Real Time Transaction Logging

This transaction timer section of the Logging screen is shown below:  

The Time checkbox at the top left of this section of the Logging screen is very important. If it is checked (the default) the Logging screen will act as a real time activity timer. If the Time checkbox is unchecked it will give you access to the after the fact time and quantity entry (link) features discussed later.

The various buttons in this section of the logging screen will be activated and deactivated as the various timing functions are performed.  As shown above, the Start button is active indicating that no timing is in process. A message to that effect is shown in large red characters at the bottom of the screen in what we refer to as the Timing Status – centered below the Common Activity and Activity Selection sections of the screen. 

Timing Techniques

You may develop your own method of completing the logging screen however the most common approaches are as follows:

1. If you know exactly what you are about to do you may complete the Activity Selection section first. You can change your selections at any time until the transaction is saved to the database.
    

2. You may make a selection from any of your personal Common Activity selections which will automatically populate all the activity selections for you.
    

3. You may choose not to define any activity information before starting – perhaps you are not sure about the details of what you are about to do.  In this case you can complete the Activity Selection when timing is complete.  
   
   Click the Start button to begin timing and:
   
   a. The Timing Status will change to reflect the start time  
   b. The Start button will deactivate 
   c. The Stop button will activate 

When you finish the activity click the Stop button to end the activity timing and:

a. The Timing Status will change to show the start and the end time

b. The Stop button will deactivate

If you have not already done so now you must define the activity that was performed. You may click through the Activity Selection or, if available, select the appropriate Common Activity selection - which will automatically populate all the activity selections.

Finally you must enter a quantity to reflect “How Many” of the activity you just performed. You can manually enter the quantity or use the +/- keys to change the value. The + key is useful as in the majority of cases you will just have performed one of the activity so you can simply click once on the + button to populate the field.

As soon as a quantity value is entered:

a. The Typical transaction button activates

b. The Other transaction button activates 

You are now ready to save the transaction.

Saving the Transaction

With the Typical and other button activated your are ready to save the transaction to the database however one additional decision must be made.

You must decide whether you felt that the time you took to perform the defined activity was typical for that work content.

If you feel it was typical click the Typical button.

If you do not feel that the time displayed was typical for that work content you should click the Other button. Examples of some reasons why the time taken may not truly reflect the work content are:

	You were interrupted one or more times during the task
	You did not complete the task because you needed more information
	You were completing a task that you had worked on earlier
	You stopped for a break during the task

Adding Notes

Optionally you may decide to enter a brief note of up to 30 characters in the Notes field to advise the Program Administrator of some condition that may have affected your performance of the task. The use of Notes is strongly encouraged as it is a method by which you can give direct feedback on the process performance.

For example if you are constantly being interrupted by support calls from another department if you enter a note each time it happens a better way of supporting their needs may be developed.  

As soon as the Typical or Other button is clicked, if all required transaction data has been entered the transaction will be saved to the database and:

	The Typical transaction button will deactivate
	The Other transaction button will deactivate
	The Quantity input will clear
	The Activity Selections will clear
	The Start button will activate
	The Timing Status will change “No Timing in Process”
	The Reset button caption will change to Exit
	Any Notes will be cleared

You are then ready for the next transaction.

Aborting the Current Activity

At any time during the transaction clicking the Reset button will cancel the current activity timing and reset ready to start recording again. 

Learn more about:   Holding Selections between Transactions After the Fact Data Collection Activity Selection Common Activities