What Is Automatic Timesheet Creation?
By Tom Jacobs

Spherical Timesheet Logger automatically tracks PC-based work for the purpose of helping you (or your staff) fill in your timesheets. As an example, if you are working on a Microsoft Word document, Spherical Timesheet knows when you opened the document, when you were actively working on it, and when you finished working on it. Spherical Timesheet then automatically populates entries in your timesheet so you don't have to. Spherical Timesheet Logger can also detect when you are working on emails and visiting websites, and works with nearly all software applications without configuration.

Why use the Spherical Timesheet Logger?
One of the difficulty with implementing a succesful timesheet system is in overcoming the fact that people generally don't like filling in timesheets. Staff often ignore timesheets until they are due, resulting in missing and/or estimated time entries. Managers cannot rely on inaccurate time tracking information to make important business decisions. Client billing can be inaccurate. To help resolve these issues, Spherical Timesheet Logger assists users to fill in their timesheets. This makes the process of creating a timesheet much faster and easier, and the accuracy of timesheets is greatly improved.


What does Spherical Timesheet do to make time tracking easier?

* Unobtrusively tracks the files you work on, emails you read and write, and websites you visit, and starts filling in your timesheet for you automatically.
* Detects when your computer is on and not being used, and starts the Stopwatch after a period of inactivity (user configurable inactivity time). This reminds you to make a timesheet entry while it is still fresh in your mind, and makes the process of finalizing your timesheet much easier.
* Provides single-click access to the Spherical Timesheet Stopwatch, enabling you to make timesheet entries manually at any time.
* Automatically imports appointments from Microsoft Outlook Calendar (compatible with Microsoft Outlook 2000/XP), so you don't have to do it manually.
* Electronically imports appointments from many portable devices including mobile phones and personal digital assistants, enabling you to make timesheet entries while you are on the move.
* Incorporates a cleanup system that removes unwanted automatically collected data. As an example, files that you work on for less than a few minutes (user configurable) are automatically absorbed into other tasks that you were working on at around the same time. This allows you to configure the software to meet your timesheet accuracy requirements, and minimizes timesheet creation time.
* Includes a manual timesheet entry screen, allowing you to add-to or overwrite the automatically collected timesheet information.
* Timesheets can be edited and completed very quickly from within the main application. Simply drag and drop your work items onto projects/clients to assign them, and you timesheet is complete.
* Spherical Timesheet also provides multi-user companies with a central company database, allowing managers to view work done by all staff in a single report. This reduces timesheet administration time, and helps eliminate administration errors.

Spherical Timesheet Logger
Spherical Technology’s Logger application automatically tracks PC-based work, providing a mechanism for automating the collection of accurate timesheet information. Below are some frequently asked questions regarding our patent-pending logging technology.

How does the Logger know what software application I am working on?
The logger detects which Window is currently in focus (the Window that is currently on top). From this information it can find out the name of the software application you have been working on.

How does the Logger know what file or item I am currently working on?
The logger detects which Window is currently in focus (the Window that is currently on top). It then extracts the text title of the Window, and uses a clever algorithm to extract the name of the file or item that is being worked on.

How does the logger know if I have left my document open and have gone for lunch?
The logger automatically detects when the user has not used their keyboard or mouse for a period of time. Time is logged to the unallocated tool so that you can manually assign this time to an item (or just delete it) from within the main application.

How do I create a timesheet out of the logged information?
To create a timesheet, start the main timesheet application. You can start it by right-clicking on the logger icon on the taskbar, and selecting launch Spherical Timesheet. Alternatively, you can start it from the Start > Programs > Spherical Timesheet > Spherical Timesheet menu. The main application allows you to view, add, edit and delete the automatically collected timesheet information.

Can I make manual time entries?
Yes, there are a few different methods for entering in timesheet information manually. If you receive a phone call or if you are going to a meeting, you may wish to use the Stopwatch interface. This can be accessed with a single mouse click on the logger icon in the system tray. You can also add new work with the Add work button from within the main application. Please refer to the documentation included with Spherical Timesheet for further information.

What do I have to do to track my work with the logger?
Simply start the logger application from the Windows Start > Programs > Spherical Timesheet > Spherical Timesheet Logger menu. The logger will run automatically each time you boot your computer.

Which software applications does the logger work with?
The logger works with all software applications. It detects the application name and file or item name with most applciations. With the few applications that do not supply a file or item name in the window title, it will detect the application names and window names.

What does the logger track when I'm using my email program?
The logger determines the item you are working on based on the window title. Regarding Microsoft Outlook, if you open or compose an email, the email subject is used as the item name. If you open up a contact window, the contact's name will be used as the item name.

What information does the logger collect?
The logger collects your user name, the names and details (such as version numbers) of software applications that you have worked on, the names of items that you have worked on and the times you have worked on them, your computer name, some hardware information about your computer (hard disk space, RAM, processor), and the version of your operating system (including build numbers and service packs).

Can my boss spy on me while I'm working?
By default, your automatically tracked data is private and can be password protected. When you edit your timesheet information and click on the submit button (professional edition only), your edited timesheet data is transmitted to a higher-level database where your timesheet can be viewed by your boss.

By: Tom Jacobs

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Tom Jacobs writes for www.superbtimesheets.info where you can find out more about timesheets and other topics.