Quickly Add timer by amount of hours from now (Duration instead of precise timings)

[lamyergeier]

I use progress bar to ensure that I eat the next meal only after 4 hours of eating something before. So, it would be quicker if we could also add progress bars by the duration from now (apart from the present system where we have to give precise date and time).

Also, it would be useful if the app could remember what was the last custom duration set. So that, we could create the next one similarly and quickly.

Or such progress bars could be reactivated at any other time and they could again go on for next 4 hours.

---

Motivation

What I observe is that the present design is suitable for long term events (like a fixed date and time in future), but not that great for repetitive short term events.

[mattvchandler]

I've actually thought of the same idea, but I couldn't figure out how to add it to the UI without making it a mess. Any suggestions?

[lamyergeier]

In the existing UI: Just like we have a toggle switch Separate start and end times, we can add two more toggle switch Relative start time before we define Start time and we can have Relative end time before we define End time.

I think Start time can be relative to present time and End time can be relative to the Start time.

If the Relative Start and End time toggles are on then, it doesn't shows the user to enter precise start and end times. Instead it is as follows by default (all zeros indicate that the start time is equal to Now).

Year	Month	Day	Hour	Minute	Seconds
0	0	0	0	0	0

Similarly for Relative End time can be as follows for 4 hours after the start.

Year	Month	Day	Hour	Minute	Seconds
0	0	0	4	0	0

In the Settings: We can let user choose a preference for Relative Start and End times, whether each of these should be relative by default or not.

[mattvchandler]

I'll try that, and see how it goes.
I can't promise that I'll have time to work on this any time soon, though. I am going to be especially busy for the foreseeable future. If you have the inclination, feel free to work on it yourself, and submit a PR.

[lamyergeier]

I would have loved to contribute, unfortunately I have no experience in Java and Android programming.

[ericszimmermann]

I use the app to organize my 3D prints. Unfortunately the 3D-printers only give me the remaining time, so that I always have to calculate the endtime. A relative time would help tremendously.
Thank you.