Tutorial on how to create a simple timetracker in Notion using buttons

[@overydisc]

Notion formula syntax changed. Time Paused Formula looks like that now: empty(prop("End")) ? dateBetween(now(),prop("Start"), "minutes"): dateBetween(prop("End"),prop("Start"), "minutes")

[@virtualassistantmylene]

Oh my gosh, i finally found someone who has an easy formula for the HH:MM format. Thank you! Your blog is so helpful!

[@laurentestreboou]

I can’t thank you enough for providing this template and tutorial. I've been searching for a way to utilize Notion for tracking my time and generating time reports to help me visualize how I allocate my time and maintain a balance between work, family time, screen time, and more. After days of searching without much luck, I stumbled upon your video. By using your template, I only had to replace 'Projects' with tags (such as work, family time, etc.). The automatic creation of tags in the secondary database when inputting them into the primary database is exactly what I've been dreaming of! There's no need to enter them manually beforehand. While I'll need to make a few small modifications to align it with my specific needs, I believe I can achieve the desired outcome. Thanks again!

[@Jolono]

Wow so glad you've found it useful! I use this myself too for my freelance work

[@laurentestreboou]

@@Jolono I might have celebrated too soon. I thought I could see how much time I spend on each project every day/week/month by tweaking your template a bit. I planned to set up three different views- Daily, Weekly, and Monthly, each with a simple filter, using the Start property from the Timesheet database. But here's the snag: it's not working. Because the 'TimeSheet' column lumps together all entries for a project, I can't filter it for a specific time period. At least, I haven't figured out how yet. Do you have any ideas on what I should try next? Or maybe this template just can't handle what I'm looking for, and I should check out a different system?

[@Jolono]

@@laurentestreboou Hi, yes you can do that - you can add a template to the projects database and in the record body add a view to the timesheet database filtered by the project. You can then add your weekly/monthly views to this table view. If you sum the total time (mins) property you will see the total for each view. Did you buy the template or did you create it yourself from this video?

[@laurentestreboou]

@@Jolono Hello, sorry for my late response. I can't figure what you're trying to explain. I created the template following the instructions in your video, which KZbin recommended during my searches. I didn't know you were selling this template. There is a link in the description of your video to access the template, but the link doesn't work anymore. However, the second link still doesn't work.

[@Jolono]

@@laurentestreboou I've fixed the links now. I've added what I think you want to my template. Here's a link to a Notion page explaining how to set this up if you want to do it yourself: j-f.notion.site/Timesheet-blog-2276b0e0ccce4e22b609e51110e3fb89?pvs=4

[@claybowlproductions]

Excellent demonstration! I attempted to build a pause button myself and I was way, way off.. thank you so much for showing how it's done. It wasn't what I expected. The third database 'paused time' database was really smart idea!!

[@brunacarvalho7149]

Todos os vídeos que eu vi explicando como fazer um time tracker no notion eram muito complicados, obrigada por fazer algo simples de entender e perfeitamente funcional, era exatamente o que eu procurava🙏🙏🙏 você é maravilhosa!!!

[@Jolono]

Obrigado, estou feliz que você tenha achado útil

[@Topidop92]

Oooh this is GOLD : ) What fantastic work you have shared with us : ) I hope Notion see your video and implement this function as feature : )

[@Adanmacreates]

Please keep making tutorials! You explain everything so well ❤

[@Jolono]

Thanks! What would you like to see a tutorial on next? I'm trying to decide what to do.

[@ericataylor9422]

Hi from Sydney! Your tutorial is fantastic, so easy to follow!! I'm just having trouble with the last two formulas which I copied and pasted from your blog - Total Time in projects spreadsheet (error reads Function if expects 3 arguments, but only 1 were provided. [0,37] Total is not defined. [5,10] minutes is not defined. [17,24]) and Total Time in timesheet database (error reads Function if expects 3 arguments, but only 1 were provided. [0,37] Total is not defined. [5,10] minutes is not defined. [17,24]). Are you able to help please? Thank you!

[@Jolono]

Thanks for letting me know! I've found the problem, I used different names for the properties in the blog and video (used capital T in one and lower case t in another). Anyway, have updated the blog now so you can try and copy and paste the updated formulas into your database. Let me know if you have any more issues.

[@ericataylor9422]

@@Jolono thanks so much for your very prompt reply!

