User Manual

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Task Map Panel

To the left of the Schedule Panel is the Task Map window. On the upper right side of the task map panel are the following buttons:
- Maximized View . This makes the Task Map Panel the only open window in your browser, allowing your task map to be clearly viewed.
- Minimized or Standard View . This view restores the Task Panel to its original size, where it shares space with the Schedule Panel, as well as all the other Skoach™ features.

You can view the Task Map window itself in two different formats:

The Task Tree helps you organize tasks in relationship to one another. This is especially useful when planning more complicated tasks or projects. The Task List lets you view tasks as they are organized into a simple list.

Tree View

The Tree View shows tasks and sub-tasks in an outline-style format. The Tree View works a bit like a family tree. Your Parent Tasks have sub-tasks called Child Tasks, which can have further sub-tasks themselves that are Grandchild Tasks to the original Parent Task. Each task can also have Sibling Tasks which are equal to it in level.

Example:

In this example, the task "Homework" is the Parent Task. Underneath "Homework" is the Child Task "English Homework." Underneath "English Homework" are the Child Tasks "Read Romeo and Juliet" and "Write Essay." In this case, "Read Romeo and Juliet" and "Write Essay" are Grandchild Tasks to the original "Homework" task. There are also two siblings of "English Homework": "Biology Homework" and "Chemistry Homework". They are siblings because they are equal in level to "English Homework" and because they share the same Parent Task, "Homework."

When you position the mouse cursor above the task, two icons will appear to the task's right:

The left icon give you an option to create a new child task. The right icon lets you create a new sibling task.

Tasks you create on the Tree View can be dragged and dropped anywhere on the Task Map and onto the Schedule Panel. In order to drag and drop in the Task Map, select any task from the task map. For example, select the "Presentation" from the following tasks:

Move your selected task onto another task's "add child task" icon. For example, you can move "Presentation" onto the "add child task" icon of the task "Afternoon meeting":

So that your selected task becomes a child of that task:

Or onto its "add sibling task" icon:

So that your selected task would become the same level as that task:

You can also rearrange the order of tasks on your Task Map by moving your selected task onto the "add sibling task" icon of the task you want preceding it:

This causes the following arrangement:

How to Create New Tasks in Tree View

To create a new task, right-click (or Alt-click if you're using an Apple computer) on the tree view window and select "Add top level task." Or, if you have tasks that were copied onto a clipboard somewhere else, select "Paste top level tasks" to place them on the Tree View.

• Note: You should follow the following protocol to ensure that your tasks are pasted correctly in Skoach™:
  • Make sure that the tasks in their original location come in the format of [Enter] and [Tab], such as:
    Parent[Enter]
    [Tab]Child
  • Upon selected "Paste tasks", use either of the following keyboard commands:
    • Ctrl+V
    • Shift+Ins.

You can also use this window to either expand or collapse all the tasks shown in the Tree View window. "Expand all" gives you a Task Map view of all top level tasks with all of their related sub-tasks. "Collapse all" gives you a Task Map view of only the top level tasks.

Top level task are your Parent Tasks, which may have sub-tasks beneath them. You can select "Add top level task" and enter the name of your new task in the bar that comes up:

To create a Sibling or a Child Task, right-click (or Alt-click if you're using an Apple computer) on an existing task and select from the following choices:

Based on your need, you may select either "Add child task" or "Add sibling task". Or, if you have already copied tasks onto a clipboard somewhere else, select "Paste child tasks" to place them on the Tree View underneath this task. You can create as many child tasks as necessary.

• You can also use this window to rename the task, view the task's agenda items, play it on the Schedule, or to delete it.
• Note: "Show in schedule" takes the task that you select on the task map and shows it on the schedule. In order to access this feature, you must first schedule the task. Once you schedule the task, then the "Show in schedule" becomes black and ready to use:

List View

The List View shows your tasks in a To-Do List format. Your tasks are lined up in a list, along with various task properties columns.

Example:

You can reorganize the list by clicking on different task properties that are positioned as column names:

• task name - Tasks are organized in alphabetical order.
• scheduled date - Tasks are organized in chronological order, in accordance with when you have scheduled each task.
• due date - Tasks are organized in chronological order, in accordance with when you have set the due date.
• ! - Tasks are organized in terms of priority. A tasks (in red) are first, B tasks (in yellow) are second, and C tasks (in green) are third.
• duration - Tasks are organized in terms of the duration of time you have allocated for performing a task.
• spent - Tasks are organized in accordance with how much time you have spent on a task.
• time category - Tasks are organized by their respective time categories.

