Manual Time Entry

Overview

Corcava's manual time entry system provides comprehensive web-based time tracking through the MyWork interface. This feature allows you to add, manage, and organize time entries directly from your browser, making it perfect for recording work completed outside of desktop tracking, retroactive time entry, or when working from different devices.

Manual time entry gives you complete control over your time records with intelligent validation, conflict prevention, and seamless integration with your project management workflow. Understanding these capabilities will help you maintain accurate time records regardless of your working situation.

MyWork Interface Access

Accessing Manual Time Entry

Navigation Path: The manual time entry system is accessed through the MyWork section of your Corcava dashboard:

Access Requirements:

User Permissions - Must have time tracking permissions for assigned projects
Project Assignment - Can only add time to projects where you're assigned
Role Restrictions - Project viewers cannot add manual time entries
Team Membership - Must be active team member with appropriate access

MyWork Dashboard Features:

Time Entry Form - Dedicated form for adding manual time entries
Time Reports View - Visual display of all recorded time entries
Project Selection - Dropdown of assigned projects for time entry
Date Range Filtering - Filter and view time entries by date range
Invoice Integration - Direct integration with invoicing system

Interface Organization

Main Interface Sections:

Add Time Section - Form for creating new manual time entries
Time Reports Section - Tabular view of existing time entries organized by date
Invoice Management - Team invoice creation and management
Filter Controls - Date range and project filtering options
Summary Information - Total hours and time calculations

User Experience Benefits: ✅ Intuitive Interface - Clean, professional interface for easy time entry
✅ Project Context - Immediate access to assigned projects and tasks
✅ Visual Organization - Clear organization of time data by date and project
✅ Real-Time Updates - Immediate reflection of changes in project management

Manual Time Entry Process

Creating Manual Time Entries

Step-by-Step Process:

Step 1: Project Selection

Select Project - Choose from dropdown of assigned projects
Project Validation - System verifies you have time tracking permissions
Project Context - Selected project determines available options and settings

Step 2: Date Selection

Date Picker - Select date for time entry using calendar interface
Date Restrictions - Cannot select future dates for time entries
Current Date Default - System defaults to current date for new entries
Time Zone Awareness - Automatic handling of team time zone settings

Step 3: Time Range Selection

Start Time - Set beginning time for work session using time picker
End Time - Set ending time for work session using time picker
Duration Calculation - System automatically calculates total duration
Time Validation - Ensures start time is before end time

Step 4: Work Notes (Optional)

Note Field - Add optional notes describing work performed
Context Information - Include details about tasks, meetings, or activities
Client Communication - Notes can be included in client reports and invoices
Professional Documentation - Maintain detailed records for billing accuracy

Step 5: Submit and Confirm

Validation Check - System validates all entry requirements
Conflict Detection - Checks for overlapping time intervals
Success Confirmation - Receives confirmation of successful time entry
Immediate Integration - Time immediately appears in project management

Time Entry Validation System

Intelligent Validation Features:

Time Logic Validation:

Start Before End - Ensures start time is earlier than end time
Reasonable Duration - Validates time entries are within reasonable limits
Date Consistency - Ensures selected date matches time entries
Current Time Limits - For current date, cannot enter future times

Conflict Prevention:

Overlap Detection - Prevents overlapping time intervals for same project
Duplicate Prevention - Checks for conflicting existing time entries
Daily Limit Enforcement - Ensures daily time doesn't exceed 24 hours
Project Consistency - Validates time entry against project settings

Data Integrity Controls:

Required Field Validation - Ensures all necessary information is provided
Format Validation - Validates time and date formats are correct
Permission Verification - Confirms user has rights to add time to selected project
Team Settings - Respects team timezone and working hour settings

Manual Time Entry Benefits

Flexibility Benefits: ✅ Retroactive Entry - Add time for work completed in the past
✅ Cross-Device Access - Enter time from any device with web access
✅ Offline Work Recording - Record time for work done without desktop app
✅ Detailed Documentation - Add comprehensive notes and context

Accuracy Benefits: ✅ Precise Time Control - Exact start and end times for accurate billing
✅ Conflict Prevention - Intelligent validation prevents time overlaps
✅ Professional Records - High-quality time data for client billing
✅ Immediate Integration - Time instantly available in project reports

Time Entry Management

Viewing Time Entries

Time Reports Display: Manual time entries are displayed in organized, professional reports within the MyWork interface:

Report Organization:

Date Grouping - Time entries grouped by date for easy review
Project Information - Clear project identification for each entry
Duration Display - Total time and duration clearly shown
Manual Entry Indicator - Clear marking of manually entered time vs. tracked time
Note Display - Work notes and context displayed with each entry

Report Details:

Date Range - Shows start and end times for each entry
Total Duration - Calculated total time for each entry
Project Context - Project name and details for each entry
Manual Flag - Clear indication this was manually entered time
Action Options - Available actions for each time entry

Visual Organization:

Tabular Layout - Professional table format for easy scanning
Color Coding - Visual distinction between manual and tracked time
Responsive Design - Adapts to different screen sizes and devices
Professional Presentation - Clean, client-ready time report format

Time Entry Deletion

Deletion Capabilities: Users can delete manual time entries when corrections are needed:

Deletion Process:

Individual Deletion - Delete specific time entries one at a time
Confirmation Required - System requires confirmation before deletion
Immediate Removal - Deleted entries immediately removed from reports
Project Updates - Project time totals automatically updated after deletion
Audit Trail - Deletion actions are logged for accountability

