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    Time-based extensions
    • 05 Mar 2024
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    Contents

    Time-based extensions

    • Updated on 05 Mar 2024
    • 5 Minutes to read
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    Article summary

    Plan availability

    All paid plans

    Permissions

    • Owners/Creators - Can create, delete, and modify extensions

    • Editors - Can edit the configuration of previously configured extensions

    Platform(s)

    Web/Browser, Mac app, and Windows app

    Related reading

    Guide: Build your own Airtable extensions

    Airtable terminology

    Extension - Extensions are modular components that add visuals or functionality to a base, and were shown in the base's dashboard. Users can create custom extensions, or they can use extensions created by Airtable or other open-source extensions.

    Countdown extension

    The countdown extension shows a big countdown clock in the color and units of your choosing. You can set it to count down to a specific date and time, or to the earliest or latest date in a specific view.

    Learn more about the countdown extension here:

    countdown

    When you first add a countdown extension to your base, it'll automatically open the new extension's settings page. There are two ways for you to set a date for the countdown extension: you can set the countdown extension to count down to a specific date, or you can it to count down to a date from a view.

    If you want the extension to count down to a specific date, simply click on the date/time picker and select the desired date and time, or type in your desired date and time.

    specific-date

    If you want the extension to count down to a date from a view, click the Date from view option, then specify a table, view, and date field. You can choose whether you want the extension to count down to the earliest date in a view or the latest date in a view.

    If you choose to count down to a date from a view, the countdown will change if the earliest or latest record in the view changes. For example, you can create a filtered view which shows all records with deadlines after today, and set the countdown extension to count down to the earliest date in that view. As deadlines pass and records leave the view, the countdown extension will change to match the new earliest dates in the view.

    Screen Shot 2017-11-13 at 4.50.47 PM

    You can customize the countdown's time units—from years and months down to minutes and seconds—by checking and unchecking the appropriate boxes in the Units section. You can also adjust the color of the countdown numbers.

    Screen Shot 2017-11-13 at 5.03.01 PM

    World clock extension

    The world clock extension adds a live clock to your base, calibrated to the time zone of a city of your choosing. You can customize the clock's appearance (digital, analog, or both) and give it a color and label.

    Learn more about the world clock extension here:

    When you first add a countdown extension to your base, it'll automatically open the new extension's settings page.

    Screen Shot 2017-11-15 at 5.51.59 PM

    Under the Clock type settings, you can choose to display the clock as digital, analog, or both.

    Screen Shot 2017-11-15 at 5.53.09 PM

    From the City dropdown menu, pick the city whose time you want to display on the clock. You can search for specific cities by typing a search query. If the specific city you want is not represented in the menu, pick a city in the same timezone as the timezone you want to display.

    Screen Shot 2017-11-15 at 5.55.48 PM

    Pick a color for your clock from the available swatches, and—if you want—give the clock a custom label. If you don't give the clock a custom label, the clock will automatically be labeled with the name of the city you chose in the City dropdown menu. If you do give the clock a custom label, it will overwrite the name of the city.

    Screen Shot 2017-11-15 at 5.59.02 PM

    Time tracker extension

    The time tracker extension allows you to measure the minutes or hours in a day spent on a specific task. You can also add collaborators to each task, giving you a high-level overview of how long your team is spending on a project.

    Learn more about the time tracker extension below:

    General setup

    You can track time for existing records, or create new records directly from the time tracker extension. After you've added the time tracker extension to your base, you'll need to adjust the settings.

    Screen Shot 2017-11-15 at 3.15.20 PM

    Pick the table in which you'd like your records to be created using the Table dropdown menu; select a start date field. (The start date field is optional, but must be configured as a date field.)

    You have the option of designating a user field. If you do this, the field you designate will automatically get filled in with the name of whichever collaborator starts the time tracker.

    You can choose to pick a "view" for the time tracker extension. If a view is selected, only records from that view will be shown when picking a record to start tracking time.

    Then, choose your duration field (which must be configured as a number field or a duration field) and duration unit—either minutes or hours.

    Screen Shot 2020-08-14 at 1.10.24 PM

    When you're all set up, select Done. A large button will now appear labeled Start tracking. Clicking this button will let you choose an existing record to add time tracking to, or create a new record to start tracking time.

    Pickatime

    Track time for an existing record

    When you click Start tracking, you'll be given the option to choose an existing record to add time tracking to. After you choose your record and start tracking, if you have a start date field the current date will appear in that field. If you set up a collaborator field, the collaborator field will automatically fill in with the name of whichever collaborator started the timer (but you can change the collaborator later if you need to).

    Track existing record

    The time tracker will continue running even if you switch to a different base or leave Airtable. If you select Expand record you can update your tracked record.

    You can also pause your session by clicking on the yellow pause button.

    Click the Stop tracking button when you're ready. This will stop the timer and add that value into the designated duration field. Note that using the Time tracker extension to update a duration field will not prevent you from manually updating that field value if need. If you didn't add project details earlier, you can now with titles, links, and checkboxes to designate whether or not you've completed the task at hand.

    Track time to create a new record

    Instead of selecting an existing record, you can choose to create a brand new record by selecting + Add new record.

    Time tracker add new record

    This will create a new record with a value in the designated start time field. If you set up a collaborator field, the collaborator field will automatically fill in with the name of whichever collaborator started the tracker (but you can change the collaborator later if you need to).

    The time tracker will continue running even if you switch to a different base or leave Airtable. If you select Expand record you can add and edit fields associated with your tracked record.

    You can also pause your session by clicking on the yellow pause button.

    Click the Stop tracking button when you're ready. This will stop the timer and add a value into the designated duration field. If you didn't add project details earlier, you can now with titles, links, and checkboxes to designate whether or not you've completed the task at hand.

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