C++ Development Time Tracking

[Mark C Malburg]

I write a lot of "smallish" custom C++ apps and am always interested in understanding the actual amount of time spent on each project. (Perhaps similar to the File-Properties information provided in Microsoft Word.) Is there a DevStudio Add-In that tracks time in a project/workspace? If not, I'd be interested in other (preferably automated) approaches.

[Jesse Ezell]

I don't know if there is an add-in, but it wouldn't be that hard to write yourself a quick little program that tracks the time (select the project from a dropdown list or something and then hit the start button to start tracking, hit the stop button when you go on break etc.). It might take 15 minutes or so to write. ================== The original message was: I write a lot of "smallish" custom C++ apps and am always interested in understanding the actual amount of time spent on each project. (Perhaps similar to the File-Properties information provided in Microsoft Word.)

Is there a DevStudio Add-In that tracks time in a project/workspace? If not, I'd be interested in other (preferably automated) approaches.

[Dmitriy]

I think he means something different. No everybody will remember to press the buttons. It should work automatically - when your open a project it should start, when you close - finish. Also take care abourt right counting time while your another application is active and VC++ is sleeping ================== The original message was: I don't know if there is an add-in, but it wouldn't be that hard to write yourself a quick little program that tracks the time (select the project from a dropdown list or something and then hit the start button to start tracking, hit the stop button when you go on break etc.). It might take 15 minutes or so to write.

==================
The original message was:

I write a lot of "smallish" custom C++ apps and am always interested in understanding the actual amount of time spent on each project. (Perhaps similar to the File-Properties information provided in Microsoft Word.)

Is there a DevStudio Add-In that tracks time in a project/workspace? If not, I'd be interested in other (preferably automated) approaches.

[Jesse Ezell]

That wouldn't be much harder. Just enumerate the windows to search for a title contianing "Microsoft Visual C++" on one of them, and then store the window's HWND value and use a thread to constantly check the status of the window and update the time (maybe every minute or so, so that it doesn't take up too much proccessor time...or every 5 seconds or so...it all depends on how accurate you really want to be). The title comes in something like the following format: "PROJECT NAME - Microsoft Visual C++ [CURRENT FILE INFORMATION]". When the PROJECT NAME part changes, or the window is closed, or the window and its children are not active, the clock stops counting for the listed project. On program exit and entrance, it would load past project values and save new project information. A simple combo-box interface could allow you to view the status of each project, reset timers, etc. ================== The original message was: I think he means something different.
No everybody will remember to press the buttons.
It should work automatically - when your open a project it should start, when you close - finish. Also take care abourt right counting time while your another application is active and VC++ is sleeping

==================
The original message was:

I don't know if there is an add-in, but it wouldn't be that hard to write yourself a quick little program that tracks the time (select the project from a dropdown list or something and then hit the start button to start tracking, hit the stop button when you go on break etc.). It might take 15 minutes or so to write.

==================
The original message was:

I write a lot of "smallish" custom C++ apps and am always interested in understanding the actual amount of time spent on each project. (Perhaps similar to the File-Properties information provided in Microsoft Word.)

Is there a DevStudio Add-In that tracks time in a project/workspace? If not, I'd be interested in other (preferably automated) approaches.

[Dmitriy]

Sure is not so difficult. Rather it can be done by way automation - throw Application object. ================== The original message was: That wouldn't be much harder. Just enumerate the windows to search for a title contianing "Microsoft Visual C++" on one of them, and then store the window's HWND value and use a thread to constantly check the status of the window and update the time (maybe every minute or so, so that it doesn't take up too much proccessor time...or every 5 seconds or so...it all depends on how accurate you really want to be). The title comes in something like the following format: "PROJECT NAME - Microsoft Visual C++ [CURRENT FILE INFORMATION]". When the PROJECT NAME part changes, or the window is closed, or the window and its children are not active, the clock stops counting for the listed project. On program exit and entrance, it would load past project values and save new project information. A simple combo-box interface could allow you to view the status of each project, reset timers, etc.

==================
The original message was:

I think he means something different.
No everybody will remember to press the buttons.
It should work automatically - when your open a project it should start, when you close - finish. Also take care abourt right counting time while your another application is active and VC++ is sleeping

==================
The original message was:

I don't know if there is an add-in, but it wouldn't be that hard to write yourself a quick little program that tracks the time (select the project from a dropdown list or something and then hit the start button to start tracking, hit the stop button when you go on break etc.). It might take 15 minutes or so to write.

==================
The original message was:

I write a lot of "smallish" custom C++ apps and am always interested in understanding the actual amount of time spent on each project. (Perhaps similar to the File-Properties information provided in Microsoft Word.)

Is there a DevStudio Add-In that tracks time in a project/workspace? If not, I'd be interested in other (preferably automated) approaches.