---
title: "Time Entry Method: Form-Based Time Tracking"
url: "https://help.ontraccr.com/en/article/time-entry-method-form-based-time-tracking"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2025-05-26T23:26:04.613Z"
---

# Time Entry Method: Form-Based Time Tracking

## 🧾 **Time Entry Method: Form-Based Time Tracking**

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### ✅ **What This Covers**

This article explains how to use **Form-Based Time Tracking** in Ontraccr, which allows users to submit time through a form that includes a **Time Entry Table** and a **workflow** that creates and optionally auto-approves time cards.

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### 🧭 **Where to Set This Up**

To use this method, you’ll need to:

1.  **Create a Form** with a **Time Entry Table** field
2.  Add a **Create Time Entry** block in the form's workflow
3.  (Optional) Add **Approval Blocks** before time is created

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### 📝 **What Users See**

When filling out the form:

-   They’ll use the **Time Entry Table** to log time for themselves or their crew
-   They can include multiple rows (per person or task)
-   Each row captures:
    -   User
    -   Project
    -   Cost code (if enforced)
    -   Hours or start/end time (depending on form setup)
    -   Notes or additional form fields

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### 🔧 **Create Time Entry Workflow Block**

This workflow block turns time entry rows into actual time cards.

You can configure it to:

-   ✅ Auto-create time entries
-   ✅ Auto-submit
-   ✅ Auto-approve (bypasses standard approval hierarchy)
-   🚫 Prevent duplicates
-   🔁 Map extra form fields to **custom time card fields** by division

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### 🔗 **Features That Tie In**

| Feature | Description |
| --- | --- |
| 🧠 Form Approvals | Use form logic to approve time before it’s created |
| 🧾 Custom Fields | Form answers can be mapped to custom time card fields |
| 📝 Summary Export | Designed to work with multi-signature forms |
| 🗺️ GPS Snapshot | Forms include GPS metadata when submitted (if on mobile) |

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### 🧪 **Best Use Cases**

-   Foremen submitting **daily logs with time included**
-   Collecting **job site details + hours** in one workflow
-   Attaching supporting docs (photos, slips, notes) to time entries
-   Field workflows that require multi-step approval (safety, time, QA)

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### 💡 **Tips & Edge Cases**

-   ⏱ Best used with **manual-style time reporting** (no live punch in/out)
-   📸 Use this when users are expected to **submit supporting info** alongside hours
-   🔄 Time entries can still go through standard approval unless **Auto Approve** is enabled in the workflow
-   ✅ Great for companies transitioning away from paper time sheets or daily reports