Timesheet vs. Time Entry: What's Changed for You
This guide explains the differences between the older Timesheet screen and the newer Time Entry screen in TMS, and what you can expect when using each.
Overview
The Time Entry screen is the improved replacement for the legacy Timesheet screen. It was designed to be faster, more responsive, and safer for your data. Below is a summary of the key differences you will experience as a user.
Opening a Batch
What you experience | Timesheet (Old) | Time Entry (New) |
|---|---|---|
Wait time to see data | Up to 75 seconds for large batches | Approximately 7–12 seconds |
Screen responsiveness while loading | Screen may appear frozen or unresponsive during load | Screen remains responsive with faster rendering |
Amount of data loaded | Loads everything at once, regardless of batch size | Loads data efficiently with faster display |
What this means for you: When you open a batch with thousands of items, Time Entry will display your data significantly faster — often 6 to 10 times quicker than the old Timesheet screen.
Filtering and Searching
What you experience | Timesheet (Old) | Time Entry (New) |
|---|---|---|
Applying a filter (e.g., by person or organization) | Instant filter (no reload), but the initial load was slow | Instant filter (no reload), and the initial load was already fast |
Organization dropdown | Shows all organizations in a long scrollable list — can be slow to open | Shows a search box where you type to find your organization quickly |
Responsiveness after filtering | Can be sluggish when displaying results | Results appear smoothly and quickly |
What this means for you: Both screens filter without reloading the page. However, Time Entry feels faster because it only displays what's visible on screen at any moment, rather than rendering thousands of hidden rows in the background.
Entering and Saving Hours
This is the most important difference for daily users:
What you experience | Timesheet (Old) | Time Entry (New) |
|---|---|---|
How you save | You must click the Save button manually | Each cell saves automatically when you move to the next field |
When your data is saved | Only when you click Save — everything is sent at once | Immediately after you finish editing each cell (within about 1 second) |
Risk of losing work | High — if you navigate away, close the browser, or experience a connection issue before clicking Save, all unsaved changes are lost | Low — each entry is saved individually as you go; at most you could lose only the cell you were currently editing |
Save speed | The batch save can take 2–6 seconds depending on how many entries you changed | Each individual cell saves in under 1 second |
Feedback when saving | You wait for the entire batch to finish before seeing confirmation | You get immediate confirmation for each entry |
What this means for you: With Time Entry, you no longer need to remember to click Save. Your hours are saved automatically as you enter them. This virtually eliminates the risk of losing work due to accidental navigation, browser crashes, or internet interruptions.
Side-by-Side Summary
Feature | Timesheet (Old) | Time Entry (New) |
|---|---|---|
Loading speed | Slow (up to 75 seconds for large batches) | Fast (7–12 seconds) |
Filtering | Works, but screen can feel sluggish | Works smoothly with instant results |
Organization search | Long scrollable dropdown | Type-to-search box |
Saving method | Manual — click Save button | Automatic — saves on each cell |
Risk of data loss | High — unsaved work lost if you leave | Very low — each cell saved immediately |
Feedback | Delayed — wait for batch to complete | Immediate — per-entry confirmation |
Large batches | Performance degrades significantly | Handles large batches comfortably |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to click Save in Time Entry?
No. Time Entry saves each cell automatically when you move to the next field (by pressing Tab, Enter, or clicking another cell). There is no separate Save button needed for individual hour entries.
Will I lose my work if my browser closes unexpectedly?
With Time Entry, the risk is minimal. Since each cell is saved immediately, at most you would lose only the entry you were actively typing when the interruption occurred. With the old Timesheet screen, any unsaved changes (since your last Save click) would be lost entirely.
Why does the old Timesheet take so long to load?
The old Timesheet screen downloads all data for the entire batch at once before displaying anything. For large batches with thousands of entries, this results in long wait times. Time Entry uses a more efficient approach that gets you working faster.
Can I still use the Timesheet screen?
Check with your administrator regarding which screens are available in your TMS navigation. Your organization may be transitioning users to Time Entry for the improved experience described above.
Is the data the same in both screens?
Yes. Both screens work with the same underlying data. The difference is only in how the screen loads, displays, and saves that data.
Recommendation
We recommend using Time Entry for all daily time entry work. The faster loading, automatic saving, and reduced risk of data loss make it the better choice for entering and managing hours — especially when working with large batches.