Time tracker extension
  • 04 Jul 2022
  • 3 Minutes to read
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Time tracker extension

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Article Summary

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.

NOTE

Extensions let you extend the functionality of your bases: you can use extensions to bring new information into Airtable, visualize and summarize your records in colorful ways, and even directly integrate your Airtable bases with your favorite extensions.

Overview

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.

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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 collaborator 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.

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When you're all set up, select Done. A large button will now appear labelled "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 for.

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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