CNET Editors' review
If time is money, then tracking your time is just as important as budgeting. Maple XP keeps you on track by managing multiple projects at once. However, getting started with the program takes a long time and its interface isn't too easy to use.
The whole installation process required for this program to work takes time. The program requires the .NET Framework to work, too, so if your computer is not yet running it you need to install it before continuing. Once you finally open Maple XP, you'll notice that the program has changed its name to Quisima Time Tracker. Unfortunately, that means you can't use it to make new databases unless you download the most recent version. There's a link that offers to take you there, but it actually leads you to a 404 error. Once you finally make it to the download, it will probably ping your antivirus software as malicious. The interface is rather confusing and scattered. Before creating a particular project with specific tasks matching your situation you need to create a database where all of your data will be stored. Most of the time-tracking features seem hard to use and are not too clear. Also, it will take time and patience to set everything up.
If you desire a basic yet rather complicated application to set up to help you keep track of multiple tasks and time spent on each of them, then Maple XP could be the solution. However, the program could use improvements in regards to its interface and features. The maze of an installation process could also be a turn-off for many users.
Publisher's Description
From Quasima Software:
MapleXP is a simple program that allows a PC user to keep track of how much time he or she spends working on various projects. With MapleXP, each project can be divided into a hierarchical structure of tasks, which allows for very precise tracking of working time. The very first step is to create a new database file in which all your data will be kept. This operation is similar for example to creating a new spreadsheet, except that you must provide a location for the database file just at creation time not when data is saved for the first time.
What's new in this version: Version 1.16 has upgrade link to Quasima Time Tracker.
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5.0 starsout of 1 votes
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"Excellent, very well designed, does what it says, I'd love graphing capability"
Version: MapleXP 1.4.1
Pros
This software is excellent. I've been using it for a couple months now, and love it. You set can set up categories of various activities, with levels of sub-categories to narrow it down, and this is represented in a tree structure. It is NOT "automatic", as some apps similar to this are, as you have to tell it when to start timing any particular activity, and when to stop. If you forget to time something, you can manually make an entry, and you can go back and modify entries that were already made. It has a "Summary" feature through which you can see how much time you have spent at any task (and include sub-tasks, if you want) over any time period that you choose. It can also export a full report to file, which you can then import in a spreadsheet etc. to analyze or chart any way you might want to.
I have not encountered a single problem with this software. It is very well designed, with a good help file. It is also pleasing to the eye, simple yet elegant, no distracting frills, just needed functionality.
Cons
The only thing I could possibly complain about with this app is that it would be so nice if it represented it's information graphically. I've exported to Excel to attempt this, but am lousy at Excel graphing, and it would be great if the author decided to include graphing within the program.
Oh, and you should be aware that the program uses the Microsoft .NET framework environment, so if you don't have that already, you will need to download that. I BELIEVE (but am not absolutely sure) that the author's site may have either links to the needed .NET files, or actually have a download package that includes those files. If not, just Google ".NET", and download it.
