METime User Guide

Introduction

Overview

The METime module enables employees to record, submit, and manage timesheets electronically within MESuite. It provides a centralized platform for capturing hours worked, tracking time against projects or activities, and submitting timesheets for approval.

Managers and supervisors can review submitted timesheets, approve or reject entries, and monitor resource utilization through reporting tools. The module supports accurate time recording, streamlines the approval process, and provides reliable data for project management, reporting, and payroll or financial integration.

Purpose of this Guide

This guide explains how to use the METime module to perform everyday timesheet activities within MEsuite.

It provides step-by-step instructions for:

• Accessing the METime module.
• Capturing and updating timesheets.
• Copying timesheets from a previous week.
• Understanding validation rules.
• Submitting timesheets for approval.
• Approving or rejecting submitted timesheets (for authorised users).
• Viewing timesheet information.
• Generating and exporting reports.

Prerequisites

Before using the METime module, ensure that:

• You have a valid MEsuite user account.
• Access to the METime module has been assigned.
• The appropriate project and resource information has been configured.
• Your reporting structure and approval hierarchy have been established.
• You understand your organization’s timesheet submission requirements.

 

About the Timesheet Workflow

The standard timesheet process follows these stages:

1. Open the METime module.
2. Select the required week.
3. Capture one or more timesheet entries.
4. Save the timesheet.
5. Submit the timesheet for approval (if applicable).
6. The assigned manager or supervisor reviews the entries.
7. Timesheet entries are approved or rejected.
8. If rejected, the employee updates the entries and resubmits them.
9. Approved timesheets become available for reporting and downstream business processes.

Accessing the METime Module

Purpose

This section explains how to access the METime module and introduces the navigation menu used to capture, review, approve, and report on timesheets

Before You Begin

Ensure that:

• You have successfully logged into MEsuite.
• Your user account has been granted access to the METime module.
• You have the appropriate permissions to capture or approve timesheets.

The menu options available to you may vary depending on your assigned role and security permissions.

Navigation Path

MESuite → METime

Accessing the Module

1. Log in to MEsuite using your assigned username and password.
2. After signing in, locate the Navigation Menu on the left-hand side of the application.
3. Expand the Timesheets menu group.
4. Select the required menu option to perform your task.

Understanding the Navigation Menu

The METime module provides several menu options that support the complete timesheet lifecycle, from capturing time through to reporting.

Each menu option serves a specific purpose.

Menu Option	Description
Dashboard	Displays an overview of timesheet activity and provides quick access to commonly used functions. The dashboard may evolve as new MESuite features are released.
Capture	Opens the Timesheet Capture page where users record and maintain their weekly timesheets.
View	Displays submitted timesheets and allows authorised users to review captured time.
Authorize	Enables managers and supervisors to approve or reject submitted timesheets. This option is only available to users with the required permissions.
Reporting	Opens the reporting module where timesheet information can be filtered, analyzed, and exported.

These menu options provide access to all core functionality within the METime module.

Best Practices

Before capturing timesheets:

• Ensure you are working in the correct reporting week.
• Confirm that the appropriate resource has been selected.
• Capture time regularly rather than waiting until the end of the week.
• Review previously submitted entries before making amendments.

Related Topics

• Capturing Timesheets
• Copying Timesheets from a Previous Week
• Timesheet Validation Rules
• Timesheet Approvals
• Timesheet Reporting

Capturing Timesheets

Purpose

The Capture function enables users to record the hours worked against projects, activities, or other configured time categories. Timesheets can be completed for an entire week or updated daily, depending on organizational requirements.

Accurate and timely timesheet capture supports project reporting, resource management, payroll, and financial processing.

Navigation Path

MEsuite → Timesheets → Capture

Opening the Timesheet Capture Page

To capture a new timesheet:

1. Expand the Timesheets menu.
2. Select Capture.

The Timesheet Capture page opens and displays the current resource and reporting period.

Understanding the Capture Screen

Several fields are automatically populated to simplify the capture process.

Resource

The Resource field is automatically populated with the name of the logged-in user.

Where delegate access has been configured, you can select another authorised resource from the drop-down list.

