Starting a timer

You can use a timer for timing your working slips (both timed and fixed slips). The timer calculates the exact amount of time you spent working with a particular slip. These timed or fixed slips will form the individual list items in the invoices or estimates you send to your clients. Slips can be either linked or unlinked to a project. You can start the timer in 2 situations:

  1. You have created a timed or fixed slip that is linked to a project and want to start the timer.
  2. You are working with another application and you need to create a new timed slip. Hence, you want to start the timer immediately.

If your timed slip is already linked to a project, follow the instructions given here.

To start a timer for the slip already linked to a project

  1. Select a slip.
  2. Choose Window > Timers.

    Billings adds the selected slip to the Active Slips list of the Timers window.

  3. Click the Play button to start the timer.

    The Play button and background of the timer turn red to reaffirm that the timer is active.

Sometimes, you may have to create a timed slip instantly when you are working with a different application. For instance, you receive a phone call and want to start timing it right away. You can use the hot key shortcut to start a new timed slip. The slip created this way is not linked to a project. You can create a timed slip that is not linked to any project using one of the following methods.

To start a new timed slip using Hot Keys

  1. Press the hot key combination to start a new timed slip.

    Billings adds a new slip to the list of Active Slips in the Timers window.

  2. Enter a name for the new slip.
  3. Click the Play button to start the timer.

    The Play button and background of the timer turn red to reaffirm that the timer is active.

To start a new timed slip from the Timers window

  1. Click the Timers icon in Billings toolbar.
  2. Click the + button.

    Billings adds a new slip to the Active Slips list.

  3. Enter a name for the new slip.
  4. Click the Play button to start the timer.

    The Play button and background of the timer turn red to reaffirm that the timer is active.

To start a new timed slip from the Menubar timer

  1. Choose New Timed Slip in the Menubar timer.
  2. Choose Start.

    The Play button and background of the timer turn red to reaffirm that the timer is active.

If you want to temporarily pause the timer, click the Pause button in the Timers window. The button and the background of the timer will turn black to confirm that the timer is in a pause state. When you have finished working with a slip, you can stop timing it by clicking the Checkmark button in the Timers window. This marks your slip as complete and ready to be invoiced. When you click the Checkmark button, one of the following will happen.

See also

About the Timers Window

About the Menubar timer

Adjusting a timed slip