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RecentX is a very simple program that keeps track of your recently viewed/access files, folders, programs and documents. when you run RecentX after installation, a little bar will be placed at the top of your screen, towards the right. Its a color coded bar with 4 "buttons" (you can click + drag this bar to dock it on any side of your screen you want). Double click this bar. Once the program window is open, click "Register" button that is in the top right. Copy and paste in the following (yes copy and paste works - I did it):

[Removed as per request of GOTD administrator. See Readme.txt that came in the .zip file for registration information.]

After you have registered it, go to "Preferences" (located in the top left of the window). If you do not like your programs automatically starting at Windows boot up (some people are fascist about it - people like me), uncheck "Automatically run RecentX on Windows Boot". Other settings you should pay attention to are under the Results tab: you can set how long ago accessed files you want shown (files access last week, or 2 weeks ago, or 4 weeks ago, or 8 weeks ago) and you can set it so RecentX does not show your web page browsing history and/or bookmarks.

Other then that, this program is pretty simple. Under each respective tab, your activity in those areas will be monitored and recorded. Under each category (files, folders, programs, websites) you have the ability to "search" through all of it to find a specific thing.

On the right of the window, you can create "Favorite Keywords". Basically what this does is that you can automatically sort the files/folders/programs/website (depending on which you are in) to only show the specific file type or name you want. For example, if you go to the files tab and double click the first "Documents" keyword, it will only only the recent .doc .xls and .pdf files accessed. The sort by does not seem to work for Favorite Keywords.

One feature I liked is that when you right click a folder or program, you can open up a command prompt for them, instead of having to go to start menu -> cmd -> type in the address, blah blah.

Now there is one major problem I have with this program: Recently accessed Folders, and Programs that are accessed through shortcuts are not picked up properly. Recently accessed files are picked up quickly and properly, but not the other two. The web pages tab seems to work most of the time. I did a little test:

1. First I opened up Readme.txt. The files tab picked it up.
2. Then I opened up C: Users Ashraf Downloads (via a shortcut). The folder tab did not pick it up. Then I went to C: Program Files andLinux Drives (manually). C: and Program files were picked up, but not the rest. I tried it a few times over, same result.
3. Then I double clicked the Filezilla icon on my desktop (a shortcut). The programs tab did not pick it up. I tried it a few times over, same result. I did the same thing with Excel (accessed it thru my start menu). It did not pick it up. It did pick up ActualDoc.exe though, when I was installing it. I did not access ActualDoc through a shortcut.
4. I opened up Firefox. I clicked on my "NotebookReview.com" tab. It did not pick it up. I clicked on my "Live.com" tab - it picked it up. I typed in cnn.com - it picked it up.

In addition to the above mentioned, the folders and programs tab show "junk" results. What I mean by junk results are programs like uninstall.exe files and folders like C: Users Users AppData Roaming folders (folders that you yourself did not access but some program you are running did).

Two key features I think this program is missing:

• A "Refresh" button. A button that will "Refresh" the category you are looking at to check and see if new files/folders/programs/websites have been accessed.
• Password protection. I do not want just anyone getting onto my computer and looking at what I have been accessing.

Free Alternatives:

ActualDoc

If you are only using this program to track which documents you have accessed why not get a program that does it better? ActualDoc will ACCURATELY keep track of your documents, in real time and categorizes your documents automatically for you + gives you the option to categorize them by yourself if you wish. The interface is not as simple as RecentX, but I feel it is a better program overall.

To register ActaulDoc, go here, click on the "Registration Key" link that is placed directly under "Download ActualDoc Professional". Copy the huge long key that is in the bottom line (do not include the = signs). Open up ActualDoc, go to Help -> Register. Copy and paste in key. If it worked properly, it will give you a message saying your key is saved or something.

PMnet Verdict: A lot of people seem to be praising this software on GOTD.com, but I dislike it. It really does not do much. It has the potential to do a lot, but it does not. It could be a compatibility issue with Vista, I am not sure, but other then keep track of my recently access files correctly and my recently viewed websites, this program is useless. My suggestion would be to get ActualDoc. Initially when I wrote this review there was a bug with ActualDoc that would not allow me to close the program. But now I just tested it again, being prompted by dwn to do so, and I can confirm the bug is removed. That being said, I really liked this software when I first used it and I really like it now. ActualDoc is recommended.

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