TraxTime
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do you offer multiple discounts?

How can I register it?

When do I get my registration key?

Can I see what TraxTime looks like without downloading it?

We also have several animated demos that you can view. Click here for our Demo Page.

Changes from version 5.03 to 5.04:

• Changed - On the Diagnostic Information window, if the TraxTime license is a single-user type, the Organization Name field has been changed to display nothing instead of "Unregistered".

• Fixed - Problem with selecting a non-default set of data when upgrading from v.4 or earlier.

• Fixed - Bug that didn't update the TraxTime version number that is embedded in the user data.

Changes from version 5.02 to 5.03:

• Added - Options to search for any set of TraxTime data or create a blank set of data if TraxTime cannot find your old data files.

• Fixed - Format of time totals in reports if they are zero due to an orphan OUT time.

Changes from version 5.01 to 5.02:

• Changed - On the Manager's "Add Employee To Report List" window, widened the "Database File" field to allow longer paths to be viewed in their entirety.

• Fixed - Bug in the Restore feature. Under some circumstances TraxTime would crash if you switched to a set of TraxTime data that was already in the default data location.

• Fixed - Bug in the Manager's reports template feature. If an employee's data was not found when opening a template, you would see an error message or a message that displayed the name of a project (not the employee) as missing.

• Added - Protection against Managers having a problem while creating a multi-user report that includes their own TraxTime data. If the path to the manager's data files changed since storing that information in the list of employees, the path is automatically corrected under all circumstances now.

• Added - Msvbvm50.dll to the distribution package.

• Updated - Help file topics.
  

Changes from version 5.00 to 5.01:

• Added - Ability to enter registration key from the welcome-nag window.

• Fixed - Bug that would display any "Incomplete Time Records Found" messages twice instead of once during startup.
  

Changes from version 4.00 to 5.00:

• Added - Microsoft Vista compatibility.

• Changed - TraxTime's data files are no longer maintained in the same folder with the traxtime.exe file (by default, c:\program files\traxtime). They are now kept in the operating system's designated "application data" folder.
  
  For Windows Vista, it is usually c:\users\<username>\appdata\roaming\traxtime
  
  For Windows XP and 2000, it is usually
  c:\documents and settings\<username>\application data\traxtime
  
  For Windows NT4, it is usually c:\winnt\profiles\<username>\application data\traxtime
  
  For Windows ME and 98 it is usually
  c:\windows\application data\traxtime

• Deprecated - The old traxtime.dat file is no longer used. It has been replaced by traxtime.ini, which resides in the application data folder (described above).

• Deprecated - The old method of designating the path to TraxTime data by editing your TraxTime shortcut has been eliminated. If TraxTime does not find its data, it will prompt you to locate the data. That path will then be saved in the traxtime.ini file (described above).

• Deprecated - TraxTime is no longer supported on Window 95 or Windows NT4.

• Fixed - Problem navigating the list of projects on the main TraxTime window. If a project name included non-A-Z characters, and you type the first few characters of the project name to select the project, it might not get selected.

• Added - Two new features, Backup and Restore. These make it easy to move your TraxTime data from one computer to another, as well as make back-up copies of your TraxTime data.

• Added - Automatic unattended shutdown of TraxTime. If you are punched in to a project when TraxTime exits, and you do not make a selection from the choices after 15 seconds, TraxTime automatically exits and leaves the clock running. Also, the quote displayed when TraxTime exits now disappears automatically after 20 seconds.

• Improved - Formatting of Help File pages.

• Improved - When opening a report template, if you have one of the THIS or LAST date options set, the calendar will default to the first date of your range.

• Updated - Help file topics.

• Changed - Program icon.

• Reduced the amount of time TraxTime waits after you stop typing in a yellow time edit box before it assumes that you are done. Changed from 15 seconds to 8 seconds.

• Fixed a bug that wouldn't let you directly edit the TO time on the report creation date window if you used a report template that specified a FROM-TO date range.

• Fixed a bug that wouldn't save manual time edits in the yellow boxes if you typed in a time then immediately clicked the TraxTime exit button without first waiting a few seconds, or switching focus to a different control.

• Fixed a bug that didn't update the time totals if you manually edited a time, then immediately clicked the TraxTime minimize button. The times would be updated only after the window was restored.

• Improved the 4.0 data conversion routine's ability to read non-standard project names.

• Fixed problem with option settings sometimes not being saved if TraxTime is closed while minimized.

• Fixed - If used on very large monitors, an error message would sometimes appear.

• Fixed - After a new project name was added, TraxTime's main window was not being cleared of previous data.

• Fixed - Problem with opening the Delete Data By Date dialog box.

• Fixed - Problem with the dates selected by the new "This Week" and "Last X Weeks" report options if your "Weeks Begin On" option did not match the default for your country/language.

• Fixed - Problem with "This Year" and "Last X Years" date selection.

• Fixed - Problem with reports generated from data containing a lot of non-billable times.

• Fixed - Under some circumstances, TraxTime could become permanently minimized.

