Pipeline
3
SECTION
7.5.1 - PRINT AUDIT TRAIL
USAGE: To print and clear the
audit file.
DISCUSSION: All Master-file
modifications and transactions are audited to a special file. This file is built
up throughout the day. At the end of the day, the audit report is printed. This
shows all the transactions and the time and date (computer date) they were
entered. Certain totalling is also computed at the end of the report. Often
this report can be run even if the other transaction files have become corrupt.
This means that the day’s transactions can be viewed and re-entered. Also, this
report can be used to find a transaction that has been lost. This is especially
useful in multi-terminal installations.
When trying to exit from the main menu, you will be
prompted if the audit report has not been printed. This is a legitimate
short-cut method for initiating the audit report.
Because another file is being written to, the audit
file generation adds a little time to the updating of files. If auditing is not
required, it is possible to suppress this function in the options menu (see SECTION
7.1.2).
Note
that the audit report comes from a special file created specially for the
purpose. This is added to, throughout the day, as transactions and
modifications are made. It thus follows that if this file is not cleared at the
end of the day, it will add to the time and disk space taken for backups.
Therefore, if you are backing up to floppy disks, it would be more efficient to
print (and clear) the audit file before backing up. (If you backup to tape,
this is of little consequence.)
