FN can track the amount of time a user spends using FN for a given set of data files or task. When you do this, the system writes a record to a file called TIMELOG.PRN each time the system is used.

The time log function remains inactive until it is turned on. It then prompts the user for the information it needs each time the system is run. It remains active until turned off.

FN can track the amount of time a user spends using FN for a given set of data files or task. When you do this, the system writes a record to a file called TIMELOG.PRN each time the system is used.
The time log function remains inactive until it is turned on. It then prompts the user for the information it needs each time the system is run. It remains active until turned off.

To turn the time log on:

1. On the Windows desktop, right-click the Financial Navigator icon and select Properties.

2. Select the Shortcut tab.

3. In the Target field, add at the end of the line a space, forward slash, and y.

4. Select OK to save and exit.

5. Double-click the FN icon to start the program and the log file.
   

To turn the time log off:

1. On the Windows desktop, right-click the Financial Navigator icon and select Properties.

2. Select the Shortcut tab.

3. In the Target field, add at the end of the line a space, forward slash, and n as follows:
   /n

4. Select OK to save and exit.

5. Double-click the FN icon to start the program and discontinue the log file.
   

Now for your question.

quote:

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Originally posted by jordonez:
... I turned the feature on, but now I can't figure out how to access the record. I did a search for the timelog file and found it, but was asked what file to associate it with in order to read it.

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Notepad is the easiest program to use to do this. You may also choose to use a full-featured work processor such as Word.

When Windows asks you what file to associate with PRN files, select Notepad (or some other word processor) from the list Windows gives you. Make sure that "Always use this program to open this file" is checked. Select OK and Notepad will open the file.

This can useful for tallying time spent or calculating average time required per transaction entered.

The timelog can be stored on the workstation for all data files or with the data files so the info is just for that entity.

But the real question is "How helpful is this file?" I see the date and time when the data is opened, but I can't understand the rest of the information. I even looked at some old *prn's and I only can see the date opened. What I really want to try is how much time I spend in a dataset. I have 13 entities that I work with. I am trying to find out how much time I work in each. I would assume that I would need to close out of the file to stop the clock from running.

I just created a new timelog file and noticed some garbage in the first line. This garbage is some printer control codes. We will correct this.
For now if you delete the first line using notepad, it will solve that situation. Once the file is created, FN just adds to file.

In Excel, there are column headings in the first row describing the data. Notice the last row is "Dur" for duration in minutes. This will indicate how long you have been using FN.

Also copying the timelog file to a file with a .csv extension allows it to be parsed in columns when loaded into Excel.