Deletion Restrictions:

Permission Required - Must have appropriate permissions to delete time entries
Own Entries Only - Can typically only delete your own time entries
Time Limits - May have restrictions on deleting older entries
Invoice Status - Cannot delete entries that are part of finalized invoices

Deletion Benefits: ✅ Error Correction - Quickly correct mistakes in time entries
✅ Data Accuracy - Maintain accurate time records by removing incorrect entries
✅ Professional Management - Keep time records clean and professional
✅ Real-Time Updates - Changes immediately reflected across system

Time Entry Limitations

Current System Limitations: Based on system analysis, manual time entry has specific operational parameters:

Entry Limitations:

No Direct Editing - Cannot edit existing time entries (deletion and re-entry required)
Single Project Focus - Each entry is associated with one project only
Date Restrictions - Cannot enter time for future dates
Daily Limits - Cannot exceed 24 hours of total time per day per project

Workflow Considerations:

Correction Process - To modify entry, must delete and recreate
Planning Required - Carefully plan entries to avoid need for corrections
Validation Awareness - Understand validation rules to avoid entry errors
Permission Dependencies - Ensure appropriate permissions before attempting entry

Advanced Manual Entry Features

Time Zone Handling

Intelligent Time Zone Management: The manual time entry system automatically handles time zone complexities:

Time Zone Features:

Team Time Zone - Automatically uses team's configured time zone
Automatic Conversion - Converts time entries to system time zone for storage
Display Consistency - Shows times in appropriate time zone for user
Cross-Zone Collaboration - Handles team members in different time zones
Daylight Savings - Automatically adjusts for daylight saving time changes

Benefits for Distributed Teams: ✅ Global Team Support - Works seamlessly across different time zones
✅ Consistent Reporting - Time data consistent regardless of user location
✅ Professional Accuracy - Accurate time tracking for international clients
✅ Automatic Handling - No manual time zone calculations required

Integration with Project Management

Seamless Project Integration: Manual time entries integrate directly with your project management workflow:

Integration Features:

Project Assignment - Only shows projects where you're assigned
Permission Respect - Honors project-level permissions and access controls
Real-Time Updates - Time immediately appears in project boards and reports
Task Context - Time entries contribute to overall project time tracking
Client Visibility - Manual entries included in client reports and dashboards

Professional Workflow Benefits: ✅ Unified Time Tracking - Manual and automatic time in single system
✅ Project Consistency - All time data follows same project structure
✅ Client Transparency - Comprehensive time reporting for clients
✅ Team Coordination - Manual entries visible to team members and managers

Best Practices for Manual Time Entry

Accuracy and Consistency

Time Entry Best Practices:

Daily Practices:

Regular Entry - Enter time daily while work details are fresh
Detailed Notes - Include specific details about work performed
Accurate Times - Use precise start and end times for professional billing
Project Verification - Double-check correct project selection before entry
Validation Review - Review entries for accuracy before submission

Professional Documentation:

Client-Ready Notes - Write notes that could be shared with clients
Specific Descriptions - Include specific tasks, meetings, or deliverables
Context Information - Provide enough context for future reference
Professional Language - Use professional terminology and clear descriptions

Common Use Cases

When to Use Manual Time Entry:

Retroactive Time Recording:

Missed Desktop Tracking - Record time when desktop app wasn't available
Offline Work - Add time for work done without internet connection
Meeting Time - Record client meetings or team discussions
Research Time - Add time for research, reading, or learning activities

Supplemental Time Tracking:

Mobile Work - Record time when working from mobile devices
Client Site Work - Add time when working at client locations
Travel Time - Record billable travel time for client projects
Administrative Tasks - Track time for project-related administrative work

Quality Control:

Time Verification - Cross-check desktop tracked time with manual records
Gap Filling - Fill gaps in automatic time tracking
Precision Billing - Ensure accurate time for client billing
Professional Records - Maintain comprehensive time documentation

Troubleshooting Manual Time Entry

Common Issues and Solutions

Time Entry Problems:

Validation Errors:

Overlapping Times - Check for existing time entries in selected time range
Future Date Error - Ensure selected date is not in the future
Invalid Time Range - Verify start time is before end time
Daily Limit Exceeded - Check total daily time doesn't exceed 24 hours

Permission Issues:

Project Access - Verify you're assigned to selected project
Time Tracking Rights - Confirm you have time tracking permissions
Role Restrictions - Check if your role allows manual time entry
Team Membership - Ensure active team membership status

Interface Issues:

Form Not Loading - Refresh page or check internet connection
Project List Empty - Verify project assignments and permissions
Time Picker Problems - Clear browser cache or try different browser
Submission Failures - Check all required fields are completed

Getting Help

Support Resources:

Error Messages - Read system error messages for specific guidance
Validation Feedback - System provides specific feedback on validation errors
Permission Checks - Contact team administrator for permission issues
Technical Support - Contact support team for persistent technical issues

Next Steps

Now that you understand manual time entry, you're ready to explore:

Screenshot Management - Learn about screenshot capture and privacy controls
Time Reports & Analytics - Master comprehensive time reporting and analysis
Time Tracking Permissions - Understand access control and security settings
Advanced Time Features - Explore advanced time tracking capabilities

Remember: Manual time entry provides essential flexibility for comprehensive time tracking. By combining desktop app automation with manual entry capabilities, you can maintain complete, accurate time records that support professional client billing and detailed project analytics, regardless of your working situation or device availability.