• Added - Data export can now include billing codes.

• Fixed - TraxTime 4.0's Round Up option did not operate consistently.

• Added - Choice to have TraxTime's round-up feature round up whole minutes only (on by default) or fractions of a minute.

• Fixed - TraxTime would not start correctly under some circumstances if Stay-On-Top was enabled.

• Fixed - If the preferred starting day of the week was not saved due to a system crash, TraxTime now defaults to Sunday.

• Added - Any leading and trailing spaces are removed from new project names and billing codes.

• Added - Additional protection against creating blank project names.

• Added - Option to copy shared project names to the local project list.

• Added - New warning message if you try to run a report without selecting any of the time total checkboxes (Daily, Weekly, Monthly, etc.).

• Changed - If you have an in/out punch set with the same times totaling 0 minutes (example: In: 8:00a - Out: 8:00a), TraxTime now displays those times in daily reports.

• Changed - Increased internal memory for project names.

• Changed - Improved TraxTime's method of saving data.

• Fixed - Problem with TraxTime not saving the text in an open memo window when midnight passes.

• Fixed - Problem regarding the display of memo-only records (with no corresponding in/out times) in daily reports.

• Fixed - Removed an unnecessary message that would appear if a pre-v.4 manager updated without having any shared project files.

• Fixed - "Bad dataset number" error message seen by some users when punching in/out.

• Fixed - Rounding error. Sometimes seen when a round up option was selected and the "Only round up whole minutes" box was unchecked in options, and the user had entered identical in and out times.

• Fixed - Duplicate tooltip hint on Options window.

• Fixed - Problem with project names not being selected when a non-default report template was opened.

• Fixed - Problem with the current record not being displayed correctly when you close the "Edit Data For Earlier Date" dialog.

• New - Added some text to the About dialog box to identify the Manager's edition.

• Fixed - Problem with report window not displaying correctly under certain circumstances.

• Fixed - Typo on site license registration dialog box.

• Added - Test to ensure complete in/out times when user is done editing times for earlier dates.

• Added - When user is done editing times for earlier date, any memo text is now automatically saved.

• Fixed - Problem with changing user initials.

I have a license for an older version of TraxTime, how do I upgrade to version 5?

Can I continue to use my old data?

The price depends on the current licensed version that you have.

Version 4 to 5

The version 4 to 5 upgrade is $9.95 per user license.

Click here to purchase a v.4 to v.5 upgrade online

Click here for a printable form to mail or fax in

Version 1, 2, or 3 to Version 5

The version 1, 2, or 3 to version 5 upgrade is $24.95 per user license.

Click here to purchase a v.1, 2, or 3 to v.5 upgrade online

Click here for a printable form to mail or fax in

These prices apply to both Standard and Manager users.

Important: Before you upgrade to version 5, do not uninstall your current version of TraxTime. Doing that will delete your old data. 

The first time you run it, TraxTime v.5 will offer to move your old data automatically to the new data storage location (see What's New above). You will not lose anything. All of your in/out times, memos, report templates, and options will be retained.

Note: If your organization has several TraxTime users, an upgrade license must to be purchased for each person upgrading to version 5. For example, if you have three people running TraxTime who will upgrade to version 5, you need to buy three upgrade licenses.

*SITE LICENSE NOTE: If you are running a site license version of TraxTime, contact us for discounted pricing and to determine the number of seats on your current license.

I have an earlier version of TraxTime 5. How do I upgrade to the latest version (5.04)?

Run the setup file to refresh your copy of TraxTime to the latest version. (Do not uninstall or delete your older copy of TraxTime; just run the setup file.)

NOTE: If you have the Site License edition of TraxTime 5, do not use the above link. It will not work with your license. Organizations that hold a TraxTime 5 site license should have their contact person e-mail us for upgrade details.

Note: If you are running an older version of TraxTime, you will need to purchase an upgrade license for version 5. Click here for more information. 

Follow these instructions in the correct order:

1. Decide on the medium you will use to transfer your old data files. You can use a portable USB drive, CD-R disc, floppy disk, etc. If both of your computers are set up on a network, you may be able to copy the old data files to a shared folder that can be read by the new computer.

2. On your old computer, start TraxTime.

3. From TraxTime's main window, select the menu items FILE > BACKUP.

Note: If you do not see that menu item, then your old computer has a version of TraxTime that is prior to TraxTime v.5. You should either upgrade to the latest version of TraxTime on your old computer, or manually copy all of your TraxTime data files from C:\Program Files\TraxTime to your transfer medium using Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer...that's a web browser).

4. Follow the Backup prompts to make a copy of your current TraxTime data files to your transfer medium.

5. On your old computer, exit TraxTime.

6. Go to your new computer.

7. Download the latest version of TraxTime from our web site and install it on your new computer. To get the latest version, click here.

(Site License Note: If your company/organization is using the Site License version of TraxTime, do not use the download version from our web site. You should either use your TraxTime v.5 Site License disc to install TraxTime on your new computer, or order a new Site License disc from our web site by clicking here.)

