Time Control is your "command center" for managing time entries. Whether you need to track released and unreleased time, release your time entries for billing, or export data for reports, Time Control gives you the visibility and control you need to manage your time tracking efficiently.
What is Time Control?
Time Control is a comprehensive tool that lets you view, manage, and process time entries. Think of it as your time tracking command center—it brings together all time entries in one place so you can see the big picture and take action on entries that need attention.
Why Time Control Matters
Time Control solves key challenges that timekeepers face with time tracking and billing:
Visibility: See all of your time entries, not just individual days. Easily find entries that need attention before billing deadlines.
Efficiency: Bulk actions let you process multiple entries at once instead of handling them individually, saving hours during month-end billing.
Control: Filtering and export features help you analyze time data and generate reports for decision-making.
Your Time Control Dashboard
Your Dashboard Overview
You can open Time Control by navigating to your initials in the lower left corner of the Laurel web app. From the options that appear, select Time Control.
When you enter Time Control, you'll initially see a dashboard view with three key metrics; please note that Time Control defaults to the current month:
Released (green checkmark): Total hours you've sent to your firm's practice management system (PMS) in the current month. These represent completed work ready for client invoicing.
Pending (green clock icon): Total hours currently being processed in the current month. These hours are on their way to the PMS.
Unreleased (warning triangle): Total hours for time entries that haven't been released for billing yet in the current month. This time needs action before it can be billed.
Filtering Your Time Entries
Time Control offers several filtering options:
Date Filtering: Click the calendar icon to filter time entries in a specific date range. Note: If you are going to take bulk action on a set of entries, selecting a date range is required.
Client and Matter Filtering: Filter time entries prepared for specific matters/projects/initiatives, or for specific clients.
Release Status Filtering: Show entries by their current release status.
Export Features
Export time entry data as CSV files for analysis or reporting:
Select a date range (up to 5 weeks) to activate the Export button.
Apply any additional filters you're interested in.
Click "Export" and review the details in the warning dialog box.
Click "Export Data" in the dialog box.
Receive an email when your file is ready to download.
Important: Exporting time entries to CSV is the only way to print them. Please follow the steps above if you need to print time entries.
Bulk Actions
If you want to bulk release your entries, follow these steps:
Select the entries you want to release. You can do this manually by clicking the checkboxes next to the entries, or by using filters.
Click "Release" in the action bar that appears over your entries.
If you want to bulk reassign your entries to a different matter/initiative/project, follow these steps:
Select the entries you want to release. You can do this manually by clicking the checkboxes next to the entries, or by using filters.
Click the "Reassign" button in the action bar that appears over your entries. It looks like a folder with a plus (+) sign on it.
Select the matter/initiative/project you want to reassign the entries to from the modal that pops up.
Click "assign."
If you want to bulk delete your entries, follow these steps:
Select the entries you want to delete. You can do this manually by clicking the checkboxes next to the entries, or by using filters.
Click the "Delete" button in the action bar that appears over your entries. It looks like a red trash can. Note that there is no warning dialog for bulk deletion -- only click the "Delete" button if you're sure you want to permanently delete some entries.
Working with Individual Entries
In the Time Control view, you can click into individual time entries to see key details about them, including their dates, the matter/project/initiative used, their narratives, and billing codes used.
For unreleased entries, you can take action on the entry, like editing, releasing, or deleting it.
For released entries, you can see the details of the entry, but cannot take further action.
Important Considerations
System Limits: Date ranges are limited to 5 weeks for exports and bulk releases to maintain performance.
Data Accuracy: Once entries are released, they're locked and can only be viewed in Time Control (not edited in any way).
Background Processing: Export and bulk release operations run in the background—you'll get email notifications when complete.