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Setting Time Tracking Preferences


Setting Time Tracking Preferences

Setting time tracking preferences is as simple as turning on the feature. That, along with designating the first day of your work week, is all you need to do to activate this feature.

Select Preferences from the QuickBooks Edit menu.

Click the Time Tracking icon.

Click the Company Preferences tab.

Click Yes to turn on time tracking.

Select the first day of your work week from the drop-down list.

Click OK.



Installing the Timer

Install the timer so you can begin using the time tracking features of QuickBooks. When you install the timer, you can track time on your computer and use the timer to bill time to clients and record time for payroll purposes. You can also install the timer on computers that aren't running QuickBooks. The timer program is found on the QuickBooks program disk, or you can copy the timer program files from one computer to another. You won't need any password or registration number to install the timer program on any computer.

Click Start on the task bar, and then select Run.

Click the Browse button.

Change the Look in location to your CD-ROM drive or to the folder on your computer where the QuickBooks Timer folder resides.

Double-click the QBTimer folder.

Click Setup.

Click Open .

TIMESAVER

You can also double-click on the filename Setup to open the file.

Click OK.

Follow the onscreen installation instructions, accepting the default choices for file locations and options and clicking Next to continue through the installation process.

For future reference, make a note of the name of the folder into which the timer is installed.

Did You Know?

You can install the timer repeatedly . There is no limit to the number of computers on which you can install the QuickBooks timer.




Getting Your Employees Up to Speed with the Timer

After your employees install the timer, you can help them get started with using the timer by explaining how the timer works and how you expect them to use this program. Specifically, these points should be discussed:

  • Remember that you are providing your employees with data from the QuickBooks Customer & Jobs list that they need to import before they can start time tracking. Point out that this data is in the form of an .iif file, and direct them to install it in the same directory (or folder) as the QuickBooks Timer. The default timer folder is C:\QBTIMER .

  • Discuss any sensitive issues about security and the privacy of the information in the Customer & Jobs list.

  • Tell employees that they have to name and create a QuickBooks Timer file.

  • After the timer file is created, employees must import the .iif file. Then they can begin recording timed activities.

  • Acquaint employees with the drop-down menu system of selecting their own name, customer, job, and services before actually clicking the Start button to begin time tracking.

  • Provide your employees with a brief training session on recording time and transferring that time back to the QuickBooks program.



Keeping Track of Time

Why do we need to keep track of time? Why can't we just go to work, do our jobs, come home at the end of the workday , and be done with it?

There are several reasons for time tracking. This list explains some of the reasons we need to keep track of the amount of time spent at work and what is done with that time:

  • When companies know how long it takes to do a particular job, they can determine when a job will be completed.

  • Companies compare the length of time different workers take to complete the same work to determine how to place workers in positions where they will be most useful and efficient.

  • If a company pays or charges by the hour for services, the company needs to know how much time is spent on a job to assess the cost of the job.

  • Non-salaried workers who are paid by the hour must keep track of time so that they can be paid.

  • Knowing the amount of time a job has taken in the past helps a company estimate the amount of time a similar job will take in the future.