Understand Web App activity check messages, track with non-DevOp items, track time from a work item and what you'll see if tracking stops and why
7pace Timetracker for Azure DevOps Web App Overview
7pace Timetracker for Azure DevOps Web App Activity Check Settings
How to track time with the 7pace Timerracker for Azure DevOps Web App - Work Item Form
What you'll see if the 7pace Timetracker for Azure DevOps Web App stops tracking and why
7pace Timetracker for Azure DevOps Web App Overview
The 7pace Timetracker for Web App is built right into every single page of the web interface of Timetracker. It’s available from within the web access of DevOps Server/Services and allows you to start tracking right from any work item, without any additional action required.
The Web App works in conjunction with or separately from the 7pace Timetracker for Windows App. If you choose to download, install and pair the Windows App, both work together as a team. If you close out of your web browser while tracking time with the Web App, and you have the Windows App installed and paired, it will take over the job and continue tracking your time. Similarly, if you have both the Web App and the Windows App running, clicking "Start Tracking" on one will also start tracking on the other (as well as on the "Details" tab's "Start Tracking" button functionality on the work item form). If you are only using the Web App and don't have the Windows App, if you close out of 7pace Timetracker and then open it again on another browser or computer, tracking will still resume where you left off.
If you open any page in the 7pace Timetracker main web server extension, the Web App displays at the top of each page (this screenshot shows the "Monthly" page):
If you have previously tracked on an item, the last item tracked will display. The prediction feature remembers the last ten (10) items on which you last worked. Once you click anywhere on the gray tracker bar, the fields expand and display the following:
|
No.
|
Description
|
|---|---|
| 1 |
Work Item The Work Item field for entering a work item ID from DevOps Server/Services or the task name. This can be set as "Always require a work item" by an admin under "Settings" - Rules. IMPORTANT: Please note that the ability to track time without associating that time to specific work items is set to ON by default as it conveniently allows users to track time on non-work-related or impromptu items. You can change this within the "Settings" page of 7pace Timetracker -> Rules -> Tracking Details. When you click in this field, Timetracker displays the list of DevOps work items that you've been assigned, have tracked in the past or the work items that are in progress. If the ID is a valid work item, the tracker displays the following information in the highlighted section:
If it is not recognized in DevOps Server/Services, the list will be empty. Note: For a non-DevOps Server/Services work item, your admin must ensure that under Settings -> Rules -> Tracking Details, the "Always require a work item" box is unchecked. Then, simply leave the "Work Item" field blank (the "Project" and "Parent" fields will likewise, also be blank), click on the "X" icon at the end of the "Work Item" field (see screen shot, below) and write the title or description in the "Comment" field. You can then click "Start Tracking" on that non-DevOps Server/Services item. |
| 2 |
Comment Additional information may be added into the "Comment" field. This field may or may not be required, depending on if your admin has set it as such under Settings -> Rules. If you want to track on a non-DevOps Server/Services work item, ensure that your admin unchecks the "Always require a work item" box, then type in the item description in this field, leave the "Work Item" field black and then click "Start Tracking". As soon as you select another work item the Comment field is reset to empty. |
| 3 |
Activity Type (Optional) An "Activity Type" may be selected from the configured dropdown list. As soon as you select another work item, the Activity Type dropdown is reset to the default activity type set in Configuration. |
| 4 |
Billable Hours
Mark the worklog or track of time as billable or non-billable. |
| 5 |
Total Shows the total time you spent on this work item, including days other than today. |
| 6 |
Current Track Time Shows the current total time spent on the work item since you last clicked the "Start Tracking" button. |
| 7 |
Start Time Shows the start time of the current work item since you last clicked the "Start Tracking" button. |
| 8 |
Close Clicking this button minimizes the main tracker fields so that only the following displays on each 7pace Timetracker page: |
| 9 |
Start Tracking / Stop Tracking Clicking this button starts tracking on the selected work item. Once you click "Start Tracking" and tracking commences, the button changes to "Stop Tracking". |
| 1 |
"Start Tracking"/Time Tracked on Work Item Since "Start Tracking" This button displays even when the expanded tracker fields are closed/minimized and serves as a reminder of how much time has been logged on the current work item since you clicked "Start Tracking". When you click on "Stop Tracking" once the fields are expanded, this button will then display as "Start Tracking". |
| 11 |
Today This field shows how much time you have tracked on the work item in the current day. |
| 12 |
This field displays the "Activity Type" you have selected for the current time track. |
| 13 |
These fields remain/display on every page of Timetracker when you click on "Close" and minimize the expanded tracker fields. You can click anywhere within this gray section to expand or minimize the tracker fields. |
| 14 |
Tracking This field displays the work item on which you are currently tracking time. |
7pace Timetracker for Azure DevOps Web App Activity Check Settings
Under the "Settings" page of Timetracker, the "Time Tracking" section allows an administrator to configure settings within the Web App to prompt users, after a defined period of time, to respond as to whether or not they are still working.