8. Start TraxTime on your new computer.

9. During the setup procedure TraxTime asks for your user initials. Answer ZZZ. That creates a set of blank data files named ZZZ that you can easily identify and safely erase later, if you wish.

10. From TraxTime's welcome-nag window click the ENTER KEY button, or if you are in TraxTime, select the menu items HELP > ENTER REGISTRATION KEY.

11. Enter your TraxTime user name and registration key. This information was e-mailed to you when you bought your TraxTime v.5 license.

12. From TraxTime's main window, select the menu items FILE > RESTORE.

13. Follow the Restore prompts. Be sure to locate your TraxTime data files on your transfer medium.

When asked if you want the data copied into your default TraxTime data folder, you should answer YES unless the data files are in a location (like a network server's folder) where you want them to reside permanently.

At the end of the Restore process, TraxTime shuts itself down.

14. Start TraxTime on your new computer. Your old data should appear in TraxTime.

If not, exit TraxTime and start over with Step 1 above and make sure that you perform each of these instructions in the proper order.

Can I keep my data files on my company's network?

For details on how to move your data files to a network, look in TraxTime's help file under the topic KEEPING DATA ON A NETWORK.

My company is registering copies of TraxTime for all of our employees. Do you suggest any strategies for our roll-out?

Of course, that's why you can create a shared project list (administered via the manager's version), but you need to tell your users that they aren't allowed to create their own project names. That's the manager's job.

Another key to success is to have the manager create shared project names that don't need to be changed later. Changing 'Green Martians' to 'Cyan Martians' in a shared project list will create a 'Cyan Martian' project in the local users' list, but all of their old data will still be in the 'Green Martians' project.

One more important point, your project names must be EXACTLY identical among users. For instance, if one user had previously entered a project named 'Green martians' on his computer, and your shared list has a project named 'Green Martians' then an error will occur when you try to run a report incorporating that user's data. Why? Because of the upper/lower case difference in the word 'Martians'.

Do you have a Macintosh version of TraxTime?

Do you have a Pocket PC or Palm version of TraxTime?

I want to upgrade my Standard TraxTime registration to a Manager's registration. How do I do that?

Click here for information about the Manager's Edition.

I want to back up my TraxTime data. Which files contain my data?

WARNING: Do not attempt to view or edit the contents of any TraxTime data files. You will probably foul up the data and render TraxTime inoperable.

With TraxTime v.5 and above, the default location of these data files depends on your computer's operating system and its designated "application data" folder.

For Windows Vista, it is usually
c:\users\<username>\appdata\roaming\traxtime

For Windows XP and 2000, it is usually
c:\documents and settings\<username>\application data\traxtime

For Windows NT4, it is usually c:\winnt\profiles\<username>\application data\traxtime

For Windows ME and 98, it is usually c:\windows\application data\traxtime

Most of these folders are designated by Windows as "hidden", so if you cannot find the folder described above, then you'll need to set your viewing application to view hidden folders.

Note: Before TraxTime v.5, the default location for TraxTime's data files was C:\Program Files\TraxTime

My Calendar has its day numbers mixed up with its month numbers. Today is 1/7, but the calendar shows it as 7/1.

- OR -

When I try to edit an earlier date or print a report I get a "Type Mismatch" error. What's going on?

I just installed TraxTime on my new computer, and I don't see the big punch button on TraxTime's main screen. What's wrong?

Check your video card manufacturer's web site for an updated video card driver. That has fixed the problem for many other TraxTime users.

(As a short-term fix, some users have reported that they can make the TraxTime punch button appear if they reduce their color display to 16 or 256 colors.)

Worse yet, Mr. Computer Genius doesn't have any backup copies. Can you help?

The best solution is to install a Backup software program that's designed to back up all of your computer's important files on a regular basis.  These backup programs are sometimes bundled with external hard drives that plug into your computer's USB or firewire port. For most people, these external hard drive/software combinations are the best way to safeguard against a disastrous loss of data. Check with your local computer accessories store for more details and recommendations.

The second best solution is to use TraxTime's Backup feature, found under TraxTime's FILE menu, to manually make copies of TraxTime's data files whenever you feel like it.

TraxTime uses a very solid database engine, but you never know when or how disaster will strike. We've heard tales of TraxTime users in mid- punch when the electricity was shut off, networks went down, Godzilla stomped on workstations, and worst of all, users opened TraxTime data files in a word processor 'just to take a look around.' Oh, the horror.

If disaster does strike, and--sigh--you have no backup files, fret not. Salvation is in sight, as long as you have a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover credit card.

We offer a data rescue service. The charge is a flat $60. If we are unable to restore your TraxTime data, then there is no charge.

If you'd like to take advantage of our data rescue service, click here to order it, then put your data files in a zip file, and send it as an e-mail attachment to us at traxtime@spudcity.com

What's your company's structure and tax ID number? Can I get a W9 form from you?

I've got an idea for a new TraxTime feature. Do you want to hear it?