[@ericataylor9422]

@@Jolono still getting the error?

[@Jolono]

Oh no...can you send me an email at [e-mail] and we can communicate via that...need to see what the issue is via screen shots. Thanks

[@yaycoffee3865]

Has anyone managed to rework these formulas to fit with the new notion syntax? Great tutorial, easy to follow apart from the formulas that don't seem to work anymore.

[@Jolono]

Hi, check out the blog for this video. You can copy the formulas and paste into your Notion, they all work. Here's the link to the blog: j-f.notion.site/Timesheet-Template-Blog-1945294ed6064c85a3458f278b62d58f?pvs=4

[@Kazz963]

Easiest subscribe speedrun of my life

[@rafaelladcruiz]

Hi Jo! Thanks for the great tutorial! This is so helpful!! Quick question: do you have a formula to calculate the sum of subtasks inside your tasks?

[@sonicscapepro]

Incredible video and insanely well explained. Absolutely will use this in my template! Subscribed!

[@MaorAviad]

Amazing stuff. tested it and it's working great!

[@hoanganhbui1097]

I luv it. Btw, how can u to calculate the total study time in a day using what formulas. Plzzz help me

[@BIJoDataTips]

Thanks, You could create a timesheet for each day. If you wanted to record it by subject you could put the subject in the project database? I'm creating a new version of this video and will include a bit about how to use it for study. Recording that video today!

[@fikrihambali1466]

Hi @Jolono i already followed the code you provided in the minute 11:56 , but in my notion have error "Cannot do math on text and number. [29,87] End of input expected. [520,521]". so could you help me please about how to fix it ?

[@Jolono]

Hi, have you tried copying the code from my blog? The link is in the video's description.

[@marianaalves4601]

you r a genius! thank youuu

[@krominesoldchannel]

I can't do it because of notion new formula update. please help with new tutorial!!!! 11:54 is too difficult to do in new update i can't even map out the properties.

[@JohannaCalla]

Thanks for this! However I'm having a problem with the Total Time. It seems inaccurate. I think it's adding up the total time (minutes) plus the total paused time. The numbers calculated are huge!

[@Jolono]

Hi, did you copy and paste the code from the blog? The total time formula calculates the time between the start and end dates minus the paused time. If there isn't an end date it calculates the time between the start time and now. So maybe you haven't put an end date? If it's still not working email me at [e-mail] and I can take a look to see what's happening in more detail.

[@Leo-nb9kc]

Thank you for an amazing tutorial. Is there a way to track time for multiple projects? For instance, work; read; etc...?

[@anastasiajahadi4874]

Love this - I actually want to track time by phase - Im thinking based on your example I could just add a property in the timesheet database for phase and then create rollups for total time per phase at the project level does that make sense?

[@Seagrass1881]

Thanks for working on this, but I am afraid it just doesn't seem to work. I have set it up three times, thinking I got something wrong, but each time I end up with minus minutes in my projects database, and the times keep doing odd things - one moment they say I have 20 minutes logged and the next some different time. The time on a single complete record also does not seem to be the same as the time I get recording the same time on a stopwatch, indicating the timesheet is somehow not recording the time correctly. Do you know why this might be?

[@Jolono]

Hey can you send a screenshoot to me at [e-mail] and I'll take a look for you

[@truongcuongtv]

Thank for sharing :D

[@KeithC-s4r]

How do you do this at the task level vs selecting projects when tracking time?

[@Jolono]

I guess the timesheet database is like a task database, you track the time on each row. The Total Time column in the timesheet database tells you how much time you've spent on each item/task. The project database is there so you can roll up all the timesheet entries to see how much in total you've spent on a project. If your work doesn't use projects then you don't need that database.

[@LaurenMilla]

The final equation for calculating total time isn't working for me, either saying "minutes" is not a number or that there aren't enough arguments for the if statement. I double checked how I entered things, double checked the dependent fields, substituted a simple if statement piece by piece, so weird. Going to continue troubleshooting, not sure what's going on for me

[@Jolono]

Hi, is it the Total Time property in the Projects database that isn’t working for you?

[@laisterribile]

I am having the same problem in the total time property

[@Jolono]

Hi @@laisterribile , have you tried copying and pasting the formulas in from my blog?

