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How to track time on projects and tasks

Start and stop the timer, manually add time entries, edit time logs, and export to Excel for billing or reporting.

Written by Gail Esterhuyse
Updated over a month ago

This guide shows you how to track, manage, and export time entries in Programa so you can accurately bill clients and monitor project hours.


Starting and stopping the timer

Track time in real-time using Programa's built-in timer from anywhere in the platform.

To start the timer:

  1. Select the project you're working on

  2. Access either the Project Management tab or the Studio view

  3. Open the specific task you'd like to track time to

  4. Click the timer icon on the right side

  5. Click the button to start the timer

To stop the timer:

  1. Click the timer icon in the navigation bar next to the Studio tab, or open the task to pause it

  2. Click the red Stop button

  3. To review the recorded time, access the specific task or Time Tracking tab

Note: The timer continues running even if you navigate away from the page or close your browser. You can see active timers in the top navigation bar.


Adding time entries manually

Add time entries for work completed without using the timer, or for retroactive time tracking.

  1. Navigate to Time Tracking, under Studio, in the left-hand toolbar

  2. Click the New Entry button at the top right

  3. Enter the Hours and Minutes you spent on the task

  4. Choose the Date for the time entry

  5. Fill in the project details:

    • Select the Project name

    • Select the Column where the task is located

    • Choose the Task Card

  6. Add any Notes (optional)

  7. Click Save to log your time entry

Tip: Attaching a task to a time entry is required, don’t forget to select one to complete the process.


Viewing time entries

On the Time Tracking page, you can review all tracked time for a chosen period — last week, last 30 days, or a custom range. Filter entries by project, or, if you’re an admin, by team member.


Editing time entries

Modify existing time entries to correct errors or update information.

  1. Go to the Time tracking tab

  2. Click the time entry you want to edit

  3. Update the existing information

  4. Click Update to save changes

To delete a time entry:

  1. Click the time entry you want to delete

  2. Select Delete

  3. Confirm the deletion


Exporting time entries

Export your time data to Excel for invoicing, reporting, or external analysis. You can export the full list or apply filters to customize the export.

  1. Click the Filter button to select the project you'd like to filter by

  2. Select your time period from the next dropdown:

    • This Week will show you the last 7 days

    • Last 30 Days will show you the last 30 days

    • Custom will provide a date picker to select your own timeframe

  3. Select All Team Entries or select a specific Team Member from the drop down to filter by individual team member entries or your whole team's

  4. Click the Export button to export the filtered time entries to an Excel spreadsheet

Your exported file includes:

  • Date and time information

  • Project and task name/s

  • Project phase

  • Project tags/labels (assigned to task card/s)

  • Team member name/s

  • Notes

  • Total duration

Tip: Apply filters before exporting to create custom reports for specific projects, team members, or date ranges.


Logging Time in Pulse

Pulse surfaces a daily reminder to log your time — no need to navigate to your time tracking manually. Each day, simply click Log Yesterday's Time in your Pulse list to add time entries against your projects.

How to Log Your Time

  1. Click Log Time in your Pulse list.

  2. Select the project you want to add a time entry against.

  3. Click Add Time Entry.

  4. Select a task to log time against, or create a new task if one doesn't exist.

  5. Enter the time against the task.

  6. Select Done to save your entries.

Note: Pulse only prompts you to log the previous day's time. If you've missed a day or need to log time for an earlier date, you can do this directly through your Time Tracking view.


Need more help with time tracking? Contact our support team via live chat for personalized assistance.

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