Summary: ServiceBox has introduced the ability to adjust/initialize timesheet period types from new available options: weekly, bi-weekly & semi-monthly. 


What is a timesheet period type? Timesheet periods are date ranges that specify how frequently timesheets are submitted. To create timesheets, timesheet periods must be defined. Users cannot enter time in their timesheets until they have initialized their timesheet period. The Timesheet period selected applies to all users in your software. 


How do I initialize the period type for a New User? New users have to initialize their timesheet by going into Settings>Timesheets>Timesheet Item Types > Click on 'Initialize Timesheets' and select your period type (which determines how often a new timesheet period is generated) 


1. Period Type: Weekly - If you are a brand new customer you can initialize the period as the start or end from that current date. For example- If October 28 is your current date and your period type is weekly you could select any date from the highlighted dates to be set as your start period. If you select Oct 26 as you start date, your current timesheet period will run from 10/26/2021 to 11/02/2021. 



2. Period Type: Bi-weekly - The new user will be able to choose the start date of the current period...this date can be 13 days before the current date or 13 after the current date.

  


3. Period Type: Semi-Monthly - In this case the user will not be able to choose a start date; it will automatically setup the current period as being either the 1st through the 15th or the 16th through to the end of the month. 


How do I adjust timesheet periods? 


A Customer that already has timesheets created will be allowed to setup with an effective date in the future. For example : I can select "weekly" as my period type and select a future date like, in this case, 10/30/2021.



This will set the end of the current period to the day before the effective date. In the case of weekly or bi-weekly periods, a user can select the start of the next period (the effective date) as any date between the day after the current date and a week (or two weeks) from the current date. In the case of semi-monthly, they cannot select the effective date: the next 16th or 1st will be the start of the next period and the current period will end the day before.


Why do timesheets remain the same, after I adjust the timesheet period?


Existing timesheets are not affected by changes to the timesheet period. Therefore, any timesheet that was generated before the change will not reflect the new timesheet period.


 Why do new users receive errors while entering times into their timesheets ?  


This error message will be displayed if a user tries to enter times into their timesheet or on their work orders without initializing their timesheet period type. Once the user sets their timesheet period type and start date, this error message won't be displayed. 


If you have any additional questions please send a feedback message and our support team will be sure to help you out with your ServiceBox needs.