File Time

[JoeBlow]

I am wondering if there is a way in Aspire or perhaps Windows that I can see the cumulative time spent within a file? I ask for estimating reasons. Fairly straight forward to set the cost of milling, assembling and installing custom work but without actually keeping a timesheet of sorts during the design and file creation I am at a loss on how to charge for the hours spent doing that part of the job.

Thanks for any guidance with this.

[gkas]

I am wondering if there is a way in Aspire or perhaps Windows that I can see the cumulative time spent within a file? I ask for estimating reasons. Fairly straight forward to set the cost of milling, assembling and installing custom work but without actually keeping a timesheet of sorts during the design and file creation I am at a loss on how to charge for the hours spent doing that part of the job.

Thanks for any guidance with this.

If you change the Scale Factor on completed jobs, the estimate will be much more accurate.

[mtylerfl]

Here are some time tracking software products:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.timeca ... -time/amp/

[Rcnewcomb]

the cumulative time spent within a file

You can use the Increment and Save <Ctrl><Alt><S> at the beginning of each session then that file will have the timestamp of when you started. You can use increment and save as often as you want. When you finally do the increment and save for the last time the final file will have the date/timestamp of when your design session ended.
<End time>-<Start time> = Duration of the design session

[JoeBlow]

Thanks for those suggestions. I do increment and save frequently and will give that a try. Nice tip.

I think between the apps suggested and the increment and save tip I should be able to get close to the cumulative time spent.
Not quite the built-in John Deere timer I was hoping for but will help

Thanks Gkas. I have that part really well dialed in.

[wilkigr]

Windows shows the time when you first create the file and the time that it was last modified. In windows explorer, just right click your
Aspire file and choose properties. The downside is that windows, just like Aspire's increment and save, does not know that you took off a few hours for lunch.

[Adrian]

I just use old fashioned methods. I write down the time I start and the time I finish. I keep timesheets for every job so I can improve quoting for future orders.

[Holzarbeiter]

If you are running WinCNC you have the ability to create a log file of every job you run. In the WinCNC.ini file you set a command, logdir=c:\wincnc\log, and this will create a CSV file that will have the times associated with every job you run, from hitting start to the very end. It breaks down each segment of the job, ie, bit changes, etc and gives the time associated with them. Its a very nice feature for looking at the total time associated with a job.

[mtylerfl]

Seems to be some confusion about what the OP was asking. He inquired about keeping track of the time spent working in the software itself (design time, etc.), not the job running time.

[Holzarbeiter]

After rereading the original post, I believe you are correct Michael. Reading comprehension was never a strong point of mine

[JoeBlow]

Seems to be some confusion about what the OP was asking. He inquired about keeping track of the time spent working in the software itself (design time, etc.), not the job running time.

That is correct. A client has become somewhat of a problem child. I work full time and take on select jobs on the side. Two and half months, 7 folders, 46 files, 866 mb of data and 3 samples later I just might actually have final approval this week to start "working". Uhg again! I would have walked away some time ago but this couple is tight with the owner of my day job company. Oh the webs we get into.

Struck me when I saw the stats mentioned that it would have been most telling to see the time spent in those 7 folders, 46 files, etc.

Thanks for all the suggestions. More than likely I will go Adriens route and just add that to the actual "working" time. A walnut fireplace surround in case anyone was wondering.

[PRO4824]

I was, and post a picture of it when it's done