TIME AND WORK TRACKER

A method and system for automatically collecting and for analyzing information about time and work performed on a computer includes the following elements: data collector means for monitoring certain portions of a user's computer activity; data collector means for logging into a log file those certain portions of a user's computer activity; data analyzer means for determining, by means of user-defined rules, which portions of those certain portions of a user's computer activity constitutes continuous work activities and how this work should be categorized by project and task with project; and external interface means for building the rules defining work. The data collector means for monitoring certain portions of a user's computer activity includes a resident module, such as a TSR (terminate-and-stay-resident) module, which extends the file system of the computer so that detailed records are kept of file activities. The data collector means for monitoring certain portions of a user's computer activity includes means for routing information about file activity to the data collection means and includes means for tabulating and writing such information to a user's disk periodically. The data collector means for monitoring certain portions of a user's computer activity includes means for routing information about keyboard activity to the data collection means and includes means for periodically tabulating and writing such information to a user's disk.