I notice the tasks from here complete, upload and self report. Is that a server side thing, or can I get this self reporting behaviour at other projects manually?

You can use an app_config.xml:

<app_config>
<report_results_immediately/>
</app_config>

Hey, thanks a lot, I'll try that.

Looking at this, the use of that switch is discouraged, reasonable enough, but my arrangement means I have multiple BOINC Manager windows open on this machine so I can see what is happening without having to switch the screen from machine to machine, which means unplugging it and replugging to the other system, (mouse and keyboard are easy, I have a switch on my desk that allows this, but it doesn't do the screen), as such, the windows cannot be vast, the screen limits them. The window fills quite rapidly if MilkyWay is producing, Einstein also, but to a lesser extent.

... but my arrangement means I have multiple BOINC Manager windows open on this machine so I can see what is happening without having to switch the screen from machine to machine, which means unplugging it and replugging to the other system ...

Why don't you download and install Efmer's BoincTasks? You can view and manage BOINC on MULTIPLE PC's from just one screen and see the status of all tasks on one screen.
For Linux there is Efmer's BoincTasks Js. It runs native on Linux, Mac and Windows.

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I've tried that BoincTasks thing, so far, I have not been able to get it to work. I can see this machine, I've done the bit on the other machine, come back here and scanned, and it finds itself alone. I'll have another look at it when I get a moment.