From Date

The From Date field identifies the week for which time will be captured.

By default:

• The reporting week begins on Monday.
• Time can be captured for a full week or updated daily as required.

The From Date is a mandatory field and must be completed before timesheet entries can be added.

Creating a Timesheet Entry

To add a new timesheet line:

1. Select the Add (+) icon.
2. Complete the required fields for the new entry.
3. Use the available drop-down lists to select the appropriate values.
4. Enter the hours worked for each applicable day.

If timesheet entries already exist for the selected week, they are displayed automatically when the reporting period is selected.

Adding Descriptions

Each timesheet entry can include additional notes describing the work performed.

To add or update a description:

1. Select the Description icon.
2. Enter the required information.
3. Click outside the description window or press Tab to save the description.

Descriptions provide additional context for managers reviewing submitted timesheets.

Saving a Timesheet Entry

After completing all required fields:

1. Review the hours entered.
2. Verify the selected project or activity.
3. Select the Save icon.

The timesheet line is saved and remains available for further editing until submitted for approval.

Save your work regularly to avoid losing unsaved changes.

Editing a Timesheet Entry

To update an existing entry:

1. Locate the required timesheet line.
2. Select the More Options menu (three dots).
3. Choose Edit Line.
4. Make the required changes.
5. Save the updated entry.

Deleting a Timesheet Entry

If an entry is no longer required:

1. Open the More Options menu.
2. Select Delete Line.
3. Confirm the deletion if prompted.

Deleted timesheet entries cannot be recovered.

Expected Result

After completing this procedure:

• Your timesheet entries are saved successfully.
• Existing entries can be edited or deleted as required.
• The timesheet remains available for submission or further updates.

Copying Timesheets from a Previous Week

Purpose

The Copy from Previous Week feature enables users to quickly populate the current week's timesheet using entries from the previous reporting period.

This feature reduces repetitive data entry by copying existing timesheet lines, including project allocations, activities, descriptions, and previously captured hours. Users can then review and update the copied information before saving or submit

Before You Begin

Before copying timesheet entries, ensure that:

• You have selected the correct reporting week.
• Timesheets exist for the previous week.
• You review all copied entries to ensure they accurately reflect the current week's work.

Copying a previous weeks timesheet should not replace reviewing your actual hours worked. Always verify and update the copied information before submitting it for approval.

Navigation Path

MEsuite → Timesheets → Capture

Copying a Previous Week's Timesheet

To copy entries from the previous reporting week:

1. Open the Timesheet Capture page.
2. Navigate to the week you want to complete.
3. Select the Copy from Previous Week icon located on the right-hand side of the screen.

MESuite automatically copies the previous week's timesheet entries into the current reporting period.

What Is Copied?

When using the Copy from Previous Week feature, MESuite copies the following information from the previous reporting week:

• Timesheet lines
• Project or activity selections
• Previously entered descriptions
• Hours captured for each day

This provides a starting point for the current week's timesheet, allowing you to make only the necessary changes.

Reviewing Copied Entries

After the timesheet has been copied:

1. Review each timesheet line.
2. Update the hours worked where necessary.
3. Amend descriptions to reflect the work completed during the current week.
4. Remove any entries that are no longer applicable.
5. Add any new projects or activities that were not included in the previous week.

Treat the copied timesheet as a draft. Every line should be reviewed before

Saving the Copied Timesheet

Once all required changes have been made:

1. Review the completed timesheet.
2. Select Save.

The updated timesheet is stored for the selected reporting week.

if oyu leave the Timesheet Capture page without saving, any copied or amended entries will be lost. Timesheet lines that do not contain hours will not be saved.

Expected Result

After completing this procedure:

• The previous week's timesheet is copied successfully.
• All copied entries are available for editing.
• The updated timesheet is saved for the current reporting week.

Best Practices

• Review every copied entry before saving.
• Update descriptions so they accurately reflect the work completed during the current week.
• Remove projects or activities that no longer apply.
• Add new entries for any work not included in the previous week's timesheet.
• Save your work before navigating away from the page.
• Confirm that your total daily and weekly hours are correct before submitting the timesheet for approval.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Possible Cause	Resolution
No entries are copied.	No timesheet exists for the previous reporting week.
Incorrect hours appear.	Hours were copied from the previous week.
Changes disappear after leaving the page.
Some lines are missing after saving.

