7pace Desktop App

New 7pace desktop app 

The new 7pace Desktop app allows quick access to your most important Timetracker functionality, while not taking up a lot of precious real estate on the page. In addition to tracking time on-the-fly, desktop app users can now easily make time adjustments or enter time manually directly via our desktop app. 

Installing and pairing

How to download the 7pace Desktop app 

You can download the new 7pace desktop app on the Apps page of 7pace.

How to pair the 7pace desktop app

To pair your 7pace desktop app, open the 7pace Apps page and in the Pair Account section, click Pair Desktop App.

7pace desktop app - Idle

When your 7pace desktop app opens, you can see a list of previously-tracked worklogs, with the last 20 worklogs displayed. 

How to unpair the 7pace desktop app

There are two ways to unpair your 7pace desktop app.

1. To unpair your desktop app from within 7pace for web, open the Apps page and in the Pair Account section, click Unpair All Apps. 

2. To unpair from the 7pace desktop app itself, click the Organizations icon, highlight the organization you wish to unpair and click the Unpair organization icon:

Tracking

 How to start tracking on existing work items in recent worklog history on 7pace Timetracker app for Mac and Windows 

1. To start tracking on work items already present in recent worklog history, hover over an existing work item in your worklog history list.

You can see an icon appear with a Start Tracking tooltip hint. 

2. Click Start Tracking. 

Tracking begins. The Start Tracking button switches to Stop Tracking and the top bar of the Mac or Windows app displays the current work item number, name, and current track time as it tracks. 

You can also start tracking on existing items by selecting the worklog itself from the Worklog History panel. 

3. Click a specific worklog from the Worklog History panel.

The worklog details panel displays on the right, allowing you to click Start Tracking.

How to stop tracking on Mac or Windows app

To stop the track, hover over a worklog and click Stop Track from the Worklog History section.

Or, from the title bar of the Mac or Windows app itself.

How to start tracking on a new work item on Mac or Windows app

1. From the Total Today panel, click the Start Tracking button.

The Start a new track panel displays. 

2. Click in the Search work items field.

If you have previously tracked on items, they are displayed in the list. 

3. Select a previously-tracked item or type in the name or number to search for new corresponding items. 

4. Add a description and activity type (can be mandatory or optional, depending on settings) and then click Start Tracking.

Current track displays at the top of the Worklog History list on the left and Current Track displays at the top of the Mac or Windows app. 

How to minimize the Mac and Windows app on your screen while tracking

1. Open your Mac or Windows app.

2. Start tracking on a work item.

The minimize icon displays on the top left of the app menu bar.

3. Click the minimize icon.

The Mac or Windows app now displays in minimized form on your desktop.

To see the expanded, full view of the app again, simply click the Expand icon in the top-left of the minimized view's menu bar.

Adding, editing and deleting time

How to manually add time on new work items on Mac and Windows app

1. From the Total Today panel, click the Add Time button. 

The Add Time panel is displayed. 

3. Click in the Search work items field.

If you have previously tracked on items, they are displayed in the list. 

4. Select a previously-tracked item or type in the name or number to search for new corresponding items. 

5. Add Duration, or fill in the From and To fields, or click one of the pre-set time periods: 0.5h, 1h, 2h, or, 4h.

Or, add a description and Activity Type (can be mandatory or optional, depending on settings), and then, click Add.

The Mac or Windows app refreshes to display Total Today panel on the right with updated totals and new worklog displays at the top of the Worklog History panel on the left. 

How to edit an existing worklog on Mac and Windows app

1. From the Worklog History panel on the left of the Mac or Windows app, click the worklog you want to edit.

Details panel displays on the right side of the Mac or Windows app.

3. Click the Edit icon (pencil) at the top right of the details panel.

Fields become editable.

4. Make any necessary changes (in this case, we added time to Duration and added additional text in the comment section) and save the changes.

Mac or Windows app refreshes to display the Total Today panel on the right with updated time under Total Today with worklog on the left reflecting updated total as well. 

The Comment icon () displays next to the work item ID to reflect any comments that have added to the worklog (hovering over it displays a tooltip hint comment).

