About Q›TAR^®

Initially developed during 1984 as a configurable Data Collection system with Time & Attendance as its first application, the QTAR system has now grown into a modular family of related systems.

From the outset, QTAR was designed so it can be easily configured to match widely different needs in all sorts of organisations. With its hundreds of settings and configurable options (most available without extra charge), the standard QTAR package meets the needs of most companies "out of the box".

However, we can easily add bespoke options without locking the client into a particular version of the software, which allows us to economically provide customised solutions for our customers.

Q›TAR at the leading edge

QTAR was very much ahead of its time. Not only was it the world's first Time & Attendance Recording package available for the then-new microcomputers, it had a lot of unheard-of features. For example, we designed the system from the outset:

• to be a "configurable package", something that was considered to be a contradiction of terms
• to be able to handle the most complex needs of medium and large companies and organisations, as well as the simpler needs of smaller companies
• to handle communications with badge readers in real time, storing transactions and responding immediately to enquiries made at the reader
• as a multi-tasking program able to simultaneously communicate with badge readers and other devices, while handling normal user input, updates and reporting (even under DOS – several years before Windows was developed and released)
• as both a single-user system, able to run on MS-DOS-based microcomputers, and a multi-user system, able to run on multiple versions of Unix systems
• to be portable to new operating systems as they were invented
• to last for 25-40 years or more (so yes, we designed it to handle Y2K issues, over 10 years before most other software companies started thinking about it)

Writing in C and later C++, we also developed (in 1984, many years before the terms were even invented):

• our own application-oriented 4th Generation Language for Data Collection applications;
• our own Rapid Prototyping and Development System.

Modules

QTAR systems now handle a wide variety of applications, both stand-alone and integrated, including for example:

• Time & Attendance Management
• Flexitime Management
• Absence Management
• Annualised Hours and Flexible Working
• Lone Worker Monitoring and Protection
• Attendance Monitoring for Educational Establishments
• Access Control & Monitoring
• Inventory Control and Product Location
• Labour Costing and Job Costing
• Work-in-Progress and Job Tracking
• Production Monitoring and Machine Monitoring
• Shop Floor Data Collection and Data Capture
• Timber Yard Data Collection and Stock Location
• Automatic Presence List in Emergency

Q›TAR Software Solutions

To read more about QTAR Software Solutions, click here >>.

Operating Systems, Client/Server, SQL and other options

QTAR runs on Windows, Open VMS and most "flavours" of Unix/Linux – and even on hand-held PDA's/EDA's (Personal Digital Assistants and Enterprise Digital Assistants) and Mobile Computers. For more information about configuration options and operating systems that can be used with QTAR, click here >>

QTAR^® is both a registered trademark and a registered servicemark of P&Q International plc