Check marks mean that a task has already been completed.

Task Search

Below the Task Map bar, you can find a search bar. The search bar lets you search for tasks in accordance with characters found in task names and task properties. It has integrated search-as-you-type technology, performing your searches in real time.

• The erase button to the right of the search bar allows you to clear your search bar entries.
• Click here for information on the "Clear all filters" button,
• Click here for information on the "Refresh filters" button.
• The print button to the right of the search bar prints either your task trees from the Tree View area or task lists from the List View area.
• You can export your list from Skoach's List View into Microsoft Excel.2) To perform this function, click on the button.

This button appears to the right of the other buttons mentioned above only when you are in List View:

• Note: The file will be downloaded to your computer as a .csv file.

Advanced Task Search

Clicking on the green arrow at the top, far right of the Task Map window shows you the Advanced Task Search options. These advanced options are arranged in scroll down windows and let you filter your tasks by task properties:

• Time Category - Tasks are filtered by their respective time categories.
• Completion - Tasks are filtered by their completion status, complete or incomplete.
• Tag - Tasks are filtered by their assigned tags. For more about Tags, see below.
• Schedule - Tasks are filtered in accordance with whether they are scheduled or not.
• Importance - Tasks are filtered by their priority designations: A tasks, B tasks, or C tasks.
• Fixed - Tasks are filtered by their designation as either fixed or unfixed.
• Leaf tasks only - Parent tasks are filtered out and only child tasks remain.
• Date Filter :
  • Creation date - Tasks are filtered by their creation date.
  • Completion date - Tasks are filtered by their completion date.
  • Scheduled date - Tasks are filtered by their scheduled date.
  • Due date - Tasks are filtered by their due date.
  • You can indicate the after and before dates by clicking on the scroll down windows to the right and selecting a date with the Calendar.

The "Clear all filters" button removes filters from your task display. You should click this button when you want to view every task that you have ever entered.

The "Refresh filters" button lets you update the Task Map with your previously-selected filter settings.

Tags

Tags are a keyword you can assign to a task, in order to classify your tasks by that keyword. Adding tags to your tasks greatly simplifies the task filtering process. Tags can be created to filter your tasks in whatever way might be useful to you, such as: project, collaborator, line item, and so on. Tags are searchable, so that entering in a tag in the search bar will show all of the corresponding tags in the Task Map. Here is a list of other tag properties:

1. You can assign multiple tags to a task,
2. If a tag has been added to a task, then the same tag is also added to the task's child tasks,
3. If a tag has been deleted from a task, then this tag is also deleted from the task's child tasks,
4. A newly created sub-task inherits all of the tags assigned to its parent tasks.

NOTE: You can create and manage your tags either in the task details panel of a task, or in the Tags Editor in the Tools and options menu.

Task Properties

Task properties are selected in the Task Details window at the bottom right of the task map panel. This window automatically opens when you create a new task or when you select a preexisting task. It can be maximized and minimized by clicking the green arrow button.

• The Basic Tab
  
  
  
  This tab lets you select and modify such basic task properties as the name of the task and whether it is completed or not. It also provides you with a notes window, so that you can jot down notes pertaining to this task. In addition, you will need it to enter in the following information about your task:
  
  
  • Time Category - Select the time category of this task from pre-existing ones in a scroll-down menu. You can also create a new time category by selecting "New time category..." on the scroll-down menu and then entering it into the pop window:
    
    
    
    
  • Tags - Select as many tags as you need to properly classify your task. You should use these tags to sort and filter your tasks. For example, in the given example, the task "Review memo with Karen" is tagged both as "Meeting" and "Boeing."
    
    
    
    You can select from pre-existing tags, create new tags, or remove tags in this window. To create a new tag select "New tag" under the "Add tag" section of the menu. Enter your task in the pop-up window that comes up.
    
    
    
    * Importance - Select this task's level of importance. You may give it an A, B, or C priority designation, where A tasks are the most important tasks and C are the least important.
    
    NOTE: A tasks are colored red, B tasks are colored yellow, and C tasks are colored green in the Task Map and in the Schedule Panel.
    
    
  • Agenda - If this task requires Agenda items, then you can enter them by clicking Edit next to "Agenda." This pops the following window:
    
    
    
    You can select from pre-existing Agenda items or you can add new ones in the box at the bottom of the window.
    
    
• The Time Related Tab
  
  
  
  This tab shows all time-related information associated with the task. You can either manually enter the data into these fields, or you can use the scheduler wizard to do it for you automatically. If you wish to manually enter the fields, you can either type right onto the date bar, or you can use the Calendar window to the right.
  
  This tab includes the following properties:
  
  • Deadline - The date by which you must complete this task. Your task does not require a due date.
  • Scheduled Date - The date on which you intend to do this task. Your task does not require a scheduled date.
  • Completed - The date when the task was completed.
  • Created - The date when the task was created.
  • Duration - The amount of time you anticipate the task should take.
  • Spent Time - The amount of time you have already spent on the task.
  • Fixed - Clicking on the "Fixed" box causes the task to have a fixed (inflexible) start and stop time. If you indicate that a task is fixed, you can further designate the task as recurring. This option is convenient for scheduling regularly occurring events such as weekly meetings and daily activities.
    
    
    
    By default, recurrence is turned off. To enable recurrence, click "Enable" which opens the window you see above. In this window, use the scroll-down menu to indicate whether the recurrence is Daily, Selected days, Weekly, Monthly, or Annually.
    
    
    
    You can also set the duration of the recurrence:
    
    
    
    
    • No end day - this option does not set a limit for your task's recurrence. By default, the recurrent task does not have an end day.
      
      
      
      
    • End by - this option sets a limit on your task's recurrence. You can specify the exact date on which to end the recurrence with Calendar to the right.
      
      Click Ok to record your choices, or you can select Cancel to void them.
      
      Note: If you wish to make changes to a particular instance of a recurrent task (such as marking it off as completed), you must select it from the particular day on the schedule panel. The instance of the recurrent task on the task tree, however, is answerable for every instance of the recurrent task. Therefore, changes made there would affect all those instances.
      
      Also, note that when setting the monthly or annually recurrence option, keep in mind that your task will be scheduled on the exact same day as your starting task. In other words, if your task is scheduled on the 31st of a month, and you make it a monthly recurring task, then it recur every month that has a 31st. Similarly, if your task is scheduled on February 29th, and you make it an annually recurring task, then it will recur every year that has a February 29th.
      
      NOTE: The checkbox for fixed tasks is thickly outlined in the Task Map and in the Schedule Panel:
      
      while the checkbox for non-fixed tasks is thinly outlined:
      
      
      

• The Advanced Tab
  
  
  
  This tab gives you the ability to specify advanced properties for your task.
  
  • Location - The place where you plan to do the task.
  • Resources - Items that you need for your task are called resources. Task resources are managed in this window:
    
    
    
    You can see all your task resources here or you can create new ones by selecting "add new resource" and then entering it in the pop window:
    
    
    Once you have completed a certain task resource, you can mark it complete with a check in the left box . To delete a resource already listed, select it and press the button to the right.
  • Do not auto schedule - The scheduler wizard will exclude this task from automatic scheduling when you check this option.
  • Send Notification - Check this option to enable task-related notifications to be sent to you via email, telephone messages (SMS), and/or pager messages. You can designate the email, phone, and/or pager number where you want the messages sent in the Tools and options menu.

Schedule Panel

To the right of the Task Map is the Schedule Panel window. You can view the Schedule Panel in two different formats:

- Day View . This is the standard Schedule Panel view. It shows your schedule for a single day.

- Week View . This view shows an entire week at once.

• The weekly view allows the user to view his schedule from a weekly, rather than a daily perspective.
• You can drag and drop tasks from day to day.
• The date range on the top of the screen shows a person's week from Sunday through Saturday.

The farthest button on the right of the tool bar is a toggle for maximizing the panel and restoring it to standard panel view:

- Maximized View . This makes the Schedule Panel the only open window in your browser, allowing your schedule details to be clearly viewed.

- Minimized or Standard View . This view restores the Schedule Panel to its original size, where it shares space with the Task Panel, as well as all the other Skoach™ features.

The Schedule Toolbar

The currently selected date is shown on the far left. This selection changes in Weekly View to show the currently selected week:

• Navigation Buttons
  
  These buttons allow you to move from day to day or from week to week, depending on which view you prefer.
  
• The Calendar Button
  
  Pressing on the Calendar button shows you the month that you are currently look at.

• Selecting the level of detail you wish to view on your schedule
  
  The drop down list (to the right of the calendar button) allows you to select the level of detail you wish to see in your calendar:
  • - The 10-minute span allows you to see a detailed list of small tasks on your screen. It is the most specified configuration on the Schedule Panel.
  • - The 15-minute span allows you to view four rows per hour on your schedule. It is the intermediate configuration on the Schedule Panel.
  • - The 30-minute view allows you to view almost an entire day at once. It is the least specified configuration on the Schedule Panel.

• Resources Button
  
  The resources button is immediately to the right of the drop down list. This button activates the display of a list of resources you will need for today's tasks. You can enter in these resources in the Task Map.
  
  This feature is only applicable for the daily schedule, but not for the weekly view.

• Print Button
  
  On the far right of this toolbar, you will see the print button. Pressing this button allows you to print the schedule displayed on your screen. This allows you to have a hard copy of your schedule, which you can place in a binder or a notebook and take around.

Background Colors

On the sample schedule above, you will notice that there are four different background colors:

• Light green,
• Manilla,
• Purple, and
• Tan.

The default background color for the Schedule is light blue. The other colors indicate the selected "Time Category" designated for that time period. Time categories are periods of your daily schedule dedicated to a single broad category such as work, school, or personal. You can change the color of each time category in the Time Map section of the Tools and Options Menu.

Current Time Indicator

A little green triangle next to the hours is used to point to current time on the schedule.

How to Create New Tasks on the Schedule Panel

To create a new task, click on the schedule panel window at the time when the task is meant to start and enter its name into the pop window:

The default duration of your task depends on the Schedule Panel's level of detail:

• If you are in the 10 minute time span, then the default duration of you task will be 10 minutes.
• If you are in the 15 minute time span, then the default duration of your task will be 15 minutes.
• If you are in the 30 minute time span, then the default duration of your task will be 30 minutes.

You can also change your task's duration by clicking on its edge and stretching the task block to fit your desired duration:

You can change the starting and/or end time of a task by selecting the demarcation line at the start or end of a task and dragging it up or down. Once the task time has been indicated, you can go to the Task Map and enter in the other task properties, if you wish.

Task Overlapping

One of the many advantages that Skoach™ Offers is the ability of tasks to overlap one another (make sure that Don't allow overlapping tasks is unchecked in the User Preferences):

Dragging and Dropping Tasks

You can drag and drop tasks from the Task Map directly onto the Schedule Panel. (This is applicable for leaf--a.k.a. child--tasks only).

You can also drag one task that is on the Schedule and drop it in the place of another task that is on the Schedule. Skoach™ will automatically shift the original task for you.

Here is an example of Skoach's Drag and Drop Task feature:

Figure 1 : "Lunch" is scheduled for 1:00 pm and "Tennis" is scheduled for 2:00 pm

Figure 2 : "Tennis" is moving to take the place of "Lunch." The word Leisure tells you which time category you are hovering over.

This move either results in Figure 3 or Figure 4:

Figure 3 : "Tennis" and "Lunch" are overlapping, occupying the same space on the Schedule. In order to have overlapping tasks, "Don't allow overlapping tasks" needs to be checked off in the User Preferences window.

Figure 4 : "Tennis" is scheduled for 1:00 pm and "Lunch" occupies a new spot at 2:00 pm. In this case, "Don't allow overlapping tasks" is not checked off in the User Preferences window.

• General Task Shifting Rules:
  
  
  • If the task which you are about to shift is assigned to a time category, then Skoach™ will automatically push it to the next open time slot within that time category.
  • If the task which you are about to shift is not assigned to a time category, then Skoach™ will automatically push it to the next open time slot that is free of any time categories.
    • If however, Shift within time category is unchecked in the User Preferences, then Skoach™ will push the task to the next open time slot, regardless of categorization
  • The task which you are about to shift will be pushed to the nearest time slot within which it can wholly fit.
  • If there are no open time slots large enough to accommodate your task, then the task shifter will place it inside the largest available time slot. This results with a section of your task spilling over from its newly found time slot into the time slot adjacent to it.

