message will pop up on those screens that are configured in the application / script.

 

As a very basic application i have AutoHotKeys installed on my machine and i've tested:

 

^j::

Run, msg.exe {username} /server:{computername} "This is a test"

Run, msg.exe {username} /server:{computername} "This is a test"

return

 

What this script does is when Ctrl j are pressed on the keyboard, the message is shown to users logged on to those machines.

 

This is a starting block but i'd like it to include %username% and %computername% too.

 

I don't think msg.exe knows about these command (unless someone can prove me wrong) but i thought about using AutoIT with an EXE however im not sure how to write a script in AutoIT that will do this job.

 

I know there are paid programs out there that do this kinda thing, but with us having literally no money at all, we have to come up with a free version.

[DrBeaker]

Our SLT are wantingn some kind of emergency button which will alert X users on the domain so that if a teacher requires urgent assistance, this message will pop up on those screens that are configured in the application / script.

 

As a very basic application i have AutoHotKeys installed on my machine and i've tested:

 

^j::

Run, msg.exe {username} /server:{computername} "This is a test"

Run, msg.exe {username} /server:{computername} "This is a test"

return

 

What this script does is when Ctrl j are pressed on the keyboard, the message is shown to users logged on to those machines.

 

This is a starting block but i'd like it to include %username% and %computername% too.

 

I don't think msg.exe knows about these command (unless someone can prove me wrong) but i thought about using AutoIT with an EXE however im not sure how to write a script in AutoIT that will do this job.

 

I know there are paid programs out there that do this kinda thing, but with us having literally no money at all, we have to come up with a free version.

 

Admirable you've been able to do this. However what's going to happen the one-time this home-brew application fails (for whatever reason) and some safeguarding or other issue happens as a result of the system failure? e.g. student violence, intruder on premises etc?

Call me cynical - but I think we know what's going to happen then dude and where SLT will point the blame - instead of being pointed at them for lack of funding.

[timbo343]

Admirable you've been able to do this. However what's going to happen the one-time this home-brew application fails (for whatever reason) and some safeguarding or other issue happens as a result of the system failure? e.g. student violence, intruder on premises etc?

Call me cynical - but I think we know what's going to happen then dude and where SLT will point the blame - instead of being pointed at them for lack of funding.

 

I know where you are coming from but they wanted to do it from within SIMS to which i pointed out - only certain people can do this in SIMS due to conditions not being met and then would the reciepents need to be logged into SIMS for this to work - also the user sending the message would also need to be logged into SIMS. Users (staff) aren't always logged into SIMS during lessons.

[timbo343]

@Rob_D and @DJ-1701 - are either of you able to help with this as you helped before on an AutoIT issue?

[mikeprice]

Just make sure that SMT are aware of the limitations of any such system

 

for example the intended person may not get the message because

they are helping a kid and not near the computer (i.e. doing their job)

they haven't logged in

the computer is locked because they have left the room

etc etc

 

they need to be aware that this is just an add-on and cannot be depended on for an immediate problem of emergency

 

i.e. protect you back just in case

[timbo343]

Don't worry, i plan to document all the limitations of this - it seems someone is trying to re-invent the wheel and i'm trying to find the best outcome - at the moment staff email the relevant users that need the message.

[timbo343]

Been thinking about this..

 

How easy is it to create a VBScript that will show a message box on a remote machine but the message box on the remote machine shows the name and computer name of where it was sent from?

 

I could tie this into AHK.

[mikeprice]

Good - there is nothing wrong with the idea but it is limited for an emergency situation

 

At one point I worked in a school that used MSN messenger to contact SMT for emergencies and to send important information about pupils

 

Yes - I know - we did mention it

[Steve21]

Not that I’m at a pc to test it but doesn’t ahk have the variables in it to pass to msg rather than using msg variables?

 

Try -

 

%A_UserName%

And

%A_ComputerName%

 

Can test it later once at pc if you can’t get it to play nicely

 

Steve

[timbo343]

Not that I’m at a pc to test it but doesn’t ahk have the variables in it to pass to msg rather than using msg variables?

 

Try -

 

%A_UserName%

And

%A_ComputerName%

 

Can test it later once at pc if you can’t get it to play nicely

 

Steve

 

OH... MY... GOD!!!

 

Thank you!!!

[timbo343]

Not that I’m at a pc to test it but doesn’t ahk have the variables in it to pass to msg rather than using msg variables?

 

Try -

 

%A_UserName%

And

%A_ComputerName%

 

Can test it later once at pc if you can’t get it to play nicely

 

Steve

 

Do you think it would work for Display name rather than username?

[Steve21]

Err I doubt it without using ldap lookup for AD or effectively hard coding a lookup list in the script but honestly never checked for that variable

 

Steve

[crocco_john]

Our mis has the function built in.... might be worth looking to see if it's built in already

[jthompson]

If you haven't already, take a quick look at Winsent. They have a couple of freeware utilities that you might be able to leverage.

