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Overview

This guide covers best practices for effective time tracking with Slack, common issues you might encounter, and step-by-step solutions to resolve them.

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Best Practices

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Effective Time Tracking Habits

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Use Descriptive Commands

/timetracker start project:"ACME Corp Website" task:"User Dashboard" description:"Implementing real-time data visualization"
Why descriptive commands matter:
  • Better reporting and analysis
  • Easier to understand what was worked on
  • More accurate project time allocation
  • Helpful for client billing and project management

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Organize with Projects and Tasks

/timetracker start project:"Client Website" task:"Homepage" description:"Responsive design implementation"
Benefits of proper organization:
  • Projects: Group related work by client, department, or initiative
  • Tasks: Break down projects into specific work items
  • Hierarchy: Clear structure for filtering and reporting
  • Consistency: Standardized naming across your team

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Use Tags Effectively

/timetracker log 3.0 project:"Development" description:"API optimization" tags:"performance,backend,optimization"
Effective tag categories:
  • Priority: urgent, high, low
  • Type: meeting, development, design, research
  • Technology: frontend, backend, mobile, api
  • Status: bugfix, feature, maintenance

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Regular Status Checks

Make it a habit: 
# Check your status regularly
/timetracker status

# Review your time at the end of each day
/timetracker status
Benefits:
  • Stay aware of running timers
  • Catch forgotten timers early
  • Review daily time allocation
  • Ensure accurate time tracking

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Project Management Best Practices

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Consistent Project Naming

Good naming conventions:
  • Client projects: “Client Name - Project Type” (e.g., “ACME Corp - Website”)
  • Internal projects: “Internal - Department” (e.g., “Internal - Marketing”)
  • Department work: “Department - Initiative” (e.g., “Engineering - Infrastructure”)
Avoid:
  • Inconsistent capitalization
  • Abbreviations that aren’t clear
  • Generic names like “Project 1” or “Work”

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Task Organization

Effective task structure:
  • Feature-based: “User Authentication”, “Payment Processing”
  • Phase-based: “Planning”, “Development”, “Testing”, “Deployment”
  • Deliverable-based: “User Research”, “Code Review”, “Documentation”

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Time Entry Accuracy

Tips for accurate time tracking:
  • Start timers when you begin work
  • Stop timers when you finish or switch tasks
  • Use the log command for retrospective entries
  • Be honest about time spent on different activities

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Common Issues and Solutions

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Command Not Working

Problem: /timetracker commands don’t work or show error messagesPossible Causes:
  • Slack app not installed in workspace
  • User account not properly mapped
  • Network connectivity issues
  • Slack app permissions problems
Solutions:
  1. Verify Slack app installation:
    • Check if Timetracker app is installed in your Slack workspace
    • Ask workspace admin to install if missing
  2. Test basic connection: 
    /timetracker help
  3. Check user mapping:
    • Go to Settings → Integrations → Slack → Configure
    • Verify your Slack user is mapped to your Timetracker account
  4. Re-sync user mapping:
    • Click “Sync Users” in the Slack configuration page
    • Re-map your account if needed
  5. Contact support:
Problem: Commands execute successfully but time entries don’t appear in TimetrackerPossible Causes:
  • User mapping issues
  • Wrong Timetracker account
  • Workspace configuration problems
Solutions:
  1. Verify user mapping:
    • Go to Settings → Integrations → Slack → Configure
    • Check that your Slack user is mapped to the correct Timetracker account
    • Look for your Slack username in “Currently Mapped Users”
  2. Check Timetracker account:
    • Verify you’re logged into the correct Timetracker account
    • Check if time entries appear in the correct workspace
  3. Re-sync mapping:
    • Unmap and re-map your Slack user
    • Use “Sync Users” to refresh the mapping
  4. Test with simple command: 
    /timetracker start description:"Test entry"
/timetracker stop
    Then check your Timetracker dashboard for the entry

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User Mapping Issues

Problem: Your Slack username doesn’t appear in the unmapped users listSolutions:
  1. Sync users:
    • Click “Sync Users” button in Slack configuration
    • Wait for the sync to complete
    • Refresh the page
  2. Check Slack workspace:
    • Verify you’re using the correct Slack workspace
    • Ensure the Timetracker app is installed in the right workspace
  3. Check Slack username:
    • Verify your Slack username in Slack settings
    • Look for variations (display name vs username)
  4. Contact admin:
    • Ask workspace admin to check app installation
    • Verify app permissions and user access
Problem: Your Timetracker account doesn’t appear in the team members listSolutions:
  1. Check workspace membership:
    • Verify you’re a member of the correct Timetracker workspace
    • Check with workspace admin if you should have access
  2. Verify account status:
    • Ensure your Timetracker account is active
    • Check if you have the correct permissions
  3. Check email address:
    • Verify the email address matches between Slack and Timetracker
    • Update email if there’s a mismatch
  4. Contact support:

