FreshBooks Vista Sidebar Gadget
Version 2 Released! - Check out the changelog below, and download version 2.
About the Gadget
I use FreshBooks for my billing. It’s a great system that I recommend for everyone.
To help keep time easier, I created this Vista Sidebar Gadget. It’s based on FreshBooks’ Time Tracking Widget for OS X. It lets you input your FreshBooks time directly from your Windows Vista Sidebar.
One of FreshBooks’ web designers, Jaco Joubert, created the beautiful skin for the gadget. Thanks Jaco!
Download the FreshBooks Vista Sidebar Gadget
If you have any questions or comments about this gadget, please post a comment below.
Changelog
Version 2 - 7-6-2008
- Redesigned skin - thanks to Jaco from FreshBooks
- Shorter, so less Sidebar space is required
- Shadow displayed when you undock the gadget
- Reset button - start the timer over
- Edit time by clicking on the counter
- Settings panel clarified, so you know to input only the first part of your FreshBooks address
- Fixed a bug - click the clock icon to go to your FreshBooks page
- Update notification - the gadget will detect when a new version is available and ask you to upgrade
Version 1 - 6-11-2008
- Initial version
- Basic timer without a reset button or edit functionality
- Ugly design done by a lawyer (me)
Gadget Press
People are taking notice of the gadget. Check it out!
Taavi posted a great article on the FreshBooks API Blog.
Free consultation. Call Andrew: 540.318.5824
17 Comments
Mike Robbins
I’ve tried all of the 3rd party time tracking utilites on Freshbooks’ site. This is by far the best….. A link taking me directly to my Freshbooks login page and it would be perfect!
Thank-you for this valuable tool and keep up the good work!
Jul 15th, 2008
Andrew Flusche
@Mike - Try clicking on the clock icon in the upper left corner of the gadget. That should take you straight to your FreshBooks home page.
Jul 16th, 2008
Erica
Awesome app for the vista sidebar! Now I have an excuse to actually use it. It’s nice to see your time as you work without having to stop and click or hover over a system tray icon. I definitely needed this since I love Freshbooks. Thanks!
Jul 26th, 2008
Andrew Flusche
@Erica - I’m glad you like the gadget. Please feel free to provide any constructive criticism for the next release!
Jul 26th, 2008
Denise
Brilliant!
Jul 28th, 2008
Andrew Flusche
@Denise - Thanks.
Jul 28th, 2008
Troy
Is there any way to add an employee select field? Otherwise it’s freaking awesome! Nice work..
Jul 31st, 2008
Andrew Flusche
@Troy - I thought that each user got their own API string. If you enter the staff member’s API string in the Settings panel, the hours should be logged for that person. Is there some other functionality you are looking for?
Jul 31st, 2008
nancy
Hi - I just signed up for Freshbooks and downloaded the sidebar gadget to track time ….it asks me to enter FreshBooks address and API token in setting menu. I’m technically challenged and I don’t know what or where to find that - can you help? thanks. Nancy
Aug 3rd, 2008
Dan
nancy: go to settings > Enable FreshBooks API and enable it. your token then will be displayed.
Thanks for the widget Andrew… One thing though, clicking on the clock icon does take me to my fb page, but it opens it in IE, and not my default browser (firefox)…
Aug 3rd, 2008
Andrew Flusche
@Dan - Thanks for helping out Nancy. I’ve noted the default browser issue as well. Hopefully I can fix it in the next release.
Aug 3rd, 2008
crushlabs
This would have been great for Windows XP…
Any thoughts to develop something for Windows XP taskbar?
Aug 26th, 2008
Andrew Flusche
@crushlabs - I don’t have any plans to take this to XP. You might post a request over in the FreshBooks forums. Who knows what might happen!
Aug 26th, 2008
Francis Wooby
Love it, love it, LOVE it! Great work, Andrew. Thank you so much.
One thing that would make the gadget even better is the ability to have more than one project and/or task open. Sometimes work on one thing gets temporarily interrupted by work on another. It’d be nice not to have to stop the timer, record the hours, input the interruption, and reenter data and start the clock again on the original task.
This is a mere quibble, though. Overall, this is a very effective, convenient, and mightily appreciated tool.
Aug 28th, 2008
Andrew Flusche
@Francis - Thanks for the feedback! I’ve made a note of your suggestion, but I’m not sure if I can make it happen. That would take a significant change to the gadget, and it might not be something that’s very feasible to do.
Aug 28th, 2008
Mendy Elishevitz
It worked great for a while, but recently I started getting an error “HTTP status 12019″ and the projects don’t load. Otherwise, it’s really a great app.
Sep 5th, 2008
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