Hi

I agree somewhat with Yama here, if you are already running Windows
Server 2003 (even SBS) then you already have the 'free' tools for the
job in Windows SharePoint Services (WSS). WSS version 2.0 is a
fantastic tool for quickly and easily building bespoke solutions for
this type of problem, coupled with the built in support for MS Office
(Excel, Word, Outlook, InfoPath) and a little bit of imagination I
have seen some pretty nice implementations (take a look at what Yama
is doing for instance).

Hang around for the free upgrade to version 3.0 (should be 1Q2007)
and you're in a whole new world of out of the box capabilities that
will enable you to create something to make most paid for
timekeeping/tracking solutions look inadequate. If you're looking for
a solution that covers all the bases that Mike pointed out and more
(security, offline/disconnected availability, extensibility,
integration) then look no further.

Disadvantages? If you haven't used it before then of course there
will be a learning curve, multiply that by a factor of several if you
go for the forthcoming version 3.0!

Good luck

--- In going_independent@yahoogroups.com, "Yama Kamyar" <yama@...>
wrote:
>
>
> Hi,
>
>
> For time tracking I believe there are many tools available out
> there... An example is a free tool available if you had Sharepoint
> server
>
(http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsserver/sharepoint/wssapps/def
ault.mspx).
> You can view an example at
> http://sharepoint.yamabiz.com/TimeSheet/default.aspx. You also have
> templates written for Outlook (custom forms), OneNote 2003, etc...
>
>
>
> In order to have an offline solution you must create a separate
> database that will track any changes. Database can be as simple as
> saving a XML form, Access, or even comma-delimited files. When there
> is no connection to DB or you can't ping your server then start
using
> the offline database. Every time you reconnect to the database or
> you can ping your server then check offline database
synchronization.
> It can be assimple as checking offline database for a flag telling
you
> whether the database has been used offline if it is on then synch
> it with your production database and turn it off and if it isn't
> turned on then do nothing and begin using production database. 
>
>
>
> As a consultant I always billed hourly; however, I never wrote
> descriptive activities of what I was doing hourly. Instead I
reported
> daily or weekly activies. Further I never accepted or rather refused
> to work less than 40 hours a week and a minimum of 12 weeks. My
> contract agreements reflected if I were to finish the project before
> the 12 weeks period I would get paid the difference.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> Yama Kamyar
>
>
>
>
> -----Original message-----
> From: "Joe Mele" joemele@...
> Date: Fri, 01 Sep 2006 07:12:39 -0700
> To: going_independent@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [going_independent] What do you use to track time and
> bill clients?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> How much is that?  I have time tracking module with QB online.
> As for the disconnected mode, A QB app that saves it then "uploads"
> when possible, would not be more costly than a days programming if
> that.
>
> Joe Mele
>
>
>
>
> On 9/1/06, Mike Gunderloy <MikeG1@...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> We went through a fairly long evaluation process and ended up with
> Standard Time - which is far from perfect but closer than anything
> else
> we've found so far. Key issues for us:
>
> - Quickbooks interface
> - Central database
> - Must be able to handle offline mode for tracking time when people
> are
> working disconnected (we do a lot of work with people in client
> offices
> via laptops, can't always get to our servers over the net due to
> idiotic
> security restrictions)
> - Some sort of stopwatch/timer mode (people are not reliable when
they
> have to record time on their own or remember it after the fact)
> - Security at least on a user/project basis
>
> Given the number of commercial products out there, I'd love to think
> the
> perfect system exists, but if it does, I haven't found it.
>
> Mike Gunderloy
> http://www.larkware.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
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> FileMaker Solution Allaince  Associate Member
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> +44 (0)20 8090 4340.
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>