Effort estimation in hours in JIRA
Asked by Gautam:

Hi, I am trying to understand if I can track effort spent for a task in hours in JIRA. Can I get some help on how this could be achieved please?

Also (I know this may not be possible), just want to check, if we track effort in hours and if a task is put ON HOLD, is there a way to not count the hours that a task has been put on hold for effort?

Thank you in advance.


Answers:
author: Lisa Forstberg
body: Hi [@Gautam](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/5277983)

There is a permission to allow users to Log time on an issue in Jira.

Short command to get to Log Time is just hitting W on your keyboard. (W for Worklog)

When the users log time the Remaining Estimate will decrease by the logged time (if remaining time have a value)

The Original Estimate will not be changed.

![Screenshot 2024-08-21 at 09.38.34.png](https://community.atlassian.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/342903i173857B08CC709E2/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "Screenshot 2024-08-21 at 09.38.34.png")

Then you can consume the logged time:

- in the activity tab for worklogs on each issue

- in the project \> Report \> Time tracking report

For more complex reporting than this you need to look at the marketplace for apps that offer this. As an example the apps from vendor [Tempo](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/search?query=tempo) is specialized in this area, but there are others as well. [EazyBI](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1211051/eazybi-reports-and-charts-for-jira?hosting=cloud&tab=overview) have a lot of flexibility for reporting.

Ignoring worklogs logged specificly during the time where the issue was in a particular status is a complex report to make. Also I am thinking it might be hard to get quality data here. Users might forget to log time whilst in "developing" statuses and put it in when it is "on hold".

best regards

Lisa

comments: author: Gautam
body: Thank you [@Lisa Forstberg](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/5101516) shall give it a try.


author: Gautam
body: Thank you [@Lisa Forstberg](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/5101516) and [@Adaeze_Jude_HEROCODERS](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/4978590) for your responses. I am able to log work using "log work" option for an issue. However, is there a possibility that this could take value from either Due Date or the Target End Date or even Original Estimate?

comments: author: Lisa Forstberg
body: Hi!

You mean calculating and automatically log hours based on a duration of an issue?

example: An issue is created on 1st of sep and due date is the 3rd of Sep ==\> that would mean logging 24 hours for the assignee of the issue? (if 8 hour days)

Not out of the box, and I see a lot risk for errors in such an automation. Duration is not always the same as effort, Teams swarm and share work, what if the user already have logged hours etc

I think Tempo addon however have support for automations to ++suggest++ timelogs based on similar factors.

br

Lisa


author: Adaeze_Jude_HEROCODERS
body: Hello [@Gautam](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/5277983)

As mentioned by Lisa, Marketplace Apps can provide you with more functionality relating to tracking time.

With Clockwork [Free](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1220750/clockwork-automated-time-tracking-timesheets-free?hosting=cloud&tab=overview) or [PRO](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1219213/clockwork-automated-time-tracking-timesheets-pro?hosting=cloud&tab=overview), you can use the log work form to log hours on Issues.

![chrome_rv3pnTtHJo.png](https://community.atlassian.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/343358iD88B82BC86679F15/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "chrome_rv3pnTtHJo.png")

Also, if you would like to track time only when issues are in active status and not on hold, automatic timers are just the features you require.

With [automatic timers](https://docs.herocoders.com/clockwork/automatic-timers), when an issue is put in an active status like in-progress, time begins to count for that issue; however, when it is put in DONE or ON-HOLD status, the timer stops.

You can customize statuses based on what you would like to use for tracking and stopping timers, as shown:

![chrome_thcVuG5W4a.png](https://community.atlassian.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/343357i00FFD015C3C6A478/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "chrome_thcVuG5W4a.png")

I'd be happy to give you a tour of the App; if you'd like this, please reach out [here.](https://herocoders.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portals)


Tags: cloud

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