Exertime User Manual

Complete Guide to Using Your Workout Timer

Table of Contents

Getting Started

First Time Setup

Step 1: Open the app and tap the Settings icon (⚙️) in the top right corner.

Step 2: Configure your preferred settings:

  • Set your default Session Length (5-120 minutes)
  • Set your target Cadence Rate (30-120 BPM)
  • Configure Time Adjustment Increment (how much to add/subtract when adjusting time during workout)
  • Configure Cadence Adjustment Increment (how much to add/subtract when adjusting cadence)
  • Enable/disable Audio Feedback for cadence beats

Step 3: Tap "Save Settings" to save your preferences.

Step 4: Return to the main screen and tap "Start" to begin your workout!

You can adjust settings anytime, but changes won't take effect during an active workout session.

Workout Screen

Main Controls

Start Button

Begins your workout session. The timer will count down from your set session length, and audio feedback will play at your cadence rate.

Pause Button

Pauses the timer temporarily. Tap "Resume" to continue from where you left off. The timer does not count down while paused.

Stop Button

Ends the current workout session and saves it to your session history. You'll see a confirmation before the session is saved.

Real-Time Adjustments

During an active workout (running or paused), you'll see adjustment buttons (±) next to:

  • Session Time: Increase or decrease the remaining workout time
  • Cadence Rate: Increase or decrease the cadence beats per minute

The adjustment amount is determined by your settings (Time Adjustment Increment and Cadence Adjustment Increment).

Adjustments are applied immediately. If you increase the session time, the timer will count down from the new time. If you change cadence, the audio feedback will update to the new rate.

Audio Feedback

When enabled in Settings, Exertime provides audio cues:

  • Cadence Beats: A click sound plays at your set cadence rate (e.g., every second for 60 BPM)
  • Minute Markers: A distinct sound plays at the start of each minute

This helps you maintain a consistent pace throughout your workout.

Settings Guide

Session Length

Settings Range: 5 to 120 minutes

During Workout Range: Can be adjusted below 5 minutes

In Settings, you can set your default workout duration from 5 to 120 minutes. However, during an active workout, you can use the ± buttons to reduce the session time below 5 minutes if needed (e.g., for short high-intensity bursts). The timer service supports 1-180 minutes during workouts, but Settings maintains a more standard 5-120 minute range for typical use.

Cadence Rate

Range: 30 to 120 BPM (Beats Per Minute)

This determines how often the audio feedback plays. For example, 60 BPM means one click per second. You can adjust this during a workout.

Time Adjustment Increment

Range: 1 to 30 minutes

When you tap the ± buttons next to "Session" during a workout, this is how much time is added or subtracted. Set this to match your preference for quick adjustments.

Cadence Adjustment Increment

Range: 1 to 30 BPM

When you tap the ± buttons next to "Cadence" during a workout, this is how much the cadence rate increases or decreases. Useful for fine-tuning your pace.

Audio Feedback

Toggle this on/off to enable or disable cadence click sounds. Minute markers will still play if audio feedback is enabled.

Settings cannot be changed while a workout is running. Stop the timer first, then adjust settings and save.

Session History

Viewing Sessions

To view your workout history:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Scroll to the "Export Session Data" section
  3. Tap "View & Manage Sessions"

The session list shows:

  • Date and time of each workout
  • Session duration
  • Cadence rate used
  • Export status (exported or not exported)

Managing Sessions

From the session list, you can:

  • View detailed information about each session
  • See which sessions have been exported
  • Toggle export status by tapping the "Exported" or "Not Exported" chip to allow re-exporting
  • Delete individual sessions if needed

Data Export

Exporting Sessions

Exertime allows you to export your workout data to CSV format for analysis or sharing with healthcare providers.

Export Modes

First Export (New Sheet): Creates a new CSV file with headers. Use this for your first export.

Subsequent Exports (Append Mode): Adds new sessions to your existing CSV file without headers. Use this for regular exports.

How to Export

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Scroll to "Export Session Data"
  3. Tap "Export" button
  4. Choose how to share the CSV file (email, cloud storage, etc.)
The app automatically detects whether this is your first export (creates new sheet) or a subsequent export (appends to existing file). Only unexported sessions are included in each export.

Re-exporting Sessions

If you need to re-export a session that was previously exported:

  1. Go to Settings → "View & Manage Sessions"
  2. Find the session you want to re-export
  3. Tap the "Exported" chip on that session card
  4. The status will change to "Not Exported"
  5. Now export again - this session will be included in the next export

This is useful if you need to regenerate your CSV file or include a session in a new export.

CSV Format

The exported CSV includes:

  • Session date and time
  • Duration
  • Cadence rate
  • Completion status
  • Additional metadata

Tips & Best Practices

Configure Before Starting: Set your preferred increments in Settings before beginning a workout. This makes real-time adjustments smoother.
Use Real-Time Adjustments: Don't hesitate to adjust time or cadence during your workout. The ± buttons make it easy to adapt to how you're feeling.
Regular Exports: Export your session data regularly to track progress over time. The append mode makes it easy to maintain a single CSV file.
Audio Feedback: If you find the cadence clicks distracting, you can disable audio feedback in Settings while keeping minute markers.
Privacy First: All your workout data is stored locally on your device. Nothing is transmitted to external servers unless you explicitly export it.
Accessibility: Exertime adapts to your device's font and display size settings. The interface scales automatically to ensure all content remains visible and accessible, regardless of your system accessibility preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I change settings during a workout?
A: No, settings cannot be changed while a workout is active. However, you can adjust session time and cadence rate in real-time using the ± buttons during the workout.
Q: What happens if I close the app during a workout?
A: The workout session will be lost if you close the app without stopping the timer first. Always use the "Stop" button to properly end and save a session.
Q: Can I export the same session multiple times?
A: Yes! You can toggle the export status of any session in the Session History screen. Tap the "Exported" or "Not Exported" chip on a session card to change its status. Once marked as "Not Exported", the session will be included in your next export. This allows you to re-export sessions if needed, such as when regenerating your CSV file.
Q: What's the difference between Pause and Stop?
A: Pause temporarily stops the timer - you can resume from where you left off. Stop ends the session permanently and saves it to your history. You cannot resume a stopped session.
Q: How do I delete a session?
A: Go to Settings → "View & Manage Sessions" → tap on a session → use the delete option. Be careful, as deleted sessions cannot be recovered.
Q: Is my data stored in the cloud?
A: No. All data is stored locally on your device only. Nothing is transmitted to external servers unless you explicitly export your data.
Q: Can I use the app offline?
A: Yes! Exertime works completely offline. The only feature that requires internet is viewing the full manual online (which you're reading now).
Q: Can I set a very short session like 1 minute?
A: Yes! While Settings allows you to set session length from 5-120 minutes, during an active workout you can use the ± buttons to reduce the session time below 5 minutes (down to 1 minute) for short high-intensity bursts. This gives you flexibility during workouts while keeping Settings with a standard range.
Q: Does the app work with large font sizes or display scaling?
A: Yes! Exertime automatically adapts to your device's font and display size settings. The interface scales proportionally to ensure all content remains visible and accessible, regardless of your system accessibility preferences.