Entries Tagged 'TimeSprite' ↓

TimeSprite can now exchange time tracking data with FogBugz Version 6 from Fog Creek Software. It uses the FogBugz API to send and receive information about cases and recorded time.

The TimeSprite FogBugz integration allows you to:

• Download time data from FogBugz and view it using the TimeSprite timesheet, journal and percentage time views
• Automatically track your actual working time, instead of scheduled working time
• Pick your current task using a system tray application instead of a web browser
• Work offline, and upload your time tracking data to FogBugz later

TimeSprite makes the FogBugz time tracking significantly easier to use.

There are several ways you can use TimeSprite with FogBugz:

• Track time in FogBugz and view the data with TimeSprite
• Track time with TimeSprite, and upload the data to FogBugz
• Track time in both, and combine the FogBugz data with TimeSprite’s automatic tracking to see details of what you were working on.

Tracking time with FogBugz

If you use FogBugz for your time tracking, TimeSprite can download the information for easier viewing. Once you have entered the connection information, simply click the arrow to download times for the current interval.

Tracking time with TimeSprite

TimeSprite can send its time tracking information to FogBugz. You can either select your current case in the TimeSprite monitor using the system tray icon, or assign time to cases later in the TimeSprite Journal.

Selecting the current case from the system tray

Assigning a case number to time in the journal

TimeSprite tracks when you are actually using your computer, so you can get more accurate time records.

When you want to send the data to FogBugz, click the arrow to upload the data. Intervals which have not yet been sent will be uploaded.

Tracking time in both

You can track your time in FogBugz, and combine the records with TimeSprite’s automatic tracking. Let TimeSprite automatically track what you are working on, and periodically download the data from FogBugz. You can then see the FogBugz case information alongside TimeSprite’s record of which applications and documents you were using.

Conflicts

Time tracking information from FogBugz will override the FogBugz case information in TimeSprite. TimeSprite will not upload changes if there are already time records for the same interval. However, it will keep trying. To get rid of the error message when you upload the data either:

• Download the FogBugz data for that interval, which will override TimeSprite’s information, or
• Log into FogBugz and delete the existing intervals for that time, so TimeSprite can upload its information.

Setting up the connection

To enable TimeSprite’s FogBugz integration, go to the TimeSprite settings page (Edit->Settings).

Enter the URL of your FogBugz system, typically something like https://your.fogbugz.com or http://server.example.com/fogbugz, your user name, and password.

TimeSprite Website

http://www.timesprite.com

Download

Download TimeSprite from:
http://www.timesprite.com/TimeSpriteSetup.exe

This is a mini-tutorial about creating time sheets from the information automatically recorded by TimeSprite.

Once per minute TimeSprite records the title of the active window on your computer. When you view the reports, it creates groups of similar titles to make the data more manageable.

To create a timesheet, you need to create your own groups and assign the automatic groups or individual window titles to them. This is because the automatic groups are unlikely to correspond with what you actually want in your time sheet. The automatic groups are created from the recorded window titles, so they will be things like “Microsoft Word - Specifications.doc”. To create a timesheet, you need to assign these to timesheet entries.

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Very few problems have been reported during the beta testing, so it is time to officially release TimeSprite version 2.

TimeSprite Version 2 is a free upgrade for those who purchased version 1.

Changes and new functions:

• Use the process name to group windows that don’t have enough information to group by title. This avoids having many short entries for “Save File” dialogs etc.
• Add journal and weekly and monthly timesheet views of data.
• Add wildcard support when grouping by title.
• Records can be grouped by time, overriding other grouping for that specific time.
• Add export and import functions so data from 2 PCs can be merged.
• Add support for adding notes in journal.
• Add copy to clipboard so you can copy and paste to applications like Excel.
• Add reminder function to notify you after you have spent a certain amount of time on an activity.
• Automatically minimize the monitor after startup if it was minimized when shut down.
• The database has been modified for improved performance and smaller size.
• The default data retention period has been extended from 45 to 9999 days.
• Improve the search for common parts of window titles for grouping.
• Add a reminder when the monitor is paused.
• Evaluation period extended to 30 days.
• Use the same list for grouping and the TimeSprite Monitor activity selection. Most people thought these were the same list anyway, and were confused when they were different.
• Fix occasional database errors, and improve the diagnostic information gathered when an error occurs.
• Improve and fix bugs in the date and time selection.

I am very relieved to finally have the TimeSprite 2.0 beta available. A number of people have been asking when TimeSprite was going to be updated, and I really didn’t think it was going to be this long.
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Like many people, I do a lot of reading on the Internet - blogs, newspapers, discussion groups etc. I learn a lot from these online sources, but there needs to be a balance between learning and actual constructive work. I started wondering how much time I actually spend on different activities, and thinking about an application to track my time on the computer.
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