Record Active Editing Time

[autocad.wishlist1734]

Summary: An option to record active editing time of a drawing, not just the time a drawing has been opened.

Description: AutoCAD should be able to record Active editting time while a drawing is open, not just total time the drawing has been open. By this, I mean that it records only while the mouse or keyboard is in use, and after a user selectable time of inactivity, the timer stops until activity resumes.

How Used: This would make tracking actual time required to create/edit a drawing much more accurate. Too often multiple drawing files are open, but only one is actively being editted. Unfortunately AutoCAD records the total time a file has been open.

Feature Affinity: Deployment

Submitted By: Ralph Tulis on March 11, 2009

[simon.mather]

If it works, that option is already in place, under the Express Pull down. Tools (DWG Editing Time)..I've not tried it , but it would help against overbooking of hours by some users...

[ralph.tulis]

Simon, Didn't find it under Express Tools pull-down in 2012, but did find it in Help. Judging from my newest drawing file (which was set for a 10 minute Timeout), it does not appear to be working correctly. Total Editing TIme and Elapsed Timer both indicate 1 day 1 hour which correlates to yesterday's drawing creation time (AutoCAD and this drawing have been up ever since the drawing was created). Since the session was totally inactive while I slept last night the total time should NOT be around 25 hours.

[BlackBox]

This has been discussed many, many times before both here at AUGI, and other forums.

DWGPROPS (http://exchange.autodesk.com/autocad/enu/online-help/browse#WS1a9193826455f5ffa23ce210c4a30acaf-4ba0.htm) Command, Statistics Tab (http://exchange.autodesk.com/autocad/enu/online-help/browse#WS1a9193826455f5ff-4f542f6211c76132bad-1382.htm), Total Editing Time.


** Edit - Also, FWIW - http://www.cadtempo.com/

[ralph.tulis]

Great, I'm glad it's been discussed. I've missed those discussions. But how do I get AutoCAD to accurately reflect active editing time? Obviously, if have had a file open for 25 hours, and have been away from it for 20 of those hours, my actual REAL editing time should be recorded as 5 hours or less. If AutoCAD can't do it, then are you suggesting I spend $50 on software that can?

[BlackBox]

Since the session was totally inactive while I slept last night the total time should NOT be around 25 hours.


if have had a file open for 25 hours, and have been away from it for 20 of those hours, my actual REAL editing time should be recorded as 5 hours or less.

It is my understanding that AutoCAD is a professional design application, intended for professionals (and students) to work with. In a real world, professional setting, the scenario you preset would never happen.

That said, I agree with you that there are some 'gaps' (being diplomatic) in AutoCAD in this regard.

The solution to the scenario you present can be solved through a combination of training and/or 3rd party products such as CadTempo.

Which is best is for you (or your employer) to decide. I simply included the reference to this software as I felt that you may benefit from it, and have no affiliation with this product.

HTH

[ralph.tulis]

I would respectfully disagree with your statement "In a real world, professional setting, the scenario you preset would never happen." I've managed an engineering department, as well as an engineering group distributed over several offices, in a VERY real world. To believe that an individual would close one drawing and then move on to the next is simply not realistic in the environment I'm familiar with. Ever since AutoCAD, and the hardware it runs on, was capable of of either multiple sessions, or opening multiple drawings, that's exactly what many people did (and continue to do). Obviously a person can only work on one drawing at a time. But having multiple files open is commonplace for a variety of reasons - the problem is that relying on AutoCAD's timer is a joke, since idle time (for a particular file) is still recorded as editing time (or not recorded at all using the Elapsed Timer if it's off).

Perhaps a 3rd party product can do the job - I will have to try it.

But to have folks simply dismiss my Wish LIst item as already existing within AutoCAD, when it does not seem to be a functional feature, is very disheartening.

[BlackBox]

I am in no way dismissing your wish list item, or it's validity.

I was referring to your 'while I slept' statement. My statements were in no way indicative of your professional history, nor that the built-in functionality was sufficient. It's not. We are in agreement there.

I only pointed out the built-in functionality as it (DWGPROPS) was not mentioned in the OP. Some are unaware of this (albeit insufficient) functionality.

This may not apply to you, but most non-programmers are unaware of the difference between opening a drawing within or outside of the Editor (i.e., ObjectDBX, RealDWG, etc), which is what the 'Total Editing Time' monitors.

As I've personally argued in the past (hence the 'this has been discussed' above), this is inaccurate. You and I are in agreement on this matter.

Take my statements for what they are worth to you, and not offensively.

Cheers! :beer:

[Wish List System]

Record Active Editing Time

Summary: An option to record active editing time of a drawing, not just the time a drawing has been opened.

Description: AutoCAD should be able to record Active editting time while a drawing is open, not just total time the drawing has been open. By this, I mean that it records only while the mouse or keyboard is in use, and after a user selectable time of inactivity, the timer stops until activity resumes.

Product and Feature: AutoCAD - Deployment

Submitted By: ralph.tulis on 03/11/2009