WhenDid.io's custom counter feature allows Premium users to display calculated values on action buttons using numeric tracking data. Instead of showing just the standard click count, you can configure buttons to display totals, averages, or medians of numeric values you've tracked over specific time periods.

Custom counters are particularly powerful for tracking quantifiable activities like expenses, exercise metrics, medication dosages, or any other numeric data you want to monitor at a glance.

How to Configure a Custom Counter

To set up a custom counter for an action button:

  1. Click the menu icon (three dots) in the bottom right corner of the action button.
  2. Select Edit from the menu. The Edit Action Button window will open.

Action Button Menu > Edit

  1. In the Click Counter section, select Show Custom Counter from the dropdown. (If you don't already have a numeric field enabled, you'll see a warning. Make sure to enable Numeric Field as well, since custom counters require numeric tracking data.)
  2. Click the Configure button next to the custom counter option to open the Custom Counter Wizard.

Select and configure a custom counter

  1. Step 1 - Choose Calculation Type: Select whether you want to display a Total, Average, Median, or most recent of your values.

Choose calculation type

  1. Step 2 - Choose Time Period: Select which time period the calculation should include (Today, This Week, Past 30 Days, All Time, etc.).

Choose time period

  1. Step 3 - Review: Confirm your configuration and see a preview of how it will appear. Click Accept Configuration to apply your custom counter settings.

Review and click Accept Configuration

  1. Click Save in the Edit Action Button window to save all changes.

Click Save

What is a Custom Counter?

A custom counter replaces the standard click counter with a calculated value based on your numeric tracking data. It performs mathematical operations on the numbers you've entered and displays the result prominently on the button.

Key features of custom counters:

  • Mathematical calculations: Automatically calculates totals, averages, or medians
  • Time period filtering: Focus calculations on specific timeframes
  • Real-time updates: Values update automatically as you add new data
  • Visual prominence: Displays prominently on the button with description text

Prerequisites

To use custom counters, you need:

  1. Premium subscription: Custom counters are a Premium feature
  2. Numeric tracking enabled: The button must have a numeric field configured
  3. Numeric data: At least some recorded values to calculate from

Available Calculation Types

Total (Σ)

Adds up all numeric values in the selected time period. Perfect for tracking cumulative amounts like expenses, calories consumed, or exercise minutes.

Average (μ)

Calculates the mean of all values in the time period. Ideal for understanding typical amounts like average daily water intake, average workout duration, or average spending per transaction.

Median (⎯)

Finds the middle value when all entries are sorted from lowest to highest. Useful when you want to ignore outliers and see the typical "middle ground" value.

Available Time Periods

Custom counters can calculate values across different time periods:

Calendar Periods

  • Today: Values from the current day (respects Personal Midnight setting)
  • This Week: Values from the current week (respects Week Start Day setting)
  • This Month: Values from the current calendar month
  • This Year: Values from the current calendar year

Rolling Periods

  • Past 24 Hours: Values from the last 24 hours
  • Past 7 Days: Values from the last 7 days
  • Past 30 Days: Values from the last 30 days
  • Past Year: Values from the last 365 days

All Time

  • All Time: Includes all recorded values since you started tracking

How Custom Counters Display

Once configured, your custom counter will appear on the button showing:

  • Large calculated value: The result of your chosen calculation (total, average, or median)
  • Descriptive text: A description of what the value represents (e.g., "Total this month", "Average past 7 days")

The display updates automatically whenever you add new numeric data to the button.

Example Use Cases

Expense Tracking

  • Configuration: Total, This Month
  • Display: Shows total spending this month
  • Use case: Quick view of monthly budget usage

Exercise Minutes

  • Configuration: Average, Past 7 Days
  • Display: Shows average daily workout time
  • Use case: Monitor consistency in exercise routine

Water Intake

  • Configuration: Total, Today
  • Display: Shows total ounces consumed today
  • Use case: Track daily hydration goals

Medication Dosage

  • Configuration: Total, Past 30 Days
  • Display: Shows cumulative dosage over the month
  • Use case: Monitor medication usage patterns

Premium Feature Requirements

Custom counters require:

  • Premium subscription: Feature is not available to free users
  • Signed-in account: You must be signed in to configure custom counters
  • Numeric tracking: The button must have a numeric field enabled

If you don't have Premium access, you'll see an upgrade prompt when trying to configure custom counters.

Tips for Effective Custom Counter Use

  • Choose relevant calculations: Use totals for cumulative tracking, averages for typical values, medians for outlier-resistant tracking
  • Match time periods to goals: Use "Today" for daily goals, "This Month" for monthly budgets, "All Time" for lifetime tracking
  • Combine with regular counters: You can switch between custom counters and regular click counts as needed
  • Test different configurations: Experiment with different calculation types and time periods to find what's most useful for your tracking goals