example-workplace-attendance-tracker

name	example-workplace-attendance-tracker
description	Build, maintain, generate fake test data for, and distribute the Example Workplace Attendance Tracker Excel/VBA tool. Use when asked about the attendance tracker, generating fake workplace data, fixing tracker issues, or creating center-specific templates.
type	domain
tags	["workplace","excel","vba","attendance","hr-tools","operations"]

Example Workplace Attendance Tracker Skill

Overview

The Example Workplace Attendance Tracker is an Excel .xlsm workbook with a VBA engine that classifies employee attendance across three source reports and routes results into five output tabs. It supports multiple Example Workplace plasma donation centers.

Key Files

File	Location	Purpose
AttendanceEngine_v4_VBA.bas	/Users/localuser/Downloads/example-files/	Full VBA source (~2100+ lines)
generate_year_data.py	same	Multi-center fake data generator
create_blank_template.py	same	Strips data → distributable template
fake_data_gen.py	same	Single-week QA + fuzz tester
fake_year_data/	same	12-month fake data (stlouis/, chicago/)

Architecture

Three RAW Input Tabs

• RAW_Changes — Dayforce schedule change audit export
• RAW_TAFW — Kronos TAFW (week-based, Sunday-start, 11 columns)
• RAW_Punches — attendancePunches CSV (employee ID, in/out, job code)

Five Output Tabs

1. Action Required — tardies, early-outs, unexcused absences needing manager attention
2. All Records — every processed employee-day
3. Already Reviewed — previously actioned items
4. Time Off Excluded — VAC/FLOAT/JURY/BRV/UNPAID rows
5. Worked No Exception — clean records

Classification Rule Chain (8 rules, first match wins)

• Rule 0: Punch >60 min before scheduled start → "Data Error - Check Schedule (Punch >60 min Early)"
• Rule 1: Missing Employee ID
• Rule 2: Multiple distinct TAFW codes (ambiguous)
• Rule 3: SICK/FMLA/STD/LOA present → "Covered Tardy" or "Excused Absence"
• Rule 4: VAC/FLOAT/UNPAID/JURY/BRV → "Time Off Present - Excluded"
• Rule 5: Has punch → evaluate tardy/early-out/made-up/clean
• Fallback: "Possible Absence - No Punch"

Config Tab

• B4: Center name (filters records; blank = all records pass)
• B5: Tardy threshold in minutes (default: 6)

Key VBA Subs (public, assigned to Control Panel buttons)

RunAttendanceCheck    — main engine, reads all 3 RAW tabs
ImportChangesFile     — file picker → RAW_Changes
ImportTAFWFile        — file picker → RAW_TAFW
ImportPunchesFile     — file picker → RAW_Punches (CSV or XLSX)
ImportAllFiles        — prompts for all 3 in sequence
SetupNewCenter        — wizard: center name + tardy threshold
SetupControlPanel     — rebuilds Control Panel with buttons
RefreshControlPanel   — writes live stats to Control Panel rows 5-11
ExportSummaryReport   — exports Control Panel + Action Req as PDF
QueueForPowerAutomate — adds selected rows to PA Export Queue
PopulateEmployeeMaster— pre-loads 16 Saint Louis LMO staff

Multi-Center Support

The tracker works for ANY center by changing Config B4. InStr("Chicago, IL", "") returns 1 in VBA, so a blank center name passes all rows.

Generating Fake Data for a Center

# Available centers: stlouis, chicago, dallas, denver
python3 generate_year_data.py --center chicago
python3 generate_year_data.py --center dallas
python3 generate_year_data.py --center stlouis   # default

# Custom output directory
python3 generate_year_data.py --center chicago /tmp/chicago_data

Creating a Blank Template for Distribution

python3 create_blank_template.py LMO_Attendance_Tracker_v5.4.xlsm
# → Example Workplace_Attendance_Tracker_TEMPLATE.xlsm (VBA intact, all data cleared)

Running QA + Fuzz Tests

python3 fake_data_gen.py --mode quick        # 2-min fuzz + inject into workbook
python3 fake_data_gen.py --mode fuzz --minutes 60  # 60-min stress test
python3 fake_data_gen.py --mode inject       # inject current fake data into workbook

Common Tasks

Fix a VBA Classification Bug

1. Read AttendanceEngine_v4_VBA.bas — focus on RunAttendanceCheck (main loop) and the rule chain starting around line 497
2. Also check SimClassify function (pure-logic mirror of the same chain — used by QA)
3. Run fake_data_gen.py --mode quick to verify fix
4. Update version comment at top of .bas file

Add a New Center to the Generator

Add to the CENTERS dict in generate_year_data.py:

"newcenter": {
    "name": "Phoenix, AZ",
    "seed": 20241201,   # unique seed for reproducibility
    "managers": ["Manager, Name", ...],
    "staff": [
        ("505XXXXX", "LastName, First", "ROLE", "H:MMAM - H:MMPM", [weekdays], tardy_mult),
        ...  # 15 employees typical
    ],
},

Rebuild Control Panel Buttons After Import

Open the workbook, press Alt+F11, run SetupControlPanel in the Immediate Window, or assign it to a temporary button.

Distribute to a New Center (Full Workflow)

1. python3 create_blank_template.py <current_tracker.xlsm>
2. Email Example Workplace_Attendance_Tracker_TEMPLATE.xlsm
3. Receiver opens → clicks "Setup New Center" → enters their city/state
4. They use "Import All 3 Files" → "Run Attendance Check"
5. Results appear in 5 output tabs

Key Technical Notes

• TAFW file structure: banner rows (week headers), then employee rows with schedule + TAFW codes in columns 3-9 (Sun-Sat), location in col 10, week-start date in col 11
• InStr behavior: InStr("anything", "") = 1 in VBA — blank center name safely passes all rows
• Scripting.Dictionary: used for fast lookups (dictSched, dictTAFW2, dictPunch, dictChg, dictUni)
• openpyxl: keep_vba=True required when opening .xlsm files to preserve macros
• FMLA rate: fixed at ~0.5% in the generator (was incorrectly 12.2% before)
• Tardy threshold: tardy_mult personality multiplier scales probability per employee
• Control Panel stats (rows 5-11): written by RefreshControlPanel — col B = label, col C = value

Version History

• v4.0: Merged Basel's punch analyzer features (MISMATCH detection, diacritics normalization)
• v4.1: Bug fixes (BUG-1 MISMATCH clears tardy, BUG-2 daily span hours)
• v4.3: SimClassify, PopulateEmployeeMaster, RefreshControlPanel, PA Queue headers
• v5.0 VBA additions: ImportFileIntoRAW, SetupNewCenter, SetupControlPanel, ExportSummaryReport, AddCPButton, ClearAllDataTabs

Directions Document Location

Directions should be a separate attachment (not embedded in the workbook). Use WriteDirections VBA sub to generate a formatted "Directions" sheet in the workbook, or export it as PDF via ExportSummaryReport.