Inside Each Task

Within each task you will find three buttons to the left of the task description.

• Check box The check box shows if the task has been completed or not. To mark your task as completed, simply click the check box:

• Start button Triangular button should be clicked to indicate that you have started the current task. Clicking the triangular start button will also open the WhereWazI Panel Window.

• Task Swap button Task Swap is a unique Skoach™ feature. If you click on it, you will see a drop down list displaying alternate tasks for which the current task can be swapped.
  
  
  
  This special feature gives you more flexibility in your daily schedule. If you are facing a task that seems especially burdensome or unappealing, you can click on the Task Swap button to select an alternate task. When a swappable task is selected, it moves into the time slot of the original task, moving it and all following tasks lower on your schedule. A task is considered swappable with the original task only if it shares the following in common with the original task:
  1. Have a time category or a parent task in common
  2. Same importance or more important than the first task
  3. Shorter or equal deadline date than the first task
  4. Not considerably different in task duration (i.e. a short task cannot switch to a long task, and vice-versa). If even one of these criteria are not met by any of the surrounding tasks, then the switch drop down menu will be empty and you will not be able to switch to another task.
  • Note: Fixed tasks cannot be shifted, so these time shifts leave fixed tasks in their original location, with other tasks moving around them.

• Due date warning icon
  This icon indicates that task is scheduled after its due date.

• Project icon
  The Project icon is displayed in the right top corner of the task. It can be selected in the Project Editor in the Tools and options menu.

Scheduled Task Context Menu

Right-click (or Alt-click if you're using an Apple computer) on the task box to display the context menu for the task.

• Show in Task Map
  This item highlights the task in the Task Map and turns off all filters in Task Map.
• Unscheduled task
  This item allows you to unscheduled the task.
• Play task
  This is the same as the play button in the task box.
• Delete task
  This item deletes your task.

Hourly Journal Entries

One can create journal notes on an hourly basis. To create a journal entry, click on the hour (yes, hours in the schedule are clickable although it doesn't look like it -- try it):

This will cause the Journal Note window to appear. Write you note here:

Once the note is created, the hour will appear boxed:

You can preview the note by hovering your mouse over it:

If you click on it again, you can edit the note.

You can delete a note by hitting the First Button in the Journal Entry toolbar. The second button closes the note while saving it.

WhereWazI Panel

The WhereWazI panel shows time-related information about your running task.

• Task - name of the task.
• Duration - planned duration of the task.
• Spent - time spent on the task.
• Remaining - actual time remaining before the task is over.
  • Remaining time bar - this bar lets you input the number of minutes necessary to complete the task. The length of your task will then automatically change.
  • Note: Remaining time is not the difference between the duration and the spent time.
  • Example: You have just created a 2-hour task, which you have begun to run. After 1 hour passes, you press the Pause button on the WhereWazI Panel. After a 15 minute pause, you now want to press Play on the WhereWazI Panel to restart the task. At this moment, the spent time is equal to 1 hour and the remaining time is 45 minutes.
• The Pause Button - this button is used to temporarily stop execution in the middle of the current task. During the Pause interval, the remaining time continues to decrease (see the explanation of Remaining above).
• The Play Button - this button is used to resume execution of the earlier paused task.
  
  If you pause in the middle of your task, the WhereWazI Panel will open for you a Reminder window:
  
  
  
  This Reminder window allows you to enter in the "Last action taken" and "Next action taken" items in their respective input bars. These items will help you return to your task after a pause or interruption.
• The Stop Button - this button differs from the Pause button because it is intended to stop a task for longer periods of time. When you press the Stop button, you will see the following window:
  
  
  In this window, you can enter the "Last action taken" and "Next action taken" items in their respective input bars, similar to the Pause Reminder window. You can also enter the "Additional time needed" to complete your task. Skoach™ will automatically fill in the remaining task duration.
  
  After you have filled in the fields and press Ok, the task is stopped and is marked completed. If the task duration was longer originally, then it is automatically reduced in such a way that its completion time will be the same as the actual time the task was stopped.

