If you are in need of an easy to use project-based time tracking system, I’ve found a freeware program called Timesheets Lite that could very well fit your needs. Timesheets Lite was developed by Moving Target Software and is a scaled down version of their larger program Timesheets MTS. With the lite version you can set up projects and customers, track time, report, and invoice your customers.

Features
Timesheets Lite accommodates up to three users for free, providing you don’t want to use the Task Timer for more than one concurrent user, or can be placed on a network and used by as many as 90 users when licensing has been purchased. The program uses Microsoft Access® as it’s database, but you do not need Access® to run the program. Timesheets Lite exports to Excel®, text and HTML for reporting and the downloading of data.

The user interface is windows based, easy to use and has six main sections.

Login is used for logging on with passwords and changing users during a session.
Project Maintenance is used for adding and editing projects and setting up financial information for each.
User Maintenance is for adding users and setting passwords and security levels (this is only available
to the “super users”).
The Timesheet section has a graphic calendar, Task Timer and other features for tracking time.
Reporting allows for activity reporting, invoicing, charting and provides many selections for different criteria.
The Options section allows each user to set various preferences, including Common Activities that will be available for their logon in the Timesheet section.

Other features of Timesheets Lite include tracking of invoiced and non-invoiced time, the tagging of time as billable and non-billable and a convenient internal messaging system.

Support
Moving Target Software has provided support for this software with a well-organized and complete help file that includes instructions for the user interface, FAQs, suggestions for use of the software, how to set-up for a network and some of the error messages you may come across. The website also has a support page with contact information for the company and a forum, which requires registration with a valid email address. You will want to view the Read me file that comes with the program as it contains the default password that is used for each new user.

Possible Uses
Timesheets Lite would be great for anyone who needs to track their time-spent on various projects. Software developers and teams, writers, sales organizations, any project manager and even someone who would like to keep track of personal projects. This freeware has all the basic features needed for project time tracking and has run on my computer without any problems.

Till next time,
Ann LaBonte
Shareware & Freeware Host
BellaOnline

See the accompanying "Tutorial Page" for links to tutorials, and other information, on time and project management.

From Amazon.com:

The Time Trap - The Classic Book on Time Management

Visualizing Project Management - Master the Tools & Techniques of Project Management

Product Information and System Requirements:
Name: Timesheets Lite – Version 2.2.4
Developer: Moving Target Software
Download Size: 4.57 MB Zip File
Install Size: 1.99 MB
RAM: 128 MB or better
Suggested Operating System: Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003 Server (May require updates to Windows)
Other Requirements: WinZip