topic Re: Time management in Collaboration with other software

Time management

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 03:28:33 GMT

I am wanting to streamline the time management process for projects and asking if there is something inherent in AC that will allow for tracking of time. Also was wondering what methods/software small firm owners use for time tracking on projects.

Re: Time management

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 04:44:49 GMT

There is no provision for this in ArchiCAD (though someone with enough GDL savvy and time on their hands might be able to come up with a time keeper object), but there are numerous time tracking programs available. Try http://www.download.com/ or http://www.versiontracker.com/

I have tried a few of these but still have not found a good substitute for my daily log book. I re-enter the info in iCal later for invoicing and backup. The problem with using only software for this critical function is that it keeps changing and runs the risk of data loss or corruption etc., besides, the manual (ie. paper) solutions aren't that difficult.

Re: Time management

Link — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 05:28:15 GMT

Ooooh - you have to check out ArchiOffice! I have heard very good things about it:

http://www.archioffice.com/architect-and-time-track-ly.html

I'm not sure if it integrates directly with ArchiCAD, but I think they were talking about it.

Cigraph has an ArchiCAD add-on called ArchiTime, which tracks actual ArchiCAD time, but will include everything from modeling to drinking beer to picking one's nose AFAIK.

http://www.cigraph.com

Or you can contact Fabrizio here. Check the Ad forum.

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Time management

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 08:40:53 GMT

Fortunately I don't have to keep track of my time on that many jobs, but on the odd occasion that I do, I use Project Notes in AC (Window -> Open Project Notes) . Every time you open the project notes window it records the time + date.

When I open the job, the first thing I do is open project notes and write something like 'started'. Then before I close the job, I open it again and write 'finish'.

Not very streamlined, but it works pretty well.

Re: Time management

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 13:51:47 GMT

Link, I'm looking into ArchiOffice now. Do you know anyone who is using it? If so, do you think they would mind me calling them to ask some questions?

PM or email me.

Re: Time management

Rakela Raul — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 15:21:00 GMT

I'm looking into ArchiOffice now.

eric, can u please post your thoughts after ?? thx

Re: Time management

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 17:17:19 GMT

I will. I'm trying to get an online demo with them but it can't happen until after the AIA convention.

Re: Time management

Link — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 23:12:13 GMT

Link, I'm looking into ArchiOffice now. Do you know anyone who is using it? If so, do you think they would mind me calling them to ask some questions?

PM or email me.

Have done mate. Good luck and I look forward to hearing how you get on.

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Time management

Karl Barker — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 23:41:54 GMT

We are in the process of rebuilding our office around Archioffice at the moment. we went live in terms of documents and time keeping and billing three months ago.
it can be set up that when ever you open an archicad file it starts a timer in the timeclock I believe, but as yet we do not store our cad files in the archioffice database.
i will be looking to rectify that once we get archicad 10 as there is no need to hunt out the path from archicad to plotmaker any more.
Archioffice is a very complex beast and requires a lot of thought in the set up if you want to get the best out of it, just like archicad really.
we think it was well worth it.
karl

Re: Time management

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 03:39:17 GMT

Link wrote:
Ooooh - you have to check out ArchiOffice! I have heard very good things about it:

http://www.archioffice.com/architect-and-time-track-ly.html

Cheers,
Link.

I heard this now syncs with address book and ical . You need filemaker pro to use this product.

Re: Time management

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 05:22:50 GMT

Mike wrote:
Link wrote:
Ooooh - you have to check out ArchiOffice! I have heard very good things about it:

http://www.archioffice.com/architect-and-time-track-ly.html

Cheers,
Link.
I heard this now syncs with address book and ical . You need filemaker pro to use this product.

I have heard good things about ArchiOffice as well, though I haven't seen it up close myself. There is also AIM (Architecture Information Manager) which can be found at architectronica.com. This also has what appears to be a very cool detail manager.

Re: Time management

__archiben — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 11:03:20 GMT

i have an application called iBiz. it's a bit clunky and i'm not overly enamoured with it, but it's cheap and allows me to manage time-based tasks from a dashboard widget . . . it also syncs with iCal . . . kind of . . .

5/10 - but more for it's price than anything else.

~/archiben

Re: Time management

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 13:26:53 GMT

~/archiben wrote:
i have an application called iBiz. it's a bit clunky and i'm not overly enamoured with it, but it's cheap and allows me to manage time-based tasks from a dashboard widget . . . it also syncs with iCal . . . kind of . . .

5/10 - but more for it's price than anything else.

~/archiben

I use iBiz myself, but it's not really a time tracker. It's handy for importing the iCal data and doing invoicing, but it has some irritating quirks. It is simple and cheap though; pretty good for a sole practice. I wouldn't recommend it to a firm.

Re: Time management

Eduardo Rolon — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 14:47:24 GMT

I have tried (all OSX applications):

1) The Daily Grind - a free widget
www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/20873

2) Process
www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/15698

3) On the Job
www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/14742

I did buy iBiz but it felt clunky. Right now I prefer The Daily Grind it is simple and easy the only problem is remembering to switch tasks. About ArchiOffice I have followed its development but right now it is overkill for the way I work and seems difficult to set up. Another option is to try Basecamp
www.basecamphq.com/

Re: Time management

SeaGeoff — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 20:25:31 GMT

I have tried software time trackers a couple times but was constantly forgetting to start, stop, and change jobs. Now I record my daily activities on paper then enter them directly (every couple days) into QuickBooks time tracking. Then they go straight into my invoices and I can output multiple reports. For me this has proven to be the fewest steps.

Re: Time management

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 17:08:59 GMT

Link wrote:
Ooooh - you have to check out ArchiOffice! I have heard very good things about it:

Hi everybody!

You just don't know what you are missing!

IMHO it's the ultimate project management software for architects!

I know this software for 2 years... by the time I acessed the site they had a demo version for download... it was 3.x (or something) but it gives a good idea of the method of checklisting tasks... The new r8 version is just AMAZING!... If you want I can share it... Just don't know how... 36 mb!

BTW... Djordje, Where I can send it?

Cheers,

Braza

Re: Time management

Djordje — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 06:54:11 GMT

Braza wrote:
BTW... Djordje, Where I can send it?

Not here ...

Just provide the link.

Re: Time management

Ernest Atanasiu — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 12:10:31 GMT

Braza, please post a link to the product homepage.

thank you.

Re: Time management

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 16:46:19 GMT

Sorry for the delay guys,

Here is the link:
rapidshare.de/files/30234526/ArchiOfficeDemoWin.zip.html
Login the program with the Username: Demo Person and the PW: Demo.

It's not the last version, but it gives a good idea of the concept of the program. I recommend the 60 days free (see the conditions at www.archioffice.com) trial version for the R8 shipped in March.

Enjoy it!

Re: Time management

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 19:35:31 GMT

We bought ArchiOffice and do you want to know what I think about it?
Better gone fishing than loose hundred hours trying to make it working!!!
If someone wants to buy our licence, I can give him a good price...