Tracking Time
About time tracking in awork
For every project-based service provider, time tracking is an essential part of billing clients. That's why it's important that every team member working on projects logs their time. Time tracking is often seen as a necessary chore by employees. That's why time tracking in awork is fully integrated into task management and designed to be so fast, easy, and flexible that it doesn't burden anyone.
What is a time entry?
- A time entry always contains:
- Date
- Duration
- Assignment to a user
- Optionally, you can add:
- Start and end time
- Project and task
- Notes
- Activity type
- Billability
Who can track time?
Every user in awork can log time. However, you can only log time to projects and tasks that you have access to (according to rights management).
☝️Note: From the Professional Plan onwards, admins have the option to disable time tracking for all users.
How can I track time?
There are many ways and places to log time in awork. The main difference is between retroactive entry and live tracking using a start-stop timer. The different options are described in detail below.
Start-Stop Timer
Only one timer can run in awork at a time. When you start a new one, the previous one stops automatically. The main entry point is the global timer at the bottom center of your screen. You can control it using the stopwatch icon and add additional information like project, task, or notes.
You can start a timer in various places:
- directly in the global timer
- in the task details at the top right
- in the project details at the top right
- in the action menu of an existing time entry (adopts all settings except date and time)
First, you can search for a project or task using the search function and log time to it.
While the timer is running, you have several options:
- Pause: The timer turns blue and flashes, and you can resume it later.
- Delete a pause: If you delete paused time, the duration is added to the total entry.
- Stop: Click the square icon to end the timer.
- Cancel: Use the trash icon to discard the entire entry.
For safety, awork also stops the timer automatically: either after 24 hours or when the daily limit set in your settings (for example, 10 hours) is reached, regardless of whether the timer was paused in between.
Manual Time Entry
You can log time manually in the following ways:
- Using the + button in the left menu, right next to Times. This appears when you hover your mouse over the word Times.
- In the time overview (Main menu > Times) using the + Time button in the top left corner.
- Using the shortcut Z.
- Select Add time using the + button in the action bar at the bottom center.
A pop-up opens where you can set the duration either using a slider or by entering it manually. Click "Add details" to include additional information like activity type, start and end time, or a note.
Slash commands are particularly handy:
- Use
/to open commands like searching for projects or tasks. /nowsets the end time to the current time and, with a default duration of 1 hour, sets the start time back one hour accordingly./8-nowautomatically creates an entry from 08:00 to now.
The duration and start time adjust dynamically as needed. You can also insert line breaks in the notes field using Shift + Enter for multi-line notes.
Daily and weekly views
In the "Times" section, you have various views available. In daily view, you can log entries directly by dragging and clicking. The window opens automatically with suggested start and end times. In weekly view, you add times by day by clicking on the dashed fields. This lets you plan the entire week quickly and clearly.
You can find more information about the My logged times section here.
Editing a time entry
You can easily edit time entries using the action menu.
- You can change the start time or end time independently; the duration changes accordingly.
- When you change the duration, awork automatically adjusts the end time and keeps the start time.
- If you explicitly changed the end time last, when you change the duration, the start time will be adjusted instead.
Duplicating a time entry
To duplicate an existing time entry, open the action menu and click Duplicate. This creates a copy that you can adjust as needed without having to re-enter everything.
Deleting a time entry
To delete an existing time entry, open the action menu and click Delete.
This entry will then be permanently removed from the user and the project.
Logging time for other users
If you have write access to a project, you can also log time for other team members. When creating an entry, simply select the relevant person.
If you move a time entry to a project for which you don't have write access, the entry is automatically assigned to your own profile.
FAQ
Can I edit the start time while the timer is running?
Even while the timer is running, you can edit and adjust the timer's start time. The logged time will adjust accordingly. Once the time entry is complete, you can adjust the start time retroactively under Times, provided the workspace settings allow it.
Can I pause the timer?
You can pause the timer at any time. When the timer is paused, it turns blue and flashes so you don't forget to resume it. Clicking on the paused timer opens it again, and you can continue time tracking using the play icon.
If you go to Edit via the action button in the time entry, you'll see how long the logged time was paused. By clicking the "x", you can delete the paused time and add it back to the total logged time.
Can I cancel the timer?
If you click on the running timer and then click the trash icon, you can cancel and delete the time tracking. It won't appear anywhere in awork.
Can I hide the timer?
Yes, from the Professional Plan onwards, admins can hide the timer under Settings > Workspace > Time tracking for the entire workspace. Time can still be logged manually.
Can I disable time tracking?
Yes, from the Professional Plan onwards, admins can disable time tracking under Settings > General for the entire workspace.
Can multiple timers run at the same time?
No, only one timer can run at a time.
Does the timer stop automatically?
The timer continues for up to a maximum of 24 hours (even if the browser is already closed). After 24 hours, the timer stops automatically, unless you've activated the maximum time tracking of 10 hours per day in your time tracking settings. Then, of course, the timer stops automatically after 10 hours.
Can external users log time?
External users who are assigned to a project via awork Connect can also log time. This is booked normally to the project and can be viewed in time reports. It's also visible to external users in their own workspace under My times.
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