Timesheet Validation Rules

Purpose

The Timesheet Validation feature helps ensure that all timesheet entries are accurate, complete, and compliant with your organization’s timesheet policies before they are submitted for approval.

MESuite automatically validates hours entered on each timesheet. If any validation rules are violated, the system displays an error message and prevents the timesheet from being saved or submitted until the issue has been resolved.

These validation checks improve data accuracy and reduce the need for corrections during the approval process.

When Validation Occurs

Validation is performed automatically when you:

• Save a timesheet.
• Submit a timesheet for approval.
• Update existing timesheet entries.

If an error is detected, MESuite highlights the issue and prompts you to correct it before proceeding.

Validation Rules

Maximum Daily Hours

A maximum of 24 hours can be captured for a single day.

This ensures that the total hours recorded for one calendar day do not exceed the maximum possible working time.

Example:

Entered Hours	Result
8	Accepted
12	Accepted
24	Accepted
25	Validation Error

If the total hours entered exceed 24 hours, the timesheet cannot be saved or submitted until the values have been corrected.

Negative Hours

Negative values are not permitted.

Hours entered must always be greater than or equal to zero.

Negative values cannot be used to adjust previously captured time. Any corrections should be made by editing the existing timesheet entry.

Zero-Hour Entries

A timesheet line cannot contain a total of zero hours.

If a line is no longer required, it should be deleted rather than saved with zero hours.

Remove unnecessary timesheet lines to keep timesheet clear and easy to review.

Common Validation Scenarios

Scenario	Result	Recommended Action
Daily hours exceed 24	Validation Error	Reduce the total hours for the day to 24 or fewer.
Negative hours entered	Validation Error	Replace the negative value with the correct number of hours.
Timesheet line contains zero hours	Validation Error	Enter valid hours or delete the unnecessary line
All validation rules pass	Success	Save or submit the timesheet for approval

Expected Result

After completing this procedure:

• All timesheet entries comply with MESuite validation rules.
• Validation errors have been resolved.
• The timesheet can be saved successfully.
• The timesheet is ready for submission or approval.

Best Practices

• Capture time daily to reduce data entry errors.
• Review total hours before saving your timesheet.
• Verify that each timesheet line contains valid hours.
• Delete unused lines instead of leaving them with zero hours.
• Resolve validation errors as soon as they are displayed rather than waiting until the end of the week.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Possible Cause	Resolution
Unable to save the timesheet.	One or more validation rules have failed.	Review the highlighted entries and correct the invalid values
Daily hours exceed the limit.	More than 24 hours have been entered for a single day.	Reduce the total recorded hours for that day.
Negative values are rejected.	MESuite does not allow negative time entries.	Edit the existing entry and enter the correct number of hours
A line cannot be saved.	The line contains zero hours	Enter valid hours or delete the unnecessary timesheet line

Timesheet Approvals

Purpose

The Timesheet Approval process ensures that all submitted timesheets are reviewed and authorised by the appropriate manager or supervisor before they are used for reporting, project costing, payroll, or financial processing.

Once a timesheet has been submitted, MESuite routes it to the designated approver according to the organization’s configured approval hierarchy. Approvers can review individual timesheet entries, approve valid submissions, or reject entries that require correction.

Approval Workflow

The standard approval process follows these stages:

1. The employee captures and saves their timesheet.
2. The timesheet is submitted for approval.
3. MESuite routes the timesheet to the assigned manager or supervisor.
4. The approver reviews the submitted entries.
5. Each entry or the entire timesheet is either:

• Approved, or
• Rejected
• If rejected, the employee updates the affected entries and resubmits the timesheet.
• Approved timesheets become available for reporting and downstream business processes.

Before You Begin

Before approving timesheets, ensure that:

• You have been assigned the appropriate Manager or Supervisor role.
• You have permission to access the Authorize function.
• Employees have submitted their timesheets for review.

