5. Supplies

TraqFreq can precisely track your supply usage (string, bows etc), based on your actual playing time. Here’s how to retire that spreadsheet.


Supply Tracking

TraqFreq can precisely track your supply usage based on your actual playing time. Supplies can be strings, bows or whatever you want to track.

At the top of the Supplies dashboard you can see information related to the current supply being tracked. For instance, for strings: The progress bar indicates how much usable time remains on the current set of strings. The bar chart displays a history of the amount of time obtained from previously used strings. And the list below is a history of all previously used strings.

Each supply can use zones: The recording zone is when the strings are at their optimal for recording. After some use, the string is less optimal for recording but usable for performances. After even more playing time, the string is mainly usable only for practicing. You can also specify the number of hours you expect from each zone, or decide not to display zones and just show one continuous progress bar.

The Supplies dashboard for the Strings category.

Let’s take a look at a few supply tracking scenarios.

1. Add a new set of strings of the same type that’s currently in use

Suppose you have just changed the strings on your instrument and you want to track the amount of time you play on the new set of strings. Open the app, tap on the supply area, then tap the Add button to create a new supply. The new supply will be a copy of the previous supply, so you only need to change the relevant fields. If the new strings are the same type as the current strings being tracked, then all the fields remain unchanged. Tap Save and that’s it.

2. Add a new but different type of strings

If your new strings are a different type from your current strings but the same type as a previously used set, find the old set in the list and tap the entry. Then go to the menu and select copy. Tap Save, and you’re done. This will copy over any settings and fields from the previously used strings, like the brand name, model name, expected lifespan and play zone parameters.

3. Create a new Category

Now suppose you want to track a new supply category, like Bows. From the Supplies dashboard, tap the Add button. Enter the new category name, Bows. Enter the brand name, model name, change the expected lifespan, and modify the supply zone parameters. Tap Save.

On the Supplies dashboard, you can see a list of supply categories by tapping the supply category dropdown at the top. Here you can see a list of all the supply categories and the state of the active supply in each category. Now the Bows category will be shown in the list of tracked categories. You can then select each category and see the current and previous supplies in each category.

The Supply Category list showing the state of each category.

The main dashboard will show the supply of the category that is most used.

The most used supply is shown on the main dashboard.

4. Reuse an old set of strings

If you decide to replace your current strings and reuse an old set of strings laying around that you used before, find the old set in the list, tap the entry, then go to the menu and choose 'Reuse'. Now, the supply being tracked is the old set of strings.

Edit a supply, then select the relevant menu option.

5. Apply to All

If you just changed the expected lifespan and want that change to be reflected in all similar supplies in a category, open the menu and choose, 'Apply to All'. Now the expected lifespan will be applied to all strings of the same brand and model in that category.