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Can I use RescueTime to record non-computer tasks?
Is there a way to manually log time spent on off-computer tasks, like working out or running errands? That functionality would be very useful to me. Thanks in advance!
I’m hopeful
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Well, if you have a Mac, an amazing Yahoo dev (in Germany, I think) wrote a program that pushes meeting time to RT:
http://carlo.zottmann.org/2008/02/13/...
We have some cool ideas around this that we'll hopefully get around to soon. Too much to do, too little time!
I’m happy
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Hi All,
I have the same problem as every one here; recording times when I am not at my computer. Finally about two months ago, I threw together a windows application which tracks idle time. It's simple and not very complicated but works well. The program can be found at
http://ddixon.castoracer.com/rescueid...
If you want to enhance the program I am provided the source code at
http://ddixon.castoraceracer.com/resc...
The program is a very simplistic "VB express" application which tracks when the mouse is idle then prompts you when the mouse is no longer idle. It is configurable and sits in the system tray.
I really don't want to use this program but I am still waiting for RescueTime to put this functionality into the application. They are indicating it will be there soon but until then hopefully this program will help.
I've added a couple of screenshots so you can see the interface.
Enjoy!
I’m excited
3 people say
this answers the question
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Try this. It's a little local web app that allows you to record events manually.
http://monkeyget.wordpress.com/2008/0...
I’m feeling helpful.
3 people say
this answers the question
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Inappropriate?Well, if you have a Mac, an amazing Yahoo dev (in Germany, I think) wrote a program that pushes meeting time to RT:
http://carlo.zottmann.org/2008/02/13/...
We have some cool ideas around this that we'll hopefully get around to soon. Too much to do, too little time!
I’m happy
The company and 3 other people say
this answers the question
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Inappropriate?I would also be very grateful for this requested feature (being able to record non-computer tasks) This would really add huge value to RescueTime.
(I wish I had a Mac so that I can use the application that Tony mentions :) But it is good to hear that the RecueTime guys have some cool ideas around this which they would (hopefully) get around to soon! :)
I’m thankful
2 people say
this answers the question
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1 person says
this answers the question
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Inappropriate?Me too! It would be great. For the time being, I tried leaving a particular website on screen which I could associate with the offline activity, but it doesn't seem to record for more than two minutes - is that until the screen saver kicks in?. -
Inappropriate?Try this. It's a little local web app that allows you to record events manually.
http://monkeyget.wordpress.com/2008/0...
I’m feeling helpful.
3 people say
this answers the question
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Inappropriate?This may be asking for too much, but I'd like to optionally have ResueTime measure my idle time. It's one thing if off-computer tasks are intentional meetings or phone calls, but it's another if it's just procrastination away from the computer.
I work from home and one of my bad habits is time away from the computer. Grabbing snacks, playing guitar, playing with the kitties, etc... I'd like to measure just how much time I'm losing between 8 am and 5 pm with away-from-the-computer procrastinations.
Generally speaking, I think more control over the "idle time" definition and appropriation would be useful. Sometimes the log calculations indicate RT idled out when I was just staring at the screen contemplating a difficult problem. Not fair, I was *too* working for that 20 minute period! ;-)
Thank you for the great app so far! I've sort of dreamed of finding something like RescueTime. I'm eager to watch it mature. -
Inappropriate?I think it is a very good point to have the granulatity available to say, if the computer is not receiving any imput for longer than a certain period (ie long enough to have to scroll to the next document you are reading) it will count that time as away from computer .... or, if the time is already set aside in outlook for a meeting, will just put the meeting time in there.
On top of that you could also have the functionality of adding all the "idle minutes" of your pc and flag them as "computer not locked and idle" ie security hazard :)
So in other words, to make RT more useful for actual group monitoring usage we would need;
idle timer
automated (outlook) meeting sync
security allerts :)
Bo -
Inappropriate?I spend way too much time in meetings. I would love to track my meeting time by subject. -
Inappropriate?Often times I run off from my computer to work on a white board, or go to a meeting. It would be awesome if there was a simple way for me to tell rescue time what I'm doing next.
Maybe even a simple entry field
"Starting now (and until I get back) I'm working on [text field]"
Then when I get back I can adjust the time of the thing I was just doing.