Only users with appropriate permissions can approve or reject submitted timesheets.

Navigation Path

MEsuite → Timesheets → Authorize

Opening the Authorize Page

To review submitted timesheets:

1. Expand the Timesheets menu.
2. Select Authorize.

The Authorize page displays timesheets awaiting review based on your assigned resources and permissions.

Selecting Resources and Date Range

Before reviewing entries:

1. Select the required Resource.
2. Select the applicable From and to dates.
3. Choose the status you want to review.
4. Select Load (if applicable).

Approvers can review individual employees or multiple resources, depending on their assigned permissions.

Understanding Timesheet Statuses

The Status filter allows approvers to display specific groups of timesheets.

Typical statuses include:

Status	Description
Pending Approval	Timesheets awaiting review.
Approved	Timesheets that have already been authorised.
Rejected	Timesheets returned to employees for correction.
All	Displays all available timesheets regardless of status.

 The available status values may differ depending on your organizations MESuite configuration.

Approving Individual Timesheet Entries

After loading the required timesheets:

1. Locate the timesheet entry.
2. Review the recorded hours and description.
3. Open the Action menu.
4. Select Approve.

The selected timesheet entry is immediately approved.

Approving an Entire Timesheet

If all entries are correct:

1. Select the checkbox to highlight all timesheet lines.
2. Open the Bulk Actions (hamburger) menu.
3. Select Approve.

MESuite approves every selected timesheet entry in a single action, reducing the time required to process large submissions.

Rejecting Timesheet Entries

If corrections are required:

1. Select Reject from the Action menu.
2. Enter the reason for rejection.
3. Select Decline to confirm.

MESuite records the rejection reason and returns the affected timesheet entry to the employee for correction.

*Best Practice: Provide a clear and specific rejection reason so that the employee understands exactly what needs to be corrected.

Employee Notification

When a timesheet entry is rejected:

• MESuite sends an email notification to the employee.
• The rejection reason is included in the notification.
• The employee can amend the rejected entry and submit it again for approval.

Updating Rejected Timesheets

Employees can correct rejected entries by:

1. Opening the Capture page.
2. Selecting the rejected timesheet.
3. Opening the More Options menu.
4. Selecting Edit Line.
5. Updating the hours or description.
6. Saving the changes.
7. Resubmitting the timesheet for approval.

Understanding Timesheet Cell Indicators

MESuite uses visual indicators to display the approval status of individual timesheet entries.

Indicator	Meaning
Approved	The timesheet entry has been approved and can no longer be edited.
Rejected	The timesheet entry has been rejected and requires amendment before it can be resubmitted

Once an entry has been approved, it becomes read only and cannot be modified unless your organization follows an exception process.

Expected Result

After completing this procedure:

• Submitted timesheets are reviewed successfully.
• Valid entries are approved.
• Incorrect entries are rejected with an explanatory comment.
• Employees receive feedback where amendments are required.
• Approved timesheets become available for reporting and downstream business processes.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Possible Cause	Resolution
No timesheets appear on the Authorize page.	No submissions match the selected resource, date range, or status.	Review the filters and reload the page.
The Authorize option is unavailable.	Your account does not have approval permissions.	Contact your MESuite administrator to verify your security role.
Unable to approve a timesheet.	The timesheet contains validation issues or is no longer awaiting approval.	Review the entry status and correct any outstanding issues before attempting approval again.
The employee cannot edit a rejected entry.	The timesheet has not been returned correctly or remains in an approved state.	Verify the rejection status and ensure the employee has edit access.

Viewing Timesheets

Purpose

The View function enables users to search for, review, and analyse captured timesheets without editing them. It provides managers, supervisors, and authorised users with visibility into submitted timesheets and supports both detailed and summary reporting.

The View page is particularly useful for monitoring employee time, validating captured hours, and reviewing project allocations before generating reports.

Navigation Path

MEsuite → Timesheets → View

Search Criteria

Complete the relevant fields to retrieve the required information.

