In a programmable electric timer with a display (18) for digital displaying (28) of the actual time the display has been extended by a symbol field (24) including a plurality of symbols and a movable symbol field cursor (26). This cursor can be moved by means of a manually operated function shift means (40, 50). The display comprises furthermore a time scale (20) covering a number of the 24 hours of the day, optionally all of them, and associated with a movable cursor (22). This cursor (22) can be moved quickly or slowly by means of a manually operated advancing means (44, 46, 50, 54). Finally a manually operated advancing means (42, 44, 46, 52, 54) is provided for the storing of encoded switching times and switching intervals and for a simultaneous graphic indication by way of the time scale (20) on the display (18) of said times and intervals. In this manner the timer is easy to use and the user achieves a graphic view of actual switching times and intervals.