How to switch between Worklog Detail View and Total Today View on Mac or Windows app

1. Click a specific worklog card under Worklog History.

The details of that worklog display on the right of the Mac or Windows app.

2. Under Worklog History, click the same worklog again. 

The Total Today screen displays on the right, allowing you to start tracking on a new item or add time to a new item.

How to duplicate a worklog on Mac and Windows app

1. Hover over a worklog and click the Duplicate icon.

Or, click the worklog itself and click Duplicate on the Details panel.

The details panel switches to an editable Add Time panel. 

2. Add From and To fields, Duration, or, select one of the pre-filled selection button (0.5h, 1h, 2h, 4h) values and click Add.

Worklog is duplicated. 

How to delete time on the Mac and Windows app

1. Under Worklog History, click a worklog.

Worklog details are displayed.

2. Click the Red garbage can icon at the top left of the details panel.

Confirmation dialog is displayed.

3. Select Delete.

Worklog is deleted from the Worklog History panel and throughout all 7pace Timetracker environments.

Multi-organization support

How to switch between multiple DevOps organization on Mac and Windows app

1. In the Mac or Windows app toolbar, click the Organizations icon.

Organizations that you have previously paired with Mac or Windows app are displayed.

2. Either, select a previously-paired organization, or, click the + icon.

If you click the + icon, this page displays on how to pair a new or with the Mac or Windows app:

If you select a previously-paired organization from the list, the Mac or Windows app refreshes and reloads with that org.

How to track time on a non-DevOps item with the Mac or Windows app

1. Click Start tracking on a new item button. To get to this screen, use your mouse to toggle back and forth within a card in Worklog History.

A Start a new track window is displayed.

3. Leave the Search work items text field blank, type in a description, select any relevant information in remaining fields, and, click Start Tracking.

Tracking on the non-DevOps item commences. 

4. To add time to a non-DevOps item, click Add Time.

The Add Time panel is displayed.

5. Leave the Search work items text field blank, type in Duration and From fields, or, select one of the pre-set time allotments (0.5h, 1h, 2h, 4h) add a description, and, click Add.

The non-DevOps item is added to the Worklog History panel.

Settings

How to set stop tracking when computer is locked

1. Click the Settings icon on the top-left menu bar.

The Settings page is displayed.

2. Click Stop tracking when computer is locked checkbox.

How to set 7pace Timetracker to start when your computer starts up

1. Click the Settings icon on the top-left menu bar.

2. Select Start 7pace Timetracker on start-up checkbox.

How to set 7pace Timetracker app to always displays on top

1. Click the Settings icon on the top-left menu bar.

2. Select Always on top checkbox.

How to configure hotkeys on the Mac or Windows app

1. Click the Settings icon on the top-left menu bar.

2. Select the Use Hotkeys checkbox.

3. Click the Hotkeys menu selection at the top. The Hotkeys page displays.

4. Click the current hotkeys combination in the Activity Check Confirmation text field to enter in a new hotkey combination.

Legacy Windows app

The optional legacy 7pace Timetracker Windows app is a lightweight desktop application that tracks the time you spend on project tasks. Downloadable from the Apps page of Timetracker, the Windows app is connected to your project collection in DevOps Server/Services.

Your tracked time is sent in near real-time accuracy from the Windows app to the 7pace Timetracker system. Conversely, the data available in DevOps server/services and 7pace Timetracker is also displayed and used in the Windows app. When you start tracking with our Windows app, tracking also begins and is synced with Timetracker's web app on every web page of our application, and on the work item form. All apps work on their own or together, to capture your tracked time in the most accurate and efficient way possible.

Install the Legacy Windows app

Installing and pairing the legacy Windows app is quick and easy and you can pair it with any DevOps server/services account. You can also switch between different accounts and select which one you want to start tracking from.

1. On the Apps page of 7pace Timetracker, click the Download App button, under 7pace Timetracker App for Windows - Legacy:

The Windows app setup file is downloaded to your system.

2. Run the setup file.

The setup file installs the Windows app and displays a dialog box prompting you to pair your app to your DevOps server/services account.

If you have already paired your email address with a Team Services account, you can see the dialog box with the paired connections list.

