Anyone know of a good, simple time tracker program?

[Ian Wilson]

Hey y’all!

I’m looking for a simple time tracker program that will stay resident on task bar. I’m not interested in anything that interfaces with QuickBooks or the coffee maker. I don’t need it to prepare invoices. I just want a simple, easy to use time tracker.

I want to be able to pop it open and select from a list of projects and a list of tasks when I start a particular task on a particular project.

I’d like the program to use the computer time to track the time I spend doing that task until I pop it open again to select a new project/task.

I’d like to be able to enter a simple note of what I did, too.

I’d like a simple interface to add new projects and new tasks.

I’d like to be able to store each day’s time for retrieval later.

I’d like to be able to print a report sorted by project number then task. I’d like a total for each project/task each day and each week.

The report would look something like:

7/7/09 8.0 hours
5098662.00
2.7 hours Drafting easements for ALTA
3.2 hours Project Management coordinate title report

5098221.P0
1.1 hours Project Management write scope of work

5099999.00
1.0 hours Business Development met with Bob Smith re: Sylvan Hills project

7/8/09 8.0 hours
5066226.00
1.2 hours Project Management coordinate xmit mylars

5099999.00
4.0 hours Project Management monthly red files
1.5 hours Business Development NAIOP Luncheon
0.8 hours OVERHEAD Prepared Rich’s review

5098221.P0
0.5 hours Project Management re-write scope of work


In short, what I want is to be able to track my time by project and task and have the computer prepare reports for me daily and weekly that totals my time in each project by task and allows me to see a brief note as to what I was actually doing.
It would make time management and filling out those bloody time sheets much easier.

I haven’t been able to find such a program. Has anyone else?

Note to anyone who can program in C for windows: call me to chat about what I’m talking about. This would make a great program for commercial sale to other surveyors, engineers, etc.

Cheers!

.

[RasterMaster]

If was writting a code for this task I would use VBA. The syntax is much easier. back in the day we had to write a simular code to this and I think it was tied into MS Access, its been awhile so...........Do some searches on the VBA sites and I think you will find one closely written to your needs, youll just need to taylor to your desires. Or check the std forms on the Access site for one might be ready for use. I dont think you need to get into the complexity of C, C+ or C++.

[RasterMaster]

Try this site for some templates:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templ ... 51033.aspx

[Sunburned_Surveyor]

Ian,

You might do a Google search for "open source time tracker". It might turn up some hits.

I agree with Raster Master, programming in a high-level language like Visual Basic .NET (or my favorite programming language Java) is generally much more productive than coding in a low-level language like C.

Unless you need to access low-level parts of the underlying operating system, you might consider another language.

You can always release your code under an open source license for other surveyors and engineers to build on. :]

The Sunburned Surveyor (PLS 8489)

[Ian Wilson]

Actually, I've been using a program called TimePanic. They have a freeware version. The full commercial version is about $50.

It’s not perfect, but it sure beats what I had.

I looked at programming in Visual Basic. Looks interesting. I’d have to learn database file creation, but it would be doable.