To track computer data TimeCamp desktop app has to be installed and the Computer Activities module has to be enabled on your account.
Here we prepared a few scenarios of what data can be tracked and how to configure proper settings.
Settings can be configured differently for each group of users on the account.
You can verify all of the available options for tracking computer time in Computer Activities settings.
Track computer time, activities and screenshots
To use all the possibilities of the desktop app and track computer time, detailed information about activities and screenshots the following options should be enabled:
- enable the Screenshots module. Learn more;
- enable the Track computer activity option in Computer Activities settings;
- enable the Track window titles option in Computer Activities settings;
This way desktop app will start registering activities and screenshots immediately when the computer starts. If computer is unused for a certain time this period will be registered as the away time.
You can define the specific amount of time for computer to be inactive under the Stop tracking when computer is unused for option in settings. Away time is not counted into the effective working time unless the specific activity is assigned to this time slot.
Learn more about the Away time functionality.
Track computer time and activities
If you decided not to capture screenshots of users work and only keep monitoring computer time and activities the following options should be enabled:
- enable the Track computer activity option in Computer Activities settings;
- enable the Track window titles option in Computer Activities settings;
This way desktop app will start registering activities immediately after the computer starts. If computer is unused for a certain time this period will be registered as the away time.
Away time is not counted into the effective working time unless the specific activity is assigned to this time slot. Learn more
Track computer time and activities within the specific timeframes
It is possible to define specific timeframes when desktop app should register computer time and activities. To make application run only within specific hours use this group of settings:
- enable the Track computer activity option in Computer Activities settings;
- enable the Track window titles option in Computer Activities settings;
- define working hours under the Track time in specific hours section in Computer Activities settings;
With these settings, desktop app will start registering activities only within specified hours. If users run their computers before or after these hours, no data will be recorded beyond the established hours.
Instead of defining specific timeframes when desktop app should register data, it is possible to set a daily limit of tracked hours. After setting the Stop tracking time, when daily hours limit is reached option, application will automatically stop recording time after reaching the daily limit.
Please keep in mind that the Away time is also counted into the daily hours limit.
Track computer time and activities only when task is selected
The additional option we provide is to track computer time and activities only when user runs timer for a task. For this scenario set up such options:
- enable the Track computer activity option in Computer Activities settings;
- enable the Track window titles option in Computer Activities settings;
- enable the Track only computer activities when a timer for task is running option in Computer Activities settings;
This way computer data will be registered only when user runs timer in a desktop app widget to work on a specific task. If no timer is running then no activities will be recorded.
This option can work both with the manual and automatic time tracking modes.
If the Screenshots module is enabled then screenshots also will be captured only when timer for a task is running.
Track computer time and activities without window titles
With a certain combination of settings, it is possible to record computer time and activities but exclude window titles and document names. Set up these options:
- enable the Track computer activity option in Computer Activities settings;
- disable the Track window titles option in Computer Activities settings;
This way desktop app will register the websites and applications names but will hide the titles of opened windows within the tab. Windows and files will be presented as "no title" on the list.
Track computer time without activities
If you prefer to monitor only general working hours of users and don't require the detailed list of websites and apps they are working you can use this group of settings:
- disable the Track computer activity option in Computer Activities settings;
- disable the Track window titles option in Computer Activities settings;
This way all computer time will be registered under the "computer activity" title. You'll be able to verify when computer was turned on and off, when user was working, and when the away time was registered.
With these settings, the Dashboard module won't be available.