Per Fred:
Ultimately I'd like the program to reside in the system tray so every
time I clock in all I have to do is hit a key stroke and I would be
prompted with questions like
Then at the end of the month you can hit a button and review your
times and descriptions to confirm their accuracy.
I have been surfing Google for "Time Sheet Software" (I'm not sure if
that's the best search) and I see a lot of online apps that fall into
this category. I wonder if this is the best way to handle time sheet
tracking.
I've been doing the DB thing. Wound up writing my own MS Access application -
probably mostly out of ignorance about what's already out there.
The "punch-in-punch-out" idea has sounded good to me from time-to-time; but I
always passed on it after some thought.
I used to write my time into DayTimers until I got fed up with their billing
system. Now I write it into little 4x6 spiral-bound notebooks that I get at
Staples - one per month and batch-transcribe into my timekeeping app when the
mood strikes.
Advantages:
-----------
1) Not all of my billable hours happen with a computer (especially ths *same*
computer) at hand.
2) I can scribble into the notebook faster than I can fill out an online form.
3) The book serves as a sort of diary....in some cases faster and more
conviently scanned by thumb/eyeball than any database.
4) I've got something to go back to if an "official" (i.e. billing report)
activity looks suspicious - like maybe a typo in the hours or the wrong
project/client entered.
5) I need to carry a book anyhow - if only for random notes and other things
that don't work so well on a Palm Pilot.
6) (marginal) It's backup in case my DB goes south and hasn't been backed up
recently enough.
Disadvantages:
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1) Double entry. But also an advantage per #s 4 & 6 above.
2) If I lose a booklet before entering the time I'm screwed. Came close two
times in the 12 years I've been doing it....but hasn't happened yet. Knock on
wood....