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XML file specification


Introduction

When you save your projects to XML files, they can also be read and written by other applications that support reading and writing to a custom XML format.  Do make sure however that these applications read and write according to the XML specification listed below, otherwise the project data might get corrupt.  It is always safe to first make a backup copy of your project files when you try out exchanging data with other applications for the first time.

XML specification

The XML specification is as follows:

<TimeTracesProject version="[project version]">
  <Name>[project name]</Name>
  <Activity name="[activity 1 name]" enabled="[enabled]">
    <TimeTrace start="[start date/time]" end="[end date/time]"/>
    <TimeTrace start="[start date/time]" open="true"/>
    <Activity name="[sub activity 1.1 name]" enabled="[enabled]">
      <TimeTrace start="[start date/time]" end="[end date/time]"/>
    </Activity>
    <Activity name="[sub activity 1.2 name]" enabled="[enabled]">
    </Activity>
  </Activity>
  <Activity name="[activity 2 name]" enabled="[enabled]">
  </Activity>
</TimeTracesProject>

In the above specification, the actual data is specified within [], and has the following format:

[project version]
The project file version; the above specification reflects version "8.12.1".  This version is also equal to the minimum TimeTraces version needed to read the XML file.
[date/time]
The date and time, formatted as yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss.
[enabled]
Whether the activity is enabled or not; valid values are "true" and "false".
[name]
The name of the project or activity; there are no limitations to the name.

An "Activity" tag can have an arbitrary number of nested "Activity" tags and "TimeTraces" tags.  A "TimeTrace" tag can be either open or closed.  When a "TimeTrace" tag is closed (no active time registration), both the "start" and "end" attributes have to be supplied.  If the "TimeTrace" tag is open (it is still registering time), the "end" attribute must be omitted and the "open" attribute is used (with the value "true").

General notes

  • TimeTraces internally stores its date/time information in UTC (Universal Time Coordinates).  This means TimeTraces can handle daylight savings time transparently and correctly.  The date and time information in the XML files must thus also be specified in UTC.
  • Unrecognized tags and attributes are skipped by TimeTraces.  When a recognized tag doesn't have the required attributes and/or data format, TimeTraces assumes the project data file is corrupt and stops loading it.
  • XML files are case sensitive.  When dealing with TimeTraces project files, make sure that the case complies with the above specification.