[@72Bohica]

Problem was that you showed the formula for the Total Time (minutes) for the last formula entry in the Projects DB. Needed to be a copy of the Total Time formula instead. Great video though. Was looking to understand DB relations better as well as formulas. Got both and look forward to trying this new tracker out next week at work.

[@smeliy4]

It's seems like when I click unpause every record that has paused status in paused time database update their end prop and projects ar run again but with paused status

[@Jolono]

Yes this is how it works. I couldn't figure out how to so it Nother way. However I am in the middle of creating another version using database buttons that'll fix the problem.

[@IvanMariLorenzoCruz-o5f]

Hi, seems that when I'm trying to do the button, the option "Now" for trigger is not available in my version. So I end up filling up both start and end when I click my button. Any fix on this?

[@Jolono]

Hi, sorry you're having an issue. I've just looked at Notion and they've change the now option, you should select the "Time triggered" option instead. Let me know if this fixes the issue. If it doesn't work, you can email me at [e-mail] for me support.

[@IvanMariLorenzoCruz-o5f]

@@Jolono Hi, I tried setting it to time triggered but I think your formula doesn't work. Have to change the end time manually on its page

[@Jolono]

@@IvanMariLorenzoCruz-o5f Which button are you referring to?

[@avamarielorrainecruz2020]

@@Jolono the start button. the formula can record the start time correctly but the end time gets filled at the same time and it puts in the wrong end time also

[@Jolono]

@@avamarielorrainecruz2020 Hi, if it's the button I explain 4 mins into the video, I just checked and it still works. It's the button that fills in the start time. Make sure you only select the start property in the button set up. If you're still stuck please email me at [e-mail] and I'll reply there.

[@siuzannav]

if i get a template, do i still have to do all these settings you show in the video? or is it ready to go?

[@BIJoDataTips]

Hi, the template is ready to go...this video just shows how to create the template yourself.

[@timovojniczelic7022]

Great tutorial, although the method of keeping track of pause time doesn't make sense to me. Why not just keep track of sessions and add all the session times of the task/project. Create a database called time tracker with the usual "status", "start time", "end time" and "Total Time" calculated as in the video, then add a relation to the task table called "related task". When the button of start or unpause is clicked, create a new item as a *session* to the time tracker table with the "related task" set to /this page/ and "start time" set to /now/. With the pause and end button, modify the last open *session* by filtering on empty "Total time" and set "End time" to now (making "Total time" not empty anymore). In the task table set a roll up property to the relation you made earlier with the time tracker table and get the sum of the "Total time" property. This way the total time is always the sum of the sessions you worked on it because it only counts up the ones with the "related task" set to the task name of your current entry. This works because only session is active at a time, you have to pause and unpause when working on other tasks. You can also edit the status of the current task simultaneously with the button from "not started" to "active" to "in progress" (and back to active) to "finished". Tracking "active" sessions instead of "pause" sessions seems much more logical and efficient to me, also more relevant information is provided, when and how long did I work on it instead of when did I *not* work on it.

[@Jolono]

Hey, I think I follow what you're saying and it makes sense. I'll have a go at creating what you suggested and let you know how I get on!

[@timovojniczelic7022]

I could make a template of what I did (the described method above) and share it with you if you like. It also allows for different kinds of databases to be linked to the same time-tracking timesheet. Making you able to track time spent on basically anything like work and reading (as asked by @Leo-nb9kc) not only tasks and projects. This still works as you can only do one thing at a time, have only one active session. You can just add more relation properties and copy (and edit) the buttons.

[@CountlessCrimes]

@@timovojniczelic7022 Hey, I need exactly the same template you mention here. Could you please provide me your readymade template of time tracker. It will be very helpful for me , and I will always be thankful to you.

[@aga_borzyszkowska]

@timovojniczelic7022 Thanks for this detailed suggestions. I would love to see that template. Do you have a place where you shared it? I've tried tracking time with the pause time, but it doesn't work well for me. It's great to calculate a lunch time break but every time I had a task left for another day I need to deal with some awkward pause time.

[@amiecai]

Hi! I would also love to incorporate this template :)

[@devinswork]

Love it

[@bobbycraig7940]

at 11:40 time stamp i get a "Cannot do math on number and array. [12,48] Cannot do math on number and array. [53,85]"

[@Jolono]

Make sure you've use the exact name of the property. Notion is case sensitive so won't recognise the property in a formula if it's not exactly the same. You can try copying and pasting the code from my blog.