Here are the proper steps for closing all applications and shutting down your desktop or laptop, starting with the Impress ERP application:

Steps to Properly Close Applications and Shut Down:

1. Close Impress ERP Application:
• Locate the ">" icon (arrow) at the bottom right of the screen.
• Click on the ">" icon to expand the hidden icons menu.
• Select "Exit" from the context menu. This action will safely close the application and release any locked records or files.
2. Close Other Applications:
• Ensure that all other open applications are closed. Start by saving any work in progress.
• For each open application, click the "X" button in the upper-right corner of the window, or right-click the application icon in the taskbar and select "Close window".
• If prompted to save any unsaved work, make sure to save before closing the application.
3. Clear the Desktop:
• Ensure that no important files are left on the desktop. Move any necessary files to appropriate folders (e.g., Documents, OneDrive) for proper organization and backup.
• Close any open file explorer windows or desktop icons you may have used.
4. Log Out of Citrix Portal (if applicable):
• If you are using Citrix Portal, make sure to log out properly.
5. Restart or Shut Down the Computer:
• Click on the Start Menu (Windows icon) in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
• Select "Power", and choose either "Restart" or "Shut Down":
• Restart: This option will close all applications and restart the computer. Choose this if you plan to continue work shortly.
• Shut Down: This option will close all applications and power off the computer. Choose this if you are finished for the day.
• Allow the system to complete the restart or shutdown process without interruption.
6. Disconnect from Docking Station (Laptops only):
• If you are using a laptop connected to a docking station, wait until the shutdown or restart is complete before disconnecting.
• Once the system is powered down, you may safely remove your laptop from the docking station.

Reminder:

Always ensure that all applications, especially Impress ERP, are properly closed before shutting down the system to prevent data loss, locked files, and potential system conflicts. Following these steps will help maintain the performance and reliability of your workstation.

 

Leaving the Impress ERP application running overnight (often with records locked on the screen) can lead to various issues, both in terms of security, system performance, and operational efficiency. Here’s a breakdown of the potential problems across different areas:

1. Security Risks

• Unauthorized Access: Leaving the application open increases the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data if someone gains physical access to the workstation. This could lead to data breaches, especially if the system is not locked.
• Session Hijacking: If users don’t log out, their sessions could be hijacked either by someone physically accessing the machine or via network vulnerabilities. This could allow unauthorized changes to records or access to confidential information.
• Data Exposure: Sensitive information displayed on the screen may be visible to others, especially in a shared or open environment.

2. Database Record Locking

• Record Locking Issues: Leaving records locked can prevent other users from accessing or editing those records. This can lead to bottlenecks in the workflow, as other users may need to wait until the lock is released.
• Deadlocks: If multiple users leave records locked, it can create a situation where two or more processes are waiting for each other to release locks, leading to deadlocks. This can freeze the application or cause crashes.
• Data Integrity Problems: In some cases, prolonged locking of records can lead to data integrity issues, where updates from other users may be lost or lead to inconsistent states in the database.

3. Backups and Maintenance

• Incomplete Backups: If records are locked during scheduled backups, the backup process may fail to capture the most up-to-date data. This could result in incomplete backups, making it harder to recover accurate data in case of a failure.
• Disruption of Maintenance Tasks: Overnight maintenance tasks, such as database optimization or updates, may be disrupted if records are locked. This can degrade the system’s performance over time.

4. Citrix Workspace Issues

• Session Persistence: Citrix may maintain the session overnight, consuming server resources unnecessarily. This can lead to performance degradation for other users, especially if multiple sessions are left open.
• Profile Corruption: If users don’t properly log out of Citrix, it can lead to profile corruption issues. This happens because Citrix might not save the user's profile correctly if the session is terminated unexpectedly (e.g., due to a network issue or server restart).
• Increased Load: Keeping sessions open with heavy applications like Impress ERP can lead to increased load on the Citrix server, potentially causing slowdowns for other users during peak times.

5. User Profiles

• Profile Corruption: Similar to Citrix workspace issues, leaving applications like Impress ERP running without proper shutdown can cause user profile corruption. When users attempt to log in the next day, they may face issues such as missing settings or corrupted configurations.
• Slow Login Times: Keeping applications open without a proper shutdown can lead to bloated user profiles, increasing login times. This happens because the system must process more data when loading the profile.
• Temporary Files: Applications left running may generate temporary files that are not properly cleared, leading to disk space issues and slower performance.

6. System Performance

• Resource Consumption: Leaving Impress ERP running overnight consumes system resources such as memory and CPU. This can slow down other applications or tasks that run in the background, such as scheduled scans, updates, or backups.
• System Crashes: If the application consumes too many resources or encounters an error while left unattended, it could cause the system to crash. This might lead to data loss or further complications when users return.

7. Operational Efficiency

• Workflow Disruptions: Locked records can cause delays in processing orders, generating reports, or completing transactions, leading to a slowdown in operations.
• Reduced System Reliability: Over time, consistently leaving applications open without proper shutdown can reduce the overall reliability of the system, leading to more frequent crashes, errors, or performance issues.

 

While we do have daily automated restarts and an idle time session close policy in Citrix to address security concerns, it's important to note that these measures primarily focus on mitigating unauthorized access risks. However, the automated session terminations can still lead to unintended consequences, such as session crashes and unreleased file locks within Impress ERP. Additionally, these automated processes can conflict with utility and background tasks that need to run uninterrupted. Therefore, relying solely on automation may not fully resolve the operational issues we are experiencing, which is why we emphasize the importance of users properly logging out and closing applications at the end of their shifts. This approach helps maintain data integrity and ensures that system resources are freed up for maintenance and backups.