iDoceo 3.5

Hi MissV,
We're still updating the web with all the new features and video tutorials. We'll work on an interactive manual after that.

Okay...

Firstly Bert, this update has completely changed the app for myself and those around me using it at school; we love it. There was constant chatter about needing a decent e-planner, and how iDoceo 2 fell short. Thanks for the marked improvement, now a steal at £4 for us English folk.

However, I agree with the fella from half way up the thread - we can't upload class lists any more!

I'm the guy charged with training staff on how to use the iPads in school, and I'd been getting them to export the spreadsheets of classes from SIMS and save them as CSV ('Comma Delimited' as the Mac version gave some characters and binary info in the names column), before emailing them and opening them in iDoceo - as you suggest on your website.

This no longer works I'm afraid, displaying instead the error message 'File Not Imported; Could not process this file format'. This is the case with every file format I've tried including all types of .xls.

We are running 2nd gen iPad 2's and using spreadsheets exported by SIMS into Windows Office professional 2010.

Help?

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Additional iDoceo 3.5 suggestions:
- Bluetooth keyboard support for the opening PIN number?
- Some of my lot have overwritten weeks in their calendar too easily, and copying our two week timetable across the year makes your eyes go funny - perhaps allow colour coding of weeks, and ability to make some 'templates' so they can't be overwritten, and allow editing across the year (room changes effecting future periods for example).
- Integration of 'Reminders' into other apps? I'm sure it's tricky, but it would, for example, be a dream if a specific 'Wunderlist' list appeared on my class list page.
- Oh and editing periods seems to overwrite other classes sometimes - this may be an issue with having imported from version 2 and trying to edit them to fit the new system, but it seems to be reoccurring. (When you change a period '2' to its actual period 3, it will delete the period 3 if one already exists. This seems to happen in both directions ie. sometimes the actual 2 will read 3 but sometimes 1, which means you have to check a number of other periods in the day before being sure that you can shift them one way or the other. If you see what I mean.)

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The class importing is a priority, the rest is luxury. Thanks so much.

Hi Anonymous,
Would you mind sending me one of those CSV or XLS files at support@idoceo.net with fake names?
Something must have changed on the CSV files generated by SIMS, but I'd have to give it a look.
Once we manage to import those files into iDoceo, you then could share those lists (as templates) in iDoceo's own format, which may include photos or other additional info.

Let me address your suggestions once we get this CSV thing sorted out

I'd love the ability to copy a column to multiple classes at once by using check boxes or something.

I'd also love for the gradebook to open up at the far right so that I don't need to scroll to find the most recent columns entered. Maybe that could be a toggle in the general settings so that people can choose if they want it to open up so that the first column is viewable or the last column is viewable.

Obviously, these are just little touches that would help me out, but not something I can't live without.

In regard to Ceebee's comment above (#3633):

When you (ceebee) refer to sticky notes on the seating plans, do you mean the option to have each student on the seating plan represented with a little data box/card? (I haven't explored that view yet.)

I can't find a way to add a "general" sticky note to the seating plan view (as is available on the bulletin board page for each class). Having the ability to add a sticky note to my seating plans would help me keep track easily of which groups I have to pick up or drop off, as well as when and where (our school is big, and I have 13 different groups spread over three different wings and two floors). (Request #1 for a future update )

Speaking of the bulletin board for each group/class:
1) I've just started playing with it, and see that when I add a resource there, it shows up as a thumbnail (at least for a pdf file). VERY nice!
2) The watermark with the name of the group/class gets covered up when I add items to the bulletin board, so i can no longer tell which group it is unless I "back out" of the bulletin board view. For the moment, I'm working around that by adding a sticky note label at the top of the bulletin boards so I can tell which group it belongs to. Which leads to my request #2 for a future version: would it be possible to have the name of the class/group appear at the top of the bulletin board (perhaps along the top bit of the frame?)

I am enjoying learning my way around iDoceo. Thank you for such a useful and beautiful app!

Hi Bert,
Thanks for the constant development and improvements to idoceo.

I was just thinking about the layout of the ruler and which icons are initially visible. Personally, I'd prefer to see the "Day Planner" tool here, rather than under the submenu of "Schedule".

I wonder if Settings could have a similar Ruler submenu to Schedule, that contains Grade types, backup and recycle (which I don't see myself using regularly, certainly not every day).

Or, instead could we create a simpler ruler [longer if needed to accommodate 1 or 2 extra icons] than the current system. iDoceo currently seems to use a context sensitive ruler that displays different icons depending on which icon you first press. I wonder if it could be even simpler and user friendly. Yes, I know there is the simple mode on launch, but can we combine functionality and simplicity?

The "calendar" tool again looks like something I'll only use once a year, to set up my classes or maybe once a term - could this be tucked away somewhere?

Thanks for your consideration

@BethJahn

I'd love the ability to copy a column to multiple classes at once by using check boxes or something.

Yes, I know you need this one badly. Noted

Maybe that could be a toggle in the general settings so that people can choose if they want it to open up so that the first column is viewable or the last column is viewable.

iDoceo keeps now track of your last position on each tab and it returns automatically to it when you get back. This allows for example to switch between tabs and compare some specific column without worrying about its actual position. Noted, but not sure if we'll be able to change this one.

Hi Kathleen,

Yes. Ceebee was referring to that specific badge/box card. Which was originally developed with UK teachers in mind and their OFSTED requirements. The badge is considerably large in relation to the available space in the classroom. We'll soon have to do some remodeling in those classrooms.

I can't find a way to add a "general" sticky note to the seating plan view (as is available on the bulletin board page for each class)...

Not sure if you've seen this one but if you tap on the gear icon on the seating plan, you'll be able to add a description. It is far from being a sticky note ... but may help.

Which leads to my request #2 for a future version: would it be possible to have the name of the class/group appear at the top of the bulletin board (perhaps along the top bit of the frame?)

We tried to avoid this by allowing each user to add their own sticky label as you just did. It was probably a bad choice. Noted.

@Ben Boichat
Very glad to have you back Ben.

I was just thinking about the layout of the ruler and which icons are initially visible. Personally, I'd prefer to see the "Day Planner" tool here, rather than under the submenu of "Schedule".

Yes. Wish granted already. You'll find this option in the main screen Settings / Main screen / Ruler shows planner

I wonder if Settings could have a similar Ruler submenu to Schedule, that contains Grade types, backup and recycle (which I don't see myself using regularly, certainly not every day).

You're right about grade types, recycle and calendar buttons.
The problem we tried to solve with this was with current users not even knowing they could backup or create their own grades.
The Recycle button is a different matter though ... it is an option you never need... until you actually erase something by mistake ... and then there's not time to look for hidden buttons. A rationale borrowed from Emergency exits!
We'll keep working on that ruler, it certainly needs some additional tweaking.
Hopefully we won't reach the solution 'