How to enter time using the Time Sheet (Timekeeping)

Timekeeping is the first step in the billing process and is managed from the navigation bar on the left-hand side, under the Timekeeping tab. The Time Sheet is broken down into three sections: Calendar, New Entry, and Saved Entries.

Calendar

The Calendar allows you to review your overall time entry status and identify dates that require time entry. Each day sums the days’ time entries, each week totals the hours for that week and the month totals all the time for that month. You can filter your time by all hours, billable hours or non-billable hours by selecting one of the filters under the "Month Summary" section.

Note: This Billable vs. Non-Billable filter only applies to the checkbox on the entry for Non-Billable. i.e. if you are filtering the calendar by Non-Billable entries, it will only show billing entries that have the checkbox checked. If the client is using the setting to show Billable hours, entries that are written-down but are still billable will only show in the Billable filter.

New Entry

The New Entry section allows you to create new time entries or edit saved entries. Fill in the fields as necessary and click Save to add to the Saved Entries below. If you are putting in multiple time entries with similar information, you can use the Save and Duplicate button to create a copy time entry for quick editing/addition. Save and Duplicate is not available after the time entry has been saved for the first time. Creating a new entry on the current date will allow the user to start a timer.

Saved Entries 

The Saved Entries section shows all the time entries for the date selected in the Calendar. If you are inputting time for the current date, saved entries will also allow you to start and stop a timer for active timekeeping. The running timer will show on the top of the timekeeping page. You can easily start and stop timers by clicking the play button next to the corresponding timer in the saved time entries screen.

If you would like to copy an entry from another date, click the gear on the right side of the entry and select Copy. This will create a new time entry with the same information for editing.

Note: Timers will automatically increment to the next nth of an hour (where nth is determined in the System Settings > Billing > General >Billing Entries > Bill Round Quantity Min Hrs setting). However, Centerbase records the actual amount of time that the timer has run, so it will not automatically increment to the next value until you cross the required time threshold, no matter how many times you start or stop the timer.

The time entry process varies depending on the default, client or matter level billing settings, so note the setting definitions above to affect the data entry required for the timesheet.