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Introduction to Skoach™

In this Quick Start Guide we'll introduce you to basic features that will allow you to get started. At the end of this guide, you'll find a list of more advanced Skoach™ features that will enhance your Skoach™ experience as you learn to use them.

First, let's take a look at how Skoach™ looks on your computer screen and point out the main features of Skoach™.

1. Task Map/List

2. Schedule Panel

3. Task Details Panel

4. Tools and Options Bar

Skoach™ Help - So you never feel lost.

If you're ever unsure about any feature and how it works, click on the nearest question mark (see red circle in screenshot below) to find information about that particular area of Skoach™.

Task Map - Where the Tasks Live

The Task Map (see below) is a place to record and organize everything you need to do - at work, at home, and in every aspect of your life. (Everything on your schedule is called a "task" whether it's a meeting, an appointment, an activity or a task).

Schedule

The Schedule Panel (see below) displays a schedule all of your scheduled tasks. Tasks can be placed on the schedule by dragging and dropping them from the Task Map. Or, they can be scheduled by the automatic Skoach Scheduler (more about this later). The Schedule Panel can be vewed in a daily or weekly mode.

With Skoach™, tasks and time are linked so that it's clear what you need to do and when you need to do it.

Task Details

The Task Details panel (see below) includes important details that help you plan and schedule your task (such as task duration, deadline, etc.).

The Task Details panel opens automatically when a task is selected with a double-click on the task name, providing a place to record task details.

Step One: Getting Started - Creating a Map of Your Week using Time Blocks

This first step involves creating a basic structure for your week that will help you (and the automatic scheduler) know when to schedule each category of task. This step should only take a few minutes. Click on the green arrow on the Tools and Options Bar on the left-hand side of the Skoach™ Screen, then select "Time Buckets" (see below).

Tools and Options Bar

A weekly calendar will open. Here, we want you to create "time buckets" (blocks of time) that you want to set aside for certain categories of activity. You will be creating a template of your week, with specified time blocks that you typically spend on work, school, personal time, family time, sleep, etc.

Place your cursor at the beginning point of a time block you wish to create, then drag the cursor down to the end point and lift the cursor. A window will open asking you to name the category of task you want to schedule in this time block. Select (or create) a category. You'll see that the time block is automatically assigned a background color on your weekly schedule. All time blocks in the same category will be given the same background color, creating a quick reference for how you plan to spend your time.

This template of colored time blocks will appear on your schedule so that you'll know at a glance where to drag and drop each category of task.

Step Two: Recording and Scheduling Tasks

Now, let's talk about recording and scheduling tasks.

Recording Tasks on your Task Map

To record a task, simply double left-click your cursor anywhere on the Task Map. Write the name of your task on the input bar that opens.

To schedule a task, drag and drop it directly onto your schedule at whatever time you choose to schedule the task.

Creating Task Outlines

A guiding principle to getting things done is to "divide and conquer". i.e., to divide larger, more complex tasks into small, clear action items are much easier to approach and complete. If you record a task that requires more than one step or more than one hour, try to break it down into smaller action items.

To build a task outline, create a new task or highlight an already existing task. When you hover your mouse over your highlighted task, you’ll see two icons to the right:

Click on the left button to create a first level sub-task of the original task. An input bar will appear below the main task. Write the name of the sub-task here.

Continue this process, creating as many sub-tasks as you can think of:

Then consider each sub-task, considering whether iit can be broken down even more into 2nd level sub-tasks. Soon you’ll have a task outline that consists of well-defined action items ready to drag and drop onto your schedule:

Recording and Scheduling Tasks Directly on the Schedule

In addition to recording tasks on the Task Map, you can also record tasks directly on the schedule by placing the cursor on the start time and clicking it. A window will open asking you to name the task:

After the task appears on the calendar, use your cursor to drag the lower task line down to your task end time:

Recording Task Details

Once you’ve created tasks on the task map, you'll need to fill in some basic details in order for the Scheduler to take over. To fill in these details, click on the task to open the Task Details window.

You can either leave the task detail values at default or you can change them. The details that you most likely want to specify are:

• Category (in the Basic tab)
• Importance (in the Basic tab)
• Deadline (in the Time Related tab)

They are circled in red below on the Basic tab and the Time Related tab diagrams.

Step Three: Automatic Scheduling

While you can always enter tasks directly on your schedule or drag and drop them from the Task Map, the real magic of Skoach™ begins to unfold with the automatic Scheduler. With one click of a button, the Scheduler can schedule all of your tasks for you, taking importance, deadlines, and categories into account.

Remember the weekly map of time blocks we asked you to create earlier? Here's where it comes in. The automatic scheduler will use this template to schedule tasks at appropriate times.

In order to use the automatic Scheduler, each task you create should be assigned to a category (in the task details window). The scheduler will match task categories to the time blocks in the weekly template.

To activate the Scheduler feature, first go to the far left side of the screen to the Tools and Options Panel:

Click on the button

Each time you add a new task to the Task Map, be sure to complete the task details (category, duration, importance and deadlines) that will allow the Scheduler to schedule the task.

Now, you’re ready to get started with Skoach™!

This Quick Start Guide has introduced you to the calendar, the Task Map, and how to record, plan and schedule tasks.

We recommend that for any task with duration of one hour or more that you try to break it into a task outline consisting of smaller, clear action items. You’ll find that your productivity and task completion rates will go up rapidly as you learn to break tasks down into small action items.

We've just scratched the tip of the iceberg in the Quick Start Guide. There are many more exciting Skoach™ features that can improve your ability to manage your time, your tasks and your life. Here are a few more that you can learn more about when you click on them:

• Notifications - built-in and via email and SMS
• Task Search
• WhereWazI Panel
• Task Cruncher
• Agenda Tasks
• Journal Entries
• Task Swapping