SyncLinx is an application we offer that bridges the gap between HardHat and ExakTime and allows you to import HardHat entities into ExakTime to quickly get you started and help limit double-entry.

AccountLinx is the other half of SyncLinx and allows you to export your ExakTime time data for HardHat. If you would like steps on setting up AccountLinx and exporting your time data into HardHat, refer to our article that covers connecting the applications and the exporter settings.

If you have any questions or concerns during setup and/or use, you can contact us with the "Request Support" link at the top of the page and we will try to assist as best as possible. Keep in mind, however, that we are not HardHat support. We will try to assist you as much as we are able, but there are aspects of the HardHat that are out of our area of expertise and your questions may be better served by HardHat support or your trusted contact to answer/assist.

As HardHat allows flexibility to fit various needs, we cannot take every unique setup into account. It is advised to read through this article before setting up SyncLinx/AccountLinx to understand what is needed ahead of time.

Table of Contents

• Connecting SyncLinx to HardHat
• Importer Settings for HardHat
• Importing Entities with SyncLinx

Additional Requirements

The HardHat import works by connecting to an interim HardHat SQL database which acts as a bridge between SyncLinx and HardHat.

In order to setup this interim database, you must contact HardHat for assistance.

Connecting SyncLinx to HardHat

1. Open SyncLinx if not already open.
2. Go to Tools at the top and click Select Data Source.... This should open a window with a list of available data source options.
3. Select "HardHat" and click OK.
4. A warning may appear saying that there is a connection error. This is expected if the SyncLinx connection to HardHat has not been made on the computer. Click OK on the warning. 
5. A window should open to set up the settings for the HardHat data importer. Click Connection. 
6. A Connection Setup window should open. In the Connection Setup window, set up/enter the following information:
   • Server
   • Database
   • User ID
   • Password
7. Save the connection.
8. You can save your changes until you return to the main page of SyncLinx or adjust any of the other importer settings for HardHat.

Importer Settings for HardHat

SyncLinx offers a few options for HardHat that may help when importing certain entities into ExakTime.

1. Go to Tools at the top and click HardHat Software Settings....
2. The following options will be available:
   General Tab

   • Used to setup the connection between SyncLinx and your HardHat system.
   • General
     • Include ID for Location Names - Specify if you want to include the job ID before or after the location name.
     • Import from Company - Select the HardHat company files you want to import from.

   Phase Tab

   • Import Phases as Location - Enable to import HardHat phases as ExakTime Locations. Also enables the bottom two options.
     • Location names will be formatted as "HardHat Job.Phase".
   • Import Location Mobile Groups per Location - Enable to import HardHat jobs and phases as ExakTime Locations and Groups.
     • HardHat jobs will be made into an ExakTime Group and HardHat phases as members of the group.
   • Import Location Categories per Location - Enable to import HardHat jobs and phases as ExakTime Categories.
     • Hardhat Jobs will be the name of the ExakTime category and HardHat phases are assigned the category.

   Cost Codes Tab

   • Specify if you want to import 'Labor Class' or 'Phase' as cost codes.
   • Import Location Viewsets from HardHat Job/Phase relation - If 'Phase' is selected, location viewsets will be based on the HardHat Job/Phase relationship on creation of location.
3. Save your changes.

Importing Entities with SyncLinx

When importing your entities, it is advised to import the information in the following order for HardHat:

• Employees
• Cost Codes
• Locations

If the option to "Import Location Viewsets from HardHat Job/Phase relation" has been enabled, SyncLinx will set the viewset for a location to match the cost codes assigned to a job in HardHat. After a job in HardHat is imported into ExakTime Connect as a location, it will compare the cost codes assigned to the job in HardHat with the cost codes currently in ExakTime Connect and limit what cost codes are available for the location with a viewset. Importing the job before the cost codes may result in the job having the incorrect location viewset. 

The import process for SyncLinx is standardized for all accounting/payroll applications we integrate with. If you are unfamiliar with using SyncLinx, please refer to the following article.