Toolbar popup and side panel
Learn what is available in the Hoursmith toolbar popup, persistent side panel, command menu, and workspace search.
Hoursmith for Chrome has two complementary surfaces: a compact toolbar popup for the next action and a persistent side panel for work you want to keep beside the current tab.
Direct Account and extension settings, the current-account identity in the command menu, unified searchable choice fields, and the nonblank refresh state require extension version 0.3.0 or later.
Toolbar popup
Click the Hoursmith icon in Chrome's toolbar. The popup contains:
- a workspace switcher;
- a button for the side panel, plus direct Account and extension settings in version 0.3.0+;
- the current timer, or searchable project and task controls for a new timer;
- quick actions for Log time, Tasks, Capture, and Use page;
- your most recent completed time entries; and
- connection, offline queue, and conflict status.
On a narrow popup, the quick actions reflow into two columns so their labels and controls remain reachable.
Persistent side panel
Open the panel from the popup or Chrome's side-panel controls. It keeps five sections available:
| Section | What it shows |
|---|---|
| My Day | Today's tracked total, work needing attention, the timer, assigned work, recent time, and recent projects. |
| Time | This week's total, the timer, manual time entry, and eligible recent entries you can edit or delete. |
| Tasks | Assigned tasks, supported task updates, task creation, and task timers. |
| Quick capture | Explicit current-page preview plus task, expense, client, project, and time forms allowed by your role. |
| Workspace | Search across accessible records, project summaries, role-gated financial summaries, and recent activity. |
In version 0.3.0+, the selected section remains visible while fresh workspace data loads; a loading state replaces the former blank panel.
Command menu and keyboard shortcut
Choose the menu button in the side-panel header, or press:
- Ctrl + Shift + H on Windows, Linux, or ChromeOS; or
- Command + Shift + H on macOS.
In version 0.3.0+, the menu shows the current account identity, jumps between the five sections, connects another workspace, and opens Account and extension settings. Press Escape to close it.
Search and open the full record
The Workspace section searches accessible clients, projects, tasks, time entries, expenses, and invoices. Results open the exact record in the Hoursmith web app. Manager+ users can also see client, invoice, and eligible recurring-invoice summaries; Members do not receive those financial views.
Use the web app when a record needs a complete editor or workflow. Extension links also take you to full invoice, payment, report, import, member, billing, API, webhook, email, and security pages.
In version 0.3.0+, searchable project, task, client, and assignee controls combine typing and choosing in one labelled field. Use the Arrow keys and Enter, or keep typing to request more authorized results.