 Pair Legacy 7pace Timetracker Windows app for DevOps server (on-premise)

1. Open your Windows app.

2. Click the Add new account link. 

3. Click DevOps Server. 

4. Enter in your DevOps Server URL and Collection Name, and click Connect.

Your Windows app is connected to your DevOps server account.

Auto-pair your Legacy Windows app

1. Navigate to the Apps page in 7pace Timetracker.  

2. Click the Pair account link. 

3. Follow prompts to automatically pair your installed Windows app with 7pace Timetracker.

Unpair your Legacy Windows app

1. On the Apps page, under the Pairing section, select the Unpair your account link.

2. Click Ok.

Disconnecting your Legacy Windows app

1. In your system tray, right-click the Windows App icon and select Disconnect.

The browser displays a window with a list of your connections.

2. Select the connection that you want to delete and click the Remove connection () icon.

Uninstalling the Legacy Windows app

1. Go to the DevOps server/services system where you installed the Legacy Windows app. 

2. Open the Windows Control Panel and select the Programs and Features application.

3. Click the 7pace Timetracker program and click the Uninstall button. 

Legacy Windows app - Idle mode

This is the main window of the legacy 7pace Timetracker Windows app as it appears after the initial start of the application and while idle.

 Configure Settings

Clicking the Settings icon allows you to enable or disable the following:

• Stop tracking when PC is locked

• Use hot keys

• Timetracker starts on Windows startup

• Always on top

Clicking the About 7pace Timetracker link displays an informational pop-up window with links on how to reach the 7pace website, support, and our user documentation:

View paired Organizations

Click the Accounts icon to see which accounts you have paired with your Windows app. You can also see which account is currently connected and switch between accounts if you have paired your app with more than one. The Add a new account link provides instructions on how to download and pair the Windows app. This can be done either, directly from the app itself, or, from the Apps page of of 7pace Timetracker's web interface.

View the main window

The app's main window shows Current Track and displays as Not tracking when apps are not being used.

Started At and Total Item display as blank if not tracking.

For more information on additional fields on this main app window, please see the sections below.

View total time tracked today

The time that you tracked today in total, including all other items you worked on.

Start/Stop buttons

The arrow-shaped Start button/icon to begin tracking time for a DevOps server/services or non-DevOps server/services work item.

This button toggles to a square-shaped Stop button/icon when tracking has begun.

Start tracking

When idle, the app displays Start Tracking under the Start button/icon.

Once tracking commences, the app displays Stop Tracking under the Stop button/icon.

Tracking time on a DevOps server/services work item

This field allows you to enter a work item ID from DevOps Server/Services.

Place your cursor in the What item are you working on? text field.

The predictive text feature automatically populates a list of work items:

• assigned to you,

• tracked on in the past ((non-DevOps server/services items you have previously tracked on do not display in this list),

• that are in progress (the list is currently limited to 10 work items).

You can then select an item in the list or click Cancel to return to the previous window ("X" closes the app window; to reopen, look in your system tray).

You can also place your cursor in the text field and manually start typing a work item ID or title and matching DevOps server/services items are found. Selecting an item in the resulting list returns you to the original window, with the item now displaying in the text field.

Add comment and/or activity type

You can then add an optional Comment (unless your administrator has made Comment a required field in Settings > Rules) and/or activity type from the dropdown. Click the Start Tracking button.

Tracking time on a non-DevOps server/services work item with Legacy Windows app

To track time on a non-DevOps server/services work item, you must first click the X icon to clear the work item text field as shown in the following screenshot:

Once the work item field is empty, you must type additional information in the Comment field to enable the Start Tracking button.

The activity type field (shows as "User default" in this example) is optional, unless your administrator has set it as required in 7pace Timetracker Settings.

Click the Start Tracking button to start tracking your time.

Add a comment

Add a comment to your DevOps server/services work item or leave the What item are you working on? field blank and add a required comment to track time on a non-DevOps server/services item. This can be configured/set as optional or required by your administrator under Settings > Rules > Tracking Details.

Add an Activity Type

If your administrator has enabled this option under the Settings page > Activity Types page of 7pace Timetracker, you can select an activity type that best reflects your current work item. This can be configured/set as optional or required by your administrator under Settings > Rules > Tracking Details.

