Having accessed the Activity Sampling project from the Sign On screen with a valid Sign On ID you will receive the following screen that we refer to as the Countdown screen.

Activity Sampling works by prompting you at random intervals for information about the task you are performing at that moment. While random times are used a typical average frequency of prompts would be between two and four times per hour – this frequency has been found to be very unobtrusive to users. The Project Administrator defines the actual frequency of prompts.

When the Countdown screen is displayed the project is in process. Internally the browser is counting down to the calculated random time when you will be prompted for an entry.

From the Countdown screen you cannot make any entry and should simply click outside of the Profiler browser window and continue with their normal activity until prompted. When you click outside the window the Profit Profiler browser will be minimized into the taskbar at the bottom of the screen as shown

As is stated on the Countdown screen itself, it is requested that you do not use the minimize button (at the top right) on the Profit Profiler browser screen or any of the other toolbar options on the screen to navigate as this may terminate your Profit Profiler session (some browser behavior depends on the your own unique browser configuration and cannot be controlled by applications such as Profit Profiler).

Need to use the Internet Anyway

If you wish to use the Internet for other purposes click outside the Profit Profiler browser screen and start another session of Internet Explorer.

Options on the Countdown Screen

Other than doing nothing and waiting for the next random prompt there are only two options:

	Auto Record – used if you know you are going to be doing a particular activity for an extended period of time e.g. going to a meeting, travel, lunch etc.
	Exit – ends your current Profit Profiler session.

Learn more about:

	Data Entry
	Auto Recording
	Ending the Profit Profiler Session