Add timestamps for answer tracking in report models and views; enhance timer display in templates

atlas/views.py

@@ -2737,6 +2737,29 @@ def collection_case_view_take(
                 ).first()
                 ReportAnswerForm = UserQuestionAnswerForm
 
+        # If we have an answer object but it doesn't have a started_at, set it now.
+        if answer and getattr(answer, 'started_at', None) is None:
+            try:
+                answer.started_at = timezone.now()
+                answer.save()
+            except Exception:
+                # Non-fatal: if saving fails, continue without blocking the user
+                logger.exception("Failed to set started_at on answer", exc_info=True)  
+
+        # If no answer exists yet, create a placeholder so we have a started_at timestamp
+        if not answer and collection.collection_type in ("REP", "QUE"):
+            try:
+                if cid is not None:
+                    answer = CidReportAnswer(question=case_detail, cid=cid)
+                else:
+                    answer = UserReportAnswer(question=case_detail, user=request.user)
+                answer.started_at = timezone.now()
+                answer.save()
+            except Exception:
+                # If creation fails, leave answer as None; the normal flow will handle form creation
+                answer = None
+                logger.exception("Failed to create initial answer object", exc_info=True)
+
     if request.method == "POST":
         if collection.collection_type in ("REP", "QUE"):
             if not collection.publish_results:
@@ -2754,6 +2777,8 @@ def collection_case_view_take(
                         answer = form.save(commit=False)
                         answer.set_cid_or_user(cid=cid, user=request.user)
                         answer.question = case_detail
+                        # Record submission timestamp
+                        answer.submitted_at = timezone.now()
                         # answer.published_date = timezone.now()
 
                         if "complete_case" in request.POST:
@@ -2872,6 +2897,11 @@ def collection_case_view_take(
             "cid_user_exam": cid_user_exam,
             "question_completed": question_completed,
             "self_review": self_review,
+            # Provide a canonical start timestamp (prefer answer.started_at, then cid_user_exam.start_time)
+            "answer_started_at_iso": (
+                (answer.started_at.isoformat() if getattr(answer, 'started_at', None) else None)
+                or (cid_user_exam.start_time.isoformat() if getattr(cid_user_exam, 'start_time', None) else None)
+            ),
         },
     )