Track a work item

This is the main window of the 7pace Timetracker Windows app as it appears when tracking on a work item:

1. Current track information

Current Track shows your tracked time in HH:MM:SS format. This changes from Not tracking when idle to a stopwatch of sorts when tracking commences, and reflects the time since you last hit the Start button. This time is reset every time you click the Stop and Start buttons, even if you continue working on the same work item.

Started At displays the exact time you started tracking on this item since clicking the Start button.

Total Item reflects the time that you spent on the specified item in total, including days other than today.

2. Stop tracking

The square-shaped toggle Stop button/icon to begin tracking time for a DevOps server/services or non-DevOps server/services work item.

When clicked and idle again, the app displays Start Tracking under the Start button/icon.

3. Current track work item

This displays the current work item ID and name being tracked. The work item ID is clickable and opens the work item form. 

In addition, you can hover over the name or ID if you want to see the project to which this work item belongs. 

Activity check settings on the Legacy Windows app

A 7pace Timetracker administrator can configure settings under Settings > "Time Tracking" to prompt users of the Window app. After a defined period of time, the settings are used to check whether or not users are still active or working. Click Enable activity check on time tracking to allow the system to ask users if they are still tracking.

Activity check messages on the Legacy Windows app

With this enabled, the dialog box (shown below) is displayed. A Are you still tracking? message is shown when a user has surpassed the Standard Interval an administrator has set.

The animated clock counts down, starting from the configured Waiting Time set in 7pace Timetracker's Settings > Time Tracking to zero. If the Wait Time for the activity check was set to 30 seconds, the countdown will start at 30 and end at zero.

Clicking the Yes, Continue button continues time tracking without pause. The app's main window does not display; tracking simply resumes.

Clicking the Open 7pace Timetracker link opens the app's main window and also serves as an affirmative response that you are still working. Time tracking continues without pause if you click on this link.

If you do not click either of the above options and the clock countdown expires, the Windows app stops tracking and shows the following message: "Tracking stopped - no response from user during activity check".

Time tracking interrupted messages on the Legacy Windows app

The following sections describe the messages shown and reasons that tracking may pause or stop on the legacy 7pace Timetracker Windows app.

Tracking Stopped - No Response from User

Under Settings > Time Tracking, an administrator can set the amount of time (minimum of 10 minutes) before users are prompted to see if they want to continue tracking time. A popup message is displayed once that time is exceeded and a countdown then begins (also configurable in the same section) to give users time to respond. If the user fails to respond after the configured time, this is the message that is displayed:

Tracking Stopped - Computer Locked

When you click the Settings icon () on the app's main window, you can enable the selection Stop tracking when PC is locked. Toggle this from Off to On.

When this is turned on and you lock your computer or it goes into power-saving mode, time tracking stops completely. When you log back on, your Windows app will display the following message and you will have to start time tracking again from scratch:

Tracking Stopped - Track Length Exceeded

Under Configuration > Time Tracking, an administrator can set a number, in hours, at which the Windows app stops tracking once this number is exceeded. When you cross that threshold, time tracking stops and the following message is displayed:

Tracking Stopped - Edited or Deleted by User

If a user edits or deletes the current time track or worklog, tracking stops on that work item and the following message is displayed:

Network Issue in the System - App Lost Connection to DevOps Server/Services

If the Windows app loses connection to DevOps server/services due to some kind of network issue, the following Reconnecting... icon and message is displayed in the main app window. Time tracking does not stop in this case and continues in the background until connectivity has been re-established.

Tracking time with the Legacy Windows app from the work item form

For more information on the Windows app installation and pairing process, please see the Legacy Windows app installation and pairing section.

To see how to start tracking from the work item form, click here.

This initiates tracking on the Windows app (and the the Web App that is built into every page of 7pace Timetracker).

Reset Legacy Windows app visibility

With multi-monitor setups, sometimes the Windows app may disappear from your screen viewing area if you change your monitor setup.

To solve this issue, right-click on the app icon in your system tray and select Reset window visibility. The Windows app will now display on your viewing area. 

Exiting the Legacy Windows app 

1. In the Windows system tray, right-click the app icon and click Quit.

You have successfully exited the Windows app.