Typical filters include:

• Resource
• From Date
• To Date
• Reporting Period

Managers and supervisors with the appropriate permissions can leave the Resource field blank to retrieve timesheets for multiple employees.                                        

Generating the View

After selecting the required criteria:

1. Review the search filters.
2. Select Load (or the applicable search option).

MESuite retrieves all timesheet entries matching the selected criteria.

Viewing Summary and Detailed Information

The View page supports two reporting formats.

Summary View

The Summary View provides a consolidated overview of captured time, making it easier to review totals across reporting periods or resources.

Typical information includes:

• Total hours
• Resource
• Reporting period
• Project totals

Detailed View

The Detailed View displays individual timesheet entries, allowing users to review:

• Daily hours worked
• Project allocations
• Activity descriptions
• Individual timesheet lines

This view is particularly useful when validating captured time or investigating discrepancies.

 

Exporting Timesheet Data

Timesheet information can be exported for further analysis.

To export the displayed results:

1. Generate the required view.
2. Select Export to Excel.

MESuite creates an Excel file containing the displayed timesheet information for offline review or reporting.

Expected Result

After completing this procedure:

• Relevant timesheets are displayed.
• Users can switch between Summary and Detailed views.
• Results can be exported for additional analysis.

Best Practices

• Use appropriate date ranges to improve report performance.
• Apply filters to reduce unnecessary information.
• Verify reporting criteria before exporting data.
• Use the Summary View for high-level analysis and the Detailed View when reviewing individual entries.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Possible Cause	Resolution
No records are displayed.	The selected filters returned no matching data.	Review the search criteria and try again.
The Resource field is unavailable.	User permissions restrict access	Contact your MESuite administrator if broader access is required.
Export contains no data.	No records were loaded before exporting.	Generate the report first, then export the results

Timesheet Reporting

Purpose

The Reporting module enables authorised users to analyse timesheet information using flexible reporting and filtering tools. Reports can be customized, rearranged, filtered, and exported to support operational reporting, project management, and business analysis.

Navigation Path

MESuite → Timesheets → Reporting

Opening the Reporting Module

To access Timesheet Reporting:

1. Expand the Timesheets menu.
2. Select Reporting.

The reporting workspace opens, allowing you to define the required report parameters.

Selecting Report Criteria

Before loading a report, specify the appropriate criteria.

Typical filters include:

• Resource
• From Date
• To Date

Once all required fields have been completed:

1. Select Load.

MESuite retrieves the corresponding reporting data.

Understanding the Reporting Workspace

The Timesheet Reporting page uses a Pivot Table layout.

This enables users to:

• Rearrange columns.
• Group information.
• Filter report data.

Analyse captured hours from different perspectives.

Columns can be repositioned by dragging and dropping them into a new location within the report.

Use the pivot functionality to create customized report layouts without changing the underlying timesheet data.

Applying Filters

Most report columns include filtering options.

Filters can be applied to:

• Resources
• Projects
• Activities
• Dates
• Departments
• Other configured reporting fields

Filtering helps reduce large datasets into meaningful business information.

Exporting Reports

Completed reports can be exported to Microsoft Excel.

To export a report:

1. Generate the required report.
2. Review the displayed information.
3. Select Export to Excel.

The exported file can be used for:

• Management reporting
• Project analysis
• Financial reconciliation
• Resource planning
• Additional data analysis

Expected Result

After completing this procedure:

• Timesheet information is displayed in a pivot-style report.
• Users can customize the report layout. 
• Filters can be applied to refine the displayed information.
• Reports can be exported to Excel for further analysis.

Best Practices

• Apply filters before loading large reports.
• Save exported reports using meaningful filenames.
• Review report totals before distributing information.
• Use pivot functionality to answer different business questions without generating multiple reports.
• Export only the information required for the intended audience.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Possible Cause	Resolution
No report data is displayed.	The selected criteria returned no results.	Review the reporting period and selected filters.
Unable to rearrange columns.	The report has not finished loading or permissions are limited.	Wait for the report to load completely or verify your access rights.
Exported report is empty.	No records were loaded before exporting.	Generate the report before selecting Export to Excel.
Report performance is slow.	A large amount of data is being retrieved.	Reduce the reporting period or apply additional filters.