> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.pears.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://support.pears.io/reflect/quarterly-efforts/auto-calculate-contacts.md).

# Auto Calculate Quarterly Effort Contacts

The Auto Calculate feature populates the Contacts section and Volunteer Hours of a quarterly effort record by pulling data from your program activities and direct contacts for the corresponding quarter.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**NOTE:** Report program activity and direct contact data from the corresponding quarter before running the auto-calculation.
{% endhint %}

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### Navigate to Quarterly Efforts

From the PEARS homepage, hover over the **Reflect** menu and click **Quarterly Efforts**.
{% endstep %}

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#### Open the record

Click the quarterly effort record you want to update.
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{% step %}

#### Go to Effort & Contacts

Click the **Effort & Contacts** button to view the details page.
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#### Auto-calculate contacts

Scroll to the **Contacts** section and click **Auto-Calculate Contacts** to compute the quarterly totals.
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{% step %}

#### Save

Click **Save and Continue** to proceed to the next section, or **Save** to store your changes.
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## What Gets Included

The auto-calculation includes:

* Both complete and incomplete program activity records within the quarter
* Only sessions falling within the applicable quarter
* Direct contacts with date ranges within the quarter
* **Volunteer Hours** — Total volunteer hours summed from applicable program activities for the quarter
* Data created by the current user only (collaborator records are excluded)

{% hint style="warning" %}
**NOTE:** "Virtual, self-directed & interactive" program activities are excluded from calculations. A "contact" represents one interaction with a person. Age is not reported in quarterly effort records.
{% endhint %}