I’m a fan of rescue time
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This answers the question
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Love this idea! -
Inappropriate?I'd like to see an iphone application that lets you create your own tags and simply toggle them on or off. Then when you get back to your computer it could synch up with RescueTime. Doable? -
Inappropriate?Hi All,
I have the same problem as every one here; recording times when I am not at my computer. Finally about two months ago, I threw together a windows application which tracks idle time. It's simple and not very complicated but works well. The program can be found at
http://ddixon.castoracer.com/rescueid...
If you want to enhance the program I am provided the source code at
http://ddixon.castoraceracer.com/resc...
The program is a very simplistic "VB express" application which tracks when the mouse is idle then prompts you when the mouse is no longer idle. It is configurable and sits in the system tray.
I really don't want to use this program but I am still waiting for RescueTime to put this functionality into the application. They are indicating it will be there soon but until then hopefully this program will help.
I've added a couple of screenshots so you can see the interface.
Enjoy!
I’m excited
3 people say
this answers the question
5 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
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**BRILLIANT** thank you!
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I can't download the source. It looks like there is a typo in the URL.
I also tried http://ddixon.castoracer.com/rescueid...
but that didn't work either (404 not found). -
See the comment below for the correct link to the source code
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I just want to say that this is an excellent little app and makes using Rescuetime so much more useful. I hope that the folks at Rescuetime will work with Darren to incorporate this functionality into the official product ASAP.
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A comment/suggestion - if you could make the app track keyboard use as well as mouse use that would be great. I'm finding that it is regarding me as idle when I'm spending periods typing into Word and that risks the same time being counted twice, since RT will not see this as idle time.
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This answers the question
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NIce! To bad I'm on a mac (i don't say that very often...).
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Hehehe, I wish this thing could be cross platform but I simply don't know enough to do that. Hey, you could look at the source and adapt it for use under Mac OSX. The code is very simple. I'm actually hoping someone uses the code and really enhances the crap out of it since my code is really weak.
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I'll take a look at the source (when i have time), but here's a concept suggestion. When the user comes back from an idle period, have RescueIdleTime float a non-intrusive ballon next to the tray indicating logging has begun again and would the user like to log the idle period as anything in particular? The balloon would automatically fade away after several seconds, but if the user clicks the interior of the ballon, then the SIMPLE logging dialog is displayed, which would be a slider with Work at one end and Recreation at the other, plus a button for Advanced to customize the details (meeting - with whom, all the rest of what you already have). If the user uses the slider, then RescueIdleTime simply splits the idle period as indicated and submits the resulting data to the log service.
This would be a really easy, intuitive and non-intrusive UI. -
Inappropriate?After several attempts I finally found the typo in the link and got the source code link corrected
Source Code Link2 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
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FYI, the URL to use is
http://ddixon.castoracer.com/rescueid...
not
http://ddixon.castoracer.com/rescueid...
Case *does* matter. -
Thanks Travis. Obviously I must have been drunk over the past couple days to screw the link up this bad. I think it's corrected now but send me a comment if it's still screwy.
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Inappropriate?Why isn't all of this inside the original RescueTime app?
I have no time to try plug ins or external apps.1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
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I think Tony said it in the first response "We have some cool ideas around this that we'll hopefully get around to soon. Too much to do, too little time!" I know the feeling! ;)
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Inappropriate?This would make the top of my list of "things that would make Rescue Time a must have". I have no problem paying for web services that help me stay productive. (Remember the Milk is the best $25 I ever spent), but I find it hard to use Rescue Time effectively when 50-60% of my time is spent off the computer.
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Inappropriate?Darren: I've grabbed the code and started enhancing some of the crap out of it. I've revised the idle detection to use the Windows API function GetLastInputInfo() which reports the what the TickCount was when input was last received, eliminating the typing-without-mouse-movement issue.
I’m amused
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This answers the question
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That's great. When you get the source code cleaned yp can you make it available? Thanks
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That's great. When you get the source code cleaned up can you make it available? Thanks
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Derringer, I'm curious to how the code code up is going?
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This reply was removed on 10/09/08.
see the change log -
GGuy, how about a link?
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NEVER MIND! I found it through Google!
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This reply was removed on 10/14/08.
see the change log -
Inappropriate?I just wanted to add my voice to those that are asking for this feature. It is not as much of a deal killer for me as not being able to track which individual documents I'm working on but will be essential for me to make any serious, professional use of RescueTime. -
Inappropriate?Hi All, I've updated RescueIdleTime and I'll telling everyone. The new version (and source code) can be found at http://ddixon.castoracer.com/rescueid...
Enjoy
I’m full of sugar!!!!
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Inappropriate?Yes, this would be great.
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