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Command Syntax Issues

Problem: Commands show “Invalid format” or syntax errorsCommon Issues and Solutions:Log command format:
# ❌ Wrong
/timetracker log 2.5

# ✅ Correct
/timetracker log 2.5
Parameter formatting:
# ❌ Wrong - missing quotes
/timetracker start project:Client Website

# ✅ Correct - with quotes
/timetracker start project:"Client Website"
Task without project:
# ❌ Wrong - task requires project
/timetracker start task:"Homepage"

# ✅ Correct - project required for task
/timetracker start project:"Client Website" task:"Homepage"
Problem: Commands show “Project not found” errorSolutions:
  1. Check project name:
    • Verify exact spelling and capitalization
    • Check for extra spaces or special characters
  2. Create project first:
    • Go to Timetracker dashboard
    • Create the project if it doesn’t exist
    • Use the exact name in Slack commands
  3. Use existing projects:
    • Check your Timetracker dashboard for available projects
    • Use the exact project names from the dashboard
  4. Project naming tips:
    • Use consistent naming conventions
    • Avoid special characters
    • Keep names simple and clear

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Performance and Connectivity Issues

Problem: Commands take a long time to respond or timeoutSolutions:
  1. Check internet connection:
    • Verify stable internet connection
    • Try commands from different network
  2. Check Slack status:
    • Visit status.slack.com for Slack service issues
    • Wait for Slack issues to resolve
  3. Retry commands:
    • Commands may succeed on retry
    • Wait a few minutes before retrying
  4. Contact support:
Problem: Commands work sometimes but not alwaysSolutions:
  1. Check user mapping:
    • Verify mapping is stable and correct
    • Re-sync if mapping seems inconsistent
  2. Check workspace permissions:
    • Ensure you have proper permissions in both Slack and Timetracker
    • Ask admin to verify app permissions
  3. Clear browser cache:
    • Clear browser cache and cookies
    • Try from different browser or device
  4. Check for conflicts:
    • Ensure no other apps are interfering
    • Try commands in different Slack channels

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Advanced Troubleshooting

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Workspace Configuration Issues

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Admin-Level Problems

App Installation Issues:
  • Verify Timetracker app is properly installed
  • Check app permissions and scopes
  • Ensure all required permissions are granted
User Access Issues:
  • Verify users have access to the app
  • Check workspace member permissions
  • Ensure proper user roles and access levels

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Multi-Workspace Issues

Multiple Slack Workspaces:
  • Ensure you’re using the correct workspace
  • Check which workspace has the Timetracker app installed
  • Verify user mapping in the correct workspace
Multiple Timetracker Workspaces:
  • Confirm you’re mapped to the correct Timetracker workspace
  • Check workspace settings and permissions
  • Verify team member status in the correct workspace

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Data Synchronization Issues

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Time Entry Problems

Missing Time Entries:
  1. Check user mapping accuracy
  2. Verify Timetracker account access
  3. Check for time entry filters in dashboard
  4. Contact support if entries are completely missing
Duplicate Time Entries:
  1. Check for multiple user mappings
  2. Verify single Timetracker account per Slack user
  3. Review recent command history
  4. Contact support for data cleanup if needed

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Project and Task Issues

Missing Projects:
  1. Verify project exists in Timetracker
  2. Check project permissions and access
  3. Ensure project name matches exactly
  4. Create project if it doesn’t exist
Task Association Problems:
  1. Verify task exists within the project
  2. Check task permissions and access
  3. Ensure proper project-task relationship
  4. Create task if it doesn’t exist

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Getting Help

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Self-Service Resources

Documentation: Built-in Help: 
/timetracker help

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Contact Support

When to contact support:
  • User mapping issues that persist after troubleshooting
  • App installation or permission problems
  • Data synchronization issues
  • Commands that consistently fail
  • Any issues not covered in this guide
How to contact support:
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Include your Slack workspace name
  • Include your Timetracker account email
  • Describe the specific issue and steps you’ve tried
Information to include:
  • Slack workspace name
  • Timetracker account email
  • Specific error messages
  • Steps to reproduce the issue
  • Screenshots if helpful

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What’s Next?

Commands Reference

Complete reference for all available commands and parameters.

Command Examples

See practical examples and real-world usage scenarios.

Interactive Features

Learn about buttons, modals, and other interactive elements.