Editing Time Activities one by one in QuickBooks Online is tedious, especially when you need to fix timesheets for payroll or adjust billable rates across an entire project. This article explains how to safely and efficiently edit Time Activities using SaasAnt.​

By exporting your time data, making updates in a spreadsheet, and re-importing the file using the Modify workflow, you can process bulk corrections instantly. For rapid, on-screen adjustments, you can utilize the Live Edit feature. This workflow validates your data, prevents duplicate entries, and ensures your project billing and payroll calculations are perfectly accurate.​

Before you begin, remember that QuickBooks Online does not offer a native backup button on all plans. Always rely on SaasAnt’s Preview Mapping, Dry Run validation, and Undo/Rollback tools to ensure your changes are safe and reversible.​

Method 1: Edit Time Activities Using Modify (Export → Spreadsheet → Re-Upload)

This method is ideal when you need to make structural updates across dozens of time entries—such as changing non-billable hours to billable, updating the linked Customer/Job for a batch of timesheets, or correcting employee service items.​

Step 1: Open SaasAnt from QuickBooks Online

1. Sign in to your QuickBooks Online company file.

2. From the left menu bar, go to Apps.

3. Under Find apps, search for SaasAnt Transactions Online and authorize access if you haven't already.

4. Open the app from your My Apps tab to launch the SaasAnt dashboard.

Step 2: Export Existing Time Activities

1. In SaasAnt, navigate to Batch Actions → Download.​

2. On the Download transactions screen, select:

   • Transaction/List: choose Time Activities​

   • Date Type: e.g., Search by Transaction Date​

   • Date Range: set the period for the timesheets you want to modify​

   • Optional filters: Employee/Vendor name, Customer, etc.

3. Click Search to fetch the matching time activities into the grid.​

4. At the bottom-right, click Download ▼ and choose .csv or .xlsx to export the file.

Step 3: Edit the Spreadsheet

1. Open the downloaded file using Excel or Google Sheets.

2. Locate the time activities you need to alter using the employee name, date, or reference number.

3. Update only the necessary fields. Common time activity edits include:

   • Employee / Vendor Name (who performed the work)

   • Time Activity Date

   • Customer / Job Details

   • Service Item & Hourly Rate

   • Billable Status (True/False)​

   • Hours / Minutes or Start/End Times

4. Keep the original Time Activity ID or reference column intact so SaasAnt knows exactly which transactions to overwrite in QuickBooks.

5. Save your completed file as a CSV or XLSX.

Step 4: Upload the Modified File

1. Return to SaasAnt.

2. Go to Batch Actions → Modify.​

3. On the Upload files screen, drag and drop your edited file or click Browse your files.

4. Select Time Activities under the Other Transactions category if prompted, then click Continue.​

Step 5: Map QBO Fields Correctly

On the Map Fields screen, align your spreadsheet columns with the corresponding QuickBooks fields.​

1. Ensure critical fields are mapped properly:

   • Name (Employee/Vendor)​

   • Time Activity Date

   • Customer​

   • Service Item & Rate​

   • Billable Status​

   • Hours/Minutes

2. Click Preview Mapping to verify that your spreadsheet data aligns correctly with QBO fields.​

3. Once confirmed, click Review.​

Step 6: Review and Fine-Tune in the Grid

You will now see an editable grid displaying all the time activity rows from your file.​

1. Scan the data to ensure accuracy. You can double-click any cell to make last-minute typo corrections directly in the grid.​

2. Optional: Use Preview (Dry Run) Mode to let SaasAnt validate the data without actively changing anything in your QuickBooks file yet.

3. Once satisfied, click Update QuickBooks.​

Step 7: Check Results, Download Logs, and Undo if Needed

After processing, SaasAnt displays a summary of the import.

1. Click Show Results to view the Modify results screen.​

2. On the Success tab, click the QuickBooks ID to view the live, updated time activity in QBO. Use the Download ▼ button to save a permanent audit log of the changes.​

3. Check the Error tab for any failed rows. You can often click an inline Fix button to correct an invalid employee or customer name and re-submit it immediately.

4. If you realize you made a mistake, click the Undo button to roll back the successful changes, restoring the original time activity data in QuickBooks.​

Method 2: Edit Time Activities Using Live Edit (On-Screen Bulk Edits)

The Live Edit feature allows you to change transaction data directly inside SaasAnt’s grid interface without creating, exporting, or importing a spreadsheet. It’s perfect for fast fixes, such as updating a date, adding a memo, or checking a billable box on a handful of records.​

Step 1: Open Live Edit

1. In SaasAnt, go to Smart Entry → Live Edit.​

2. Review the brief instructions and click Ready to edit.

Step 2: Filter the Time Activities You Want to Edit

1. At the top of the Live Edit screen, set:

   • Transaction/List: choose Time Activities

   • Date Type: such as Search by Last Updated Date or Transaction Date

   • Date Range: the period for the time activities you want to adjust

   • Date Format: ensure this matches your QBO settings (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY)

2. Click Search to pull the matching time entries into the live grid.​

Step 3: Edit Time Activity Fields in the Grid

1. Locate the specific time activities you want to adjust.

2. Click directly into the grid cells to type in your revised values (such as changing a Customer, Billable Status, or Date).​

3. You can edit multiple rows at once across the screen.​

Step 4: Submit Changes Back to QBO

1. Review the updated grid to ensure everything is correct.

2. Click Submit to sync the updates directly with QuickBooks Online.