Are you still working?
If you receive this prompt and select "Continue", time tracking resumes without pause until you reach the configured threshold again. Additionally, once displayed, the message features a countdown and after that countdown expires, the Web App stops tracking and displays the "Tracking stopped - no response from user during activity check" message.
Tracking stopped - no response
The countdown can also be set under the "Settings" page -> "Time Tracking" settings.
Tracking Time on a DevOps Item with the 7pace Timetracker for Azue DevOps Web App - Web Interface
1. Open any page in 7paceTimetracker.
The Web App displays at the top of every page (this screenshot shows the "Monthly" page):
If you have not logged any time with the Web App in the current day yet, the "TODAY" field will display 00:00 (the "TODAY" field updates as you track time with the Web App and reflects time tracked on all work items within the current calendar day). "Your tracker is not currently running" will display if you are not tracking time. (If you have previously tracked on an item, the last item you tracked will display on the minimized Web App bar and you can simply click the white "Start Tracking" button to resume tracking on it.)
2. Click anywhere on the gray area of the tracker bar.
The Web App fields expand and display.
3. Click in the "Work Item" field.
If you have previously worked on a work item(s), the prediction feature of the Web App automatically populates the items you were previously working on or assigned in the "Work Item" field (it displays a maximum of 10 items). The last item you tracked time on will be the default selection that displays first in the list.
IMPORTANT: Please note that the ability to track time without associating that time to specific work items is set to ON by default as it conveniently allows users to track time on non-work-related or impromptu items. You can change this within the "Settings" page of 7pace Timetracker -> Rules -> Tracking Details.
4. Select a previously-entered item in the "Work Item" field from the list or begin typing in a new item utilizing the smart search feature.
Once selected, the "Project" and "Parent" fields will also populate ("Parent" field will be blank if it IS the top-level item). The "Work Item" and "Parent" fields include item ID links that when clicked, will open the corresponding work item forms. When you click on the "Work Item" ID, the item form opens. The "Start Tracking" button on the "Details" tab of that project also reflects that time tracking has commenced (see more information on tracking time within the work item form, further down in this article).
5. Enter additional information in the "Comment" text field (this may or may not be required, depending on what your admin configured under "Settings" -> Rules.
6. (Optional) Select an "Activity Type" from the dropdown list.
7. Click the blue "Start Tracking" button.
Time tracking commences.*
*You'll notice that when you start tracking via the Web App, if you also have the Windows App paired with your account, it begins tracking too. As mentioned, above, if you open the work item form, it too will show tracking has commenced on the "Details" tab. All time tracking within Timetracker is synced.
7. Click the "Close" button.
The tracker fields are minimized, allowing you to continue your work. Once minimized, the current work item number and description displays in the "Tracking" field, as well as the "Activity Type" you selected (if any), the total length of time you have worked on this item in the current calendar day ("TODAY" field), and the current length of time you have tracked on the item since hitting "Start Tracking"(to the right of the "TODAY" field).
Tracking Time on a Non-DevOps Server/Services Item with the 7pace Timetracker for Azure DevOps Web App - Web Interface
You can also track time on the Web App on non-DevOps Server/Services items, such as client/customer calls or meetings.
Important: You must first ensure that your admin has unchecked the "Always require a work item" box under "Settings" -> Rules -> Tracking Details. The ability to track time without associating that time to specific work items is set to ON by default as it conveniently allows users to track time on non-work-related or impromptu items.
1. In the "Work Item" field, if there is a DevOps Server/Services-item displaying in the field, simply click the "x" icon at the end of the field.
This clears out the "Work Item" field and displays it as blank:
2. (Required) Enter additional information in the "Comment" text field. When the "Work Item" field is blank, the "Comment" field becomes required in order to start tracking time.
3. (Optional) Select an "Activity Type" from the dropdown list.
4. Click the blue "Start Tracking" button.
Time tracking commences.
Tracking Time with the 7pace Timetracker for Azure DevOps Web App - Work Item Form
You can find the "Start Tracking" button on the work item "Details" page when you open any item to view or edit.
To see how to start tracking from the work item form, click here.
Tracking from here also initiates tracking to commence on the Web App.
Automatic Tracking Stopped Messages
Below are the reasons that tracking may pause or stop on the Timetracker Web App:
If the Web App loses connection due to some kind of network issue, the following message will display. (Time tracking does not stop in this case and continues in the background until connectivity has been re-established.)
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