Winsent Sent - sends 'net send' messages from command line - https://www.winsentmessenger.com/sent/

Winsent Innocenti - 'net send' compatible notification client https://www.winsentmessenger.com/innocenti/

 

We have Innocenti rolled out to all staff machines, and the [cheap but not free] Winsent Messenger utility installed on SLT machines so that they can send out alerts.

Edited February 19, 2019 by jthompson

[azc]

I can highly recommend Little Green Button. I've had it deployed for a year now and it works great.

[timbo343]

Our mis has the function built in.... might be worth looking to see if it's built in already

 

Already tried that and SIMS has to meet a strict criteria for it to work plus we cannot guarantee users will have SIMS open.

 

If you haven't already, take a quick look at Winsent. They have a couple of freeware utilities that you might be able to leverage.

Winsent Sent - sends 'net send' messages from command line - https://www.winsentmessenger.com/sent/

Winsent Innocenti - 'net send' compatible notification client https://www.winsentmessenger.com/innocenti/

 

We have Innocenti rolled out to all staff machines, and the [cheap but not free] Winsent Messenger utility installed on SLT machines so that they can send out alerts.

 

Thank you, will take a look at the free version - don't want the 2 way message system.

 

I can highly recommend Little Green Button. I've had it deployed for a year now and it works great.

 

I saw this pop up on the search results but was put off as soon as i saw you had to pay.

[timbo343]

I think i'm going to go for:

 

- the message box that displays as a window box on desktop screens

- install the winnosent client on those that require it

- install Sent on all machines.

 

Couple the above with AHK as an EXE with a custom icon file and we have a system that staff can request for Urgent Assistance if things kick off in class.

[DrCheese]

We use the emergency response bit of Netsupport Notify for this - Users who press a three button combo send an alert to the computers we've designated asking for assistance which shows the persons username & room name (All our PCs are named after room names)

 

We've mapped those three buttons to a desktop icon so staff just double click the "Emergency Alert" button to send one.

[timbo343]

I did mention Netsupport Notify however with it involving a cost i don't think they would have given it the time or day to be honest.

[DrCheese]

No that's fair enough, main reason I got the order approved was for Reception to send staff who weren't doing their registers on time full screen alerts (Basically DO THEM NOW!!!) - This was just a nice extra

[dapaulio]

I know where you are coming from but they wanted to do it from within SIMS to which i pointed out - only certain people can do this in SIMS due to conditions not being met and then would the reciepents need to be logged into SIMS for this to work - also the user sending the message would also need to be logged into SIMS. Users (staff) aren't always logged into SIMS during lessons.

 

I agree with a comment earlier about safeguarding and system failure. I wouldn’t want to be the person that had the finger pointed at for a kid going missing and harmed

There are plenty of notification systems but the communication relies on both sender and recipient being logged in to be effective

 

Sims you already have so is cost free but require a few configuration tweaks. There is an emergency button within sims that notifies people within a certain group. Can’t remember what group it was or whether you delegate a group. But all our teachers have access to this emergency button for the purpose of some student kicking off or not turned up to lesson. Our only issue with this is the person it notifies needs to be logged in to sims where in theory the on call slt should alway be logged in to sims but in practice they never were for what ever reason they make up at the time. So yeah We also have this same problem.

As a work around our sims manager and an assistant for when the sims manager isn’t around who are always logged in to sims picks up the notification and then relays the message to the on call SLT via walkie talkie. This from experience relies on the on call slt member carrying said walkie talkie and having it switched on 🤦♂️. This should go in the thread “IT is always to blame”

 

Have you considered net support notify. Very Reasonably priced and notifies the computer a person is logged in to. Depending how many staff you have would determine the cost but on a per user basis is as I say very reasonable. We use net support as part of our lockdown procedure

 

Hope this helps

[karldenton]

Hi Tim

I’d definitely push for Netsupport notify if you can.

Does all you have mentioned. Logs who has read the message etc

Works when computer is locked and as mentioned above easy to set shortcut buttons

Appreciate there is a cost involved. It’s not my place to talk pricing but @Matt_NetSupport usually has some fantastic deals - you’d be surprised.

[Matt_NetSupport]

Hi Tim, if you want a demo PM me and I will get it organised - sounds like Notify will meet your requirements, and I am sure we can sort out a good price - Matt - I’m now going to get back to watching Despicable Me 3

[flyinghaggis]

Hi Tim, if you want a demo PM me and I will get it organised

 

We've also been asked to look into implementing a similar type of system.

 

With NetSupport Notify how do you create the groups of users to notify as we'd like the ability to send a notification to all Teachers. Can you sync this with Active Directory so this list is automatically kept up to date?

[karldenton]

Hi

Yes it integrates with AD and you can send to specific OUs