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Differences between Timecards and Daily Timelines

Updated over a month ago

Atto provides two key views to help you understand team activity and time tracking: Timecards and Daily Timelines. While both offer insights into how your team works, each serves a different purpose.


What is a Timecard?

A Timecard represents a single work session — from clock-in to clock-out — and acts as the base unit for recording hours.

Each timecard includes:

  • Clock-In Time: When the user starts tracking time

  • Clock-Out Time: When the user ends their shift

  • Location Data: The locations where clock-in and clock-out occurred

  • Job Code (if used): The job assigned to the time entry

  • Total Hours: Time tracked for that session, minus breaks

| You can view individual timecards by tapping on a specific day in the Work Hours section of a timesheet.


What is a Daily Timeline?

The Daily Timeline gives a detailed breakdown of all activity within a single day. It’s accessible by selecting a specific timecard.

Each Daily Timeline includes:

  • Clock-In & Clock-Out: Time and location data

  • Breaks: Start and end times for any breaks taken

  • Jobs: Start and end times for any job codes used during the shift

  • Notes: Any notes or attachments added by the employee or an admin

| This view helps managers verify how time was spent throughout the day and whether the shift aligns with expected work and break periods.


How Timecards and Daily Timelines Work Together

Timecards and daily timelines each offer a different level of detail, but together, they give you a complete picture:

  • Timecards provide a clean summary of clock-ins, clock-outs, and total hours — ideal for payroll and compliance.

  • Daily timelines fill in the story behind those hours — showing when jobs changed, breaks were taken, and notes were added.

By using both, you gain clarity on how work is structured, improve accountability, and make smarter decisions about scheduling, task assignments, and payroll.


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