• The Complete Button - this button is used to complete the task. When it is pressed, the task is marked as complete and its duration is cut in such a way that the end of it becomes equal to the time it was completed.

• The Progress Bar - this bar is used to graphically display the time spent on the task. If the time is over, the progress bar turns red:
  

• The Expand Button - this button opens the Reminder window.

• The Collapse Button - this button closes the Reminder window.

• Time is over dialog:
  • If you run out of remaining time, Skoach™ will automatically pop the following window:
    
    
  • If you have not finished your task, you can add time in the "How much time is required to finish task?" input bar.
  • Select Now if you want to finish the task right now. The task duration will change so the task execution will stop after the indicated number of minutes.
  • Select Later if you would like to finish the task later on. This effect your schedule the same as when the Stop button is pressed: i.e., the current task will be stopped; a new one will be created, etc.

• Reminders:
  
  
  
  Skoach™ reminds you of the tasks that are about to begin and the ones that have already begun. You can delete each individual reminder by using the button. You can delete all of the reminders by clicking on "Clear all messages."

Time Map

The Time Map allows you to organize your time categories for an entire week. Time categories are blocks of time on your schedule that are marked as specifically belonging to a certain activity. You can configure the duration of your daily time categories and define their place on your schedule.

Some time categories may be only on weekdays; other time categories may have be seven days a week; still others may be only one specific day during the week. You should establish time categories to reflect your desired schedule so that the automatic scheduler can schedule your tasks according to your wishes.

Time categories are created in a weekly calendar view which is transferred to the calendar in your schedule panel, and will remain on your schedule permanently unless you change them in the Time Map window.

On the right side of the Time Map, you can see a menu list of all your Time Categories. To the right of each time category listed, you'll find three buttons:

• The Color Button - this button displays a color associated with each time category. The color you select for each time category becomes this time category's own background color on your schedule.
  
  For example, if you select green for your School category, then all of the time periods designated as school times during your week will be green on your schedule.
  
  When you click on the Color Button, the Color Selector window opens:
  
  
  
  You can choose a color from among seven different colors in this window.
  
• The Category Rename Button - click on this button to rename the time category.
  
• The Delete Button - click on this button to remove the time category from the list. Clicking on the delete button opens the following window:
  
  
  
  

Adding Time Categories to the Time Map

1. Specify Your Time Category's Duration:
   
   Hold down the mouse button while moving your mouse from the time period you would like to start until its end. Release the button and mark the end of your Time Category:
   
   
   
   Don't worry about fitting the bucket exactly over the time period, as Skoach™ will automatically adjust it to the nearest time block.
   
   
2. Name Your Time Category :
   
   Once you have specified the Time Category's duration and have let go of the clicked left-mouse-button, you can then name your time category:
   
   
   
   You can select an existing time category from the drop-down menu. Or, if you want to designate a new time category, simply click on "New time category" in the drop-down menu that is in the Time Map and enter any name you wish:
   
   

General Time Category Properties

Time categories can be:

• Moved from one day to another on the time map:
  
  
  

• Stretched vertically to span as many hours as you select within a day:
  
  

• Dragged to a different location in the day:
  
  

Tags Editor

By assigning one or more tags to each task, you organize your daily activities into related groups of tasks. For example, work-related tasks will be grouped in the Work tag, in addition to any other tag, homework-related tasks will be grouped in the Homework tag, etc.

To the right of each task category listed, you'll find three buttons:

• The_Rename Button - click on this button to rename the tag.

• The Delete Button - click on this button to remove the tag from the list. Clicking on the delete button opens the following window:
  
  

To create new tags, enter the tag name in the input bar at the bottom of the tags editor window, then press the "+" sign:

