Total Time

[Graeme]

Hello

My boss has asked me to total the time I spend on the projects I'm working on.

Please see attached. If I record when I start and finish tasks for each project I can measure the time spent during the day. Then I can Sum the Total Time manually fairly easily.

Can I use the If function (or some other) in some way to automatically Sum the Total Time by looking up the job numbers. Or would I need to code this and use some variables?

Cheers

Regards

Graeme

[HansV]

You can use the SUMIF function. See the attached version.

Hours per Project.xlsx

[Graeme]

Ah! SUMIF!

Perfect

Thanks

Regards

Graeme

[ChrisGreaves]

My boss has asked me to total the time I spend on the projects I'm working on.

Graeme, since around 1989 I have kept track of my time with Notepad.exe, because Notepad.exe has the ".LOG" feature (attached as Billt202111.txt): if the first line of the file is ".LOG", then Notepad timestamps a new line at the foot of the document.

I kept a toolbar icon whose batch file loaded the current logging file:-
Phone rings; click on icon which time stamps the foot of the document; then chat. If chat is less than two minutes ("let's grab a coffee") I close the file without saving; otherwise I enter the client/person code and save. Now I know how much time they wasted, and I haven't billed my client for 40 minutes of my time.

It comes with a neat summary process in Word2003/VBA which delivers data that can be pasted directly into Excel ...

Untitled.png

But I suspect your boss won't buy the idea of a solution that uses Notepad.exe to record data.
Cheers
Chris

[Graeme]

That's an interesting use of Notepad. I knew about the F5 date and time thing but I didn't know about .log

I have Notepad++ running most of the time, for making notes! But we haven't got that at work.

A button click to enter the time might be useful. I might go and have a play with that.

Regards

Graeme

[ChrisGreaves]

That's an interesting use of Notepad. I knew about the F5 date and time thing but I didn't know about .log
I have Notepad++ running most of the time, for making notes! But we haven't got that at work. A button click to enter the time might be useful. I might go and have a play with that.

If "at work" includes Windows, then you have got Notepad.exe.
I don't know if .LOG works in NotePad++, but you could find out.

Originally I ran the logging data into Jim(?) Buttonware's "PCFiledB" and processed it as a database table of data to be summarized, but then I got a contract using DOS Lotus 2.1, then teaching DOS Lotus, then teaching Windows Lotus, then teaching Excel for Windows, and then Office97 came along, so I broke down and converted my pcFiledB application to Word97/VBA.

I see no reason why one couldn't process the Notepad.txt file directly in Excel as a simple User deal; no need for VBA at all, IMHO.
If you want to try that, I can shoot you some genuine billing data on which to cut your teeth, just let me know.
Cheers
Chris

[Graeme]

I don't know if .LOG works in NotePad++, but you could find out.

I couldn't get it to work in Notepad!

Some searching found Ctrl Shift ; for entering date and time in Excel. That will suffice.

Regards

Graeme

[snb]

Use a simple pivottable to show your 'boss'

[ChrisGreaves]

I couldn't get it to work in Notepad!

Notepad or Notepad+?
I am using it in Win10.
Cheers, Chris

[John Gray]

One trusts that your "total time spent on projects" spreadsheet has an entry accounting for the time you spend on recording/calculating/guessing/manipulating this total time?

[ChrisGreaves]

One trusts that your "total time spent on projects" spreadsheet has an entry accounting for the time you spend on recording/calculating/guessing/manipulating this total time?

I can see what you're thinking, John.
I set this scheme up back around 1988 or 89. I know that I was using it when I started at Laidlaw in Burlington Ontario.
Thirty-three years in operation, and as a one-man firm I detested the paperwork required of me; it took away time that I could have spent programming, some of which I was paid for.

Nowadays I use it mainly to record interruptions (visits by the Town Gossip, rambling phone calls and so on), but I have this past month used it to collect data on recording audio tracks. A 30-minute MP3 recording of part of a chapter of a book can consume up to four hours. Who Knew?

(answer, "I know", thanks to humble old Notepad.exe)

Cheers
Chrius

[StuartR]

I have a .LOG text file on each of my computers, with a shortcut on the desktop. I use it to log all configuration changes, and all error messages, so that I can see what changed when things happen.

[ChrisGreaves]

I have a .LOG text file on each of my computers, ...and all error messages, so that I can see what changed when things happen.

[ChrisGreaves]

I have a .LOG text file on each of my computers, with a shortcut on the desktop. I use it to log all configuration changes, and all error messages, so that I can see what changed when things happen.

This would be a great way to record random logouts from the six phpBB I visit.
Thanks
Chris