Using the Timer
Start, stop, and manage your active timer
Overview
The real-time timer is the primary way to track time in SimplyManage. It runs continuously in the background, accurately recording your work duration down to the second.
Starting the Timer
To start tracking time:
- Click the timer icon in the header navigation
- The timer panel will expand showing the start form
- Select a project from the dropdown (required)
- Optionally add:
- Description - What you're working on
- Ticket ID - Jira or GitLab issue reference
- Task - Specific task within the project
- Click Start Timer
Quick Start
If you frequently work on the same project, SimplyManage remembers your last used project and will pre-select it for you.
While the Timer is Running
Once started, the timer appears in the header showing:
- Elapsed time - Hours:Minutes:Seconds
- Project name - Which project you're tracking to
- Stop button - Click to stop and save
The timer continues running even if you:
- Navigate to different pages in SimplyManage
- Close the browser tab (timer state is saved)
- Log in from a different device
Browser Closed?
The timer uses WebSocket connections for real-time updates. If your browser is closed, the timer continues running on the server but you won't see live updates until you reopen SimplyManage.
Stopping the Timer
To stop the timer and save your entry:
- Click the stop button in the header
- A confirmation dialog appears showing:
- Total duration tracked
- Project and description
- Option to edit details
- Review the entry details
- Click Save to record the time entry
Editing a Running Timer
You can change the project or description while the timer is running:
- Click on the timer display in the header
- The timer panel expands showing current settings
- Make your changes (project, description, ticket ID)
- Changes are saved automatically
Discarding a Timer
If you started the timer by mistake:
- Click the stop button
- In the confirmation dialog, click Discard
- The timer is stopped and no entry is created
Cannot Undo
Discarding a timer permanently removes the tracked time. This action cannot be undone.
Starting Timer from Tasks
You can also start the timer directly from tasks and projects:
- On the Tasks page, click the play icon next to a task
- On Project details, click "Start Timer"
- From Jira/GitLab via the browser extension
Timer Limits
To prevent accidental extremely long entries:
- Timers running over 12 hours trigger a reminder notification
- Your admin may set maximum entry duration limits
- Long-running timers can be split into multiple entries
Troubleshooting
Timer Won't Start
- Ensure you have selected a project
- Check that you're assigned to the project
- Try refreshing the page
Timer Not Syncing
- Check your internet connection
- Try logging out and back in
- Clear browser cache and reload