User Preferences Window

• Default task duration
  • A newly created task on the Task Map will have this duration
• Auto-delete tasks after
  • Skoach™ will automatically delete your tasks after a selected time period. You may choose between 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 month, 6 month, 1 year, or Never.
• Task creation email
  • Allows you to create tasks via email and phone. You can read more about this feature here.
• Don't allow overlapping tasks
  • If this is unchecked:
    • Skoach™ enables you to create overlapping tasks on the Schedule Panel.
    • This causes your ability to switch to another task to be disabled.
  • If this is checked:
    • If a change of task duration or scheduled date causes one task to overlap with another one, then the latter will be moved to a later time.
    • This causes your ability to switch to another task to be enabled.
• Shift within Time Category
  • This can be selected only when "Don't allow overlapping tasks" property is checked.
  • If it is checked:
    • If a change of task duration or scheduled date causes one task to overlap with another one, then the latter will be not only moved to a later time, but the application will also try to put them in the corresponding time category.
• Notify prior to non-fixed task
  • Sets the time prior to the beginning of a non-fixed task when you would like to be notified. This time is used by the WhereWazI Reminder and by the email, SMS and pager notifications.
• Notify prior to fixed task
  • Sets the time prior to the beginning of a fixed task when you would like to be notified. This time is used by the WhereWazI Reminder and by the email, SMS and pager notifications.
• Notify about
  • You can select which tasks you can be notified about by email, SMS, and/or pager:
    • All tasks - notify about all tasks
    • Fixed tasks only - notify only about fixed tasks
    • Selected tasks only - with this option selected, notifications will be sent only for the tasks with the property "Notifiable" on. You can make this selection in the Advanced tab in the Task Properties window.

• Notify by SMS
  • Allows you to turn on/off the SMS notifications.
  • Cell phone number
    • Enter the phone number where you want to receive SMS task notifications.
  • Provider
    • Select you Cellular provider.
• Notify by email
  • Allows user to turn on/off the email notifications
  • Email
    • Enter the email address where you want to receive task notifications.
• Notify by pager
  • Allows user to turn on/off the pager notifications
  • Pager number
    • Enter the pager number where you want to receive task notifications.
  • Provider
    • Select you Pager provider.

Everyday Resources

Items that you need for your tasks are called resources. Task resources are managed in this window:

The Delete Button - this button allows you to remove the Resource immediately from the list. Note: you will not be given another chance to keep your resource. Pressing this button will delete your resource for good.

The bar at the bottom of the window lets you add new resources to the list. Type the name of the new resource and press the "+" sign:

Scheduler

The Scheduler is a unique, user-friendly Skoach™ feature that provides an option to schedules your tasks automatically, based on the information that you provide in the Task Details window when you create your tasks.

To activate the Scheduler feature, click on the button under Tools and Options. The Scheduler goes through the following steps to automatically assign tasks to future dates:

1. All non-fixed tasks scheduled during the next two months are cleared from the schedule.
2. The Scheduler only schedules tasks within a two-month time period. If no openings are available for the next 60 days, the user will be notified that the task has failed to be scheduled due to lack of available time. After receiving this notice, you can decide whether to delete a task from your schedule to make time for the unscheduled task.
3. The Scheduler searches for the next open time slot within the task's corresponding time category.
4. For tasks not assigned a time category, the Scheduler searches outside all designated time-categories for the next open time slot.
5. The Scheduler starts its search for an open time slot at the current time period.
6. The Scheduler searches for the first open time slot that is equal to or greater than the task's duration (e.g. if you estimate that a task will require one hour, then the wizard will look for the first open time slot of at least one hour).
7. If the Scheduler cannot find a large enough open time interval, then it simply places the task into the next largest open time period. Consequently, part of the task will fit inside this time period, and part will overlap with a subsequent time period; the user will be notified of these overlapping scheduled tasks, allowing the user to select which overlapping task to reschedule.
8. Tasks are assigned to the closest open interval if all associated time categories are full.

Unscheduler

This is the Automatic Unscheduler Wizard deletes the scheduled date from all of your scheduled non-fixed tasks. This includes both completed and incomplete tasks.

Calendar

A Calendar is included in many Skoach™ features. Below is a guide to their use.

• The white display in the middle shows a standard calendar view with today's date highlighted in red font.
• Use the dark blue bar on the top of the window to select the month and year you wish to view::
  • Use to jump to earlier or later months.
  • Or, use to select a month from a scroll down window.
  • Use to select the year from a scroll down window.
• You can also select a particular week (from week 1 - 52) using the light blue Week column on the left-hand side of the calendar.
• The current date displays at the bottom of the screen in the light blue bar.
• To exit the Calendar, click the button.
• In additional views of Calendar, you can select task times, as well. It will look as follows:
  
  
  
  Click on the bottom right scroll down windows in order to indicate the task's hour and minute designation. Click on the ok button when finished.