TimeTracker/docs/CLIENT_FEATURES_IMPLEMENTATION.md

# Client Features Implementation Guide

**Date:** 2025-01-27  
**Status:** In Progress

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## Implementation Summary

This document tracks the implementation of all client-facing features recommended in `CLIENT_FEATURE_RECOMMENDATIONS.md`.

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## ✅ Completed Features

### 1. Time Entry Approval UI in Client Portal
**Status:** ✅ Routes Added

**Files Modified:**
- `app/routes/client_portal.py` - Added approval routes

**Routes Added:**
- `/client-portal/approvals` - List pending approvals
- `/client-portal/approvals/<id>` - View approval details
- `/client-portal/approvals/<id>/approve` - Approve time entry
- `/client-portal/approvals/<id>/reject` - Reject time entry

**Next Steps:**
- Create templates: `templates/client_portal/approvals.html`
- Create template: `templates/client_portal/approval_detail.html`
- Add approval count badge to dashboard
- Add approval notifications

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### 2. Quote Approval Workflow
**Status:** ✅ Routes Added

**Files Modified:**
- `app/routes/client_portal.py` - Added quote approval routes

**Routes Added:**
- `/client-portal/quotes/<id>/accept` - Accept quote
- `/client-portal/quotes/<id>/reject` - Reject quote

**Next Steps:**
- Update quote detail template with accept/reject buttons
- Add email notifications for quote acceptance/rejection
- Create email templates: `templates/email/quote_accepted.html`, `templates/email/quote_rejected.html`

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### 3. Invoice Payment Links
**Status:** ✅ Route Added

**Files Modified:**
- `app/routes/client_portal.py` - Added payment route

**Routes Added:**
- `/client-portal/invoices/<id>/pay` - Pay invoice via gateway

**Next Steps:**
- Add "Pay Now" button to invoice detail view
- Update invoice list to show payment status
- Add payment status indicators

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### 4. Project Comments (Partial)
**Status:** ⚠️ Route Added, Needs Model Update

**Files Modified:**
- `app/routes/client_portal.py` - Added comment route

**Routes Added:**
- `/client-portal/projects/<id>/comments` - View/add project comments

**Issues:**
- Comment model requires `user_id` (non-nullable)
- Need to either:
  - Create system user for client comments
  - Modify Comment model to support nullable user_id with client_contact_id
  - Create separate ClientComment model

**Next Steps:**
- Decide on approach for client comments
- Update Comment model or create ClientComment model
- Create template: `templates/client_portal/project_comments.html`
- Add comment count to project view

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## 🚧 In Progress Features

### 5. Email Notification System
**Status:** 🚧 Planning

**Required:**
- Client notification preferences model
- Email templates for:
  - New invoice created
  - Invoice payment received
  - Project milestone reached
  - Budget threshold alerts
  - Time entry approval requests
  - Project status changes
  - New quotes available

**Implementation:**
- Create `ClientNotificationPreferences` model
- Add notification service methods
- Create email templates
- Add notification triggers

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### 6. In-App Notification Center
**Status:** 🚧 Planning

**Required:**
- Notification model for client portal
- Notification center UI component
- Real-time updates via WebSocket
- Notification preferences

**Implementation:**
- Create `ClientNotification` model
- Add notification API endpoints
- Create notification center component
- Integrate with WebSocket system

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### 7. Enhanced File Sharing
**Status:** 🚧 Planning

**Current State:**
- `ClientAttachment` model exists
- Basic file upload/download

**Enhancements Needed:**
- Document library UI
- Folder organization
- Document categories
- Search functionality
- Version control
- Document preview

---

### 8. Client Dashboard Widgets
**Status:** 🚧 Planning

**Current State:**
- Dashboard widget system exists (`dashboard-widgets.js`)
- Basic dashboard exists

**Enhancements Needed:**
- Client-specific widgets
- Customizable layout
- Widget preferences storage
- Quick actions widget

---

### 9. Client-Specific Reports
**Status:** 🚧 Planning

**Required:**
- Report generation service
- Report templates
- Scheduled report emails
- PDF/Excel export
- Visual analytics

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### 10. Project Activity Feed
**Status:** 🚧 Planning

**Required:**
- Activity feed component
- Real-time updates
- Activity filtering
- Activity types:
  - Time entries added
  - Tasks completed
  - Comments posted
  - Files uploaded
  - Status changes

---

## 📋 Implementation Checklist

### Phase 1: Quick Wins (Week 1)
- [x] Time Entry Approval UI routes
- [x] Quote Approval routes
- [x] Invoice Payment route
- [ ] Approval templates
- [ ] Quote approval templates
- [ ] Payment button in invoice view

### Phase 2: Core Features (Week 2-3)
- [ ] Email notification system
- [ ] In-app notification center
- [ ] Project comments (with model update)
- [ ] Enhanced file sharing UI
- [ ] Dashboard widgets

### Phase 3: Advanced Features (Week 4-5)
- [ ] Client-specific reports
- [ ] Project activity feed
- [ ] Real-time updates
- [ ] Mobile optimizations

### Phase 4: Polish (Week 6)
- [ ] UI/UX improvements
- [ ] Performance optimization
- [ ] Documentation
- [ ] Testing

---

## 🔧 Technical Notes

### Comment Model Issue
The `Comment` model requires `user_id` to be non-nullable. For client comments, we have options:

**Option 1: System User**
- Create a system user for client comments
- Store contact_id in a separate field
- Pros: No model changes
- Cons: Requires system user management

**Option 2: Modify Comment Model**
- Make `user_id` nullable
- Add `client_contact_id` field
- Add `is_client_comment` boolean
- Pros: Clean separation
- Cons: Requires migration

**Option 3: Separate Model**
- Create `ClientComment` model
- Similar structure to Comment
- Pros: Complete separation
- Cons: Code duplication

**Recommendation:** Option 2 (Modify Comment Model)

---

### Notification System Architecture

```
ClientNotification Model
├── client_id
├── type (invoice, project, approval, etc.)
├── title
├── message
├── read_at
├── created_at
└── metadata (JSON)

ClientNotificationPreferences Model
├── client_id
├── email_enabled
├── email_types (JSON array)
├── in_app_enabled
└── preferences (JSON)
```

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## 📝 Template Requirements

### New Templates Needed:
1. `templates/client_portal/approvals.html` - Approval list
2. `templates/client_portal/approval_detail.html` - Approval details
3. `templates/client_portal/project_comments.html` - Project comments
4. `templates/client_portal/notifications.html` - Notification center
5. `templates/client_portal/documents.html` - Document library
6. `templates/client_portal/reports.html` - Reports page
7. `templates/client_portal/activity_feed.html` - Activity feed

### Email Templates Needed:
1. `templates/email/client_invoice_created.html`
2. `templates/email/client_payment_received.html`
3. `templates/email/client_milestone_reached.html`
4. `templates/email/client_budget_alert.html`
5. `templates/email/client_approval_request.html` (exists)
6. `templates/email/quote_accepted.html`
7. `templates/email/quote_rejected.html`

---

## 🎯 Success Metrics

- Client portal engagement (login frequency)
- Feature usage rates
- Invoice payment speed
- Approval response time
- Support ticket reduction

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**Last Updated:** 2025-01-27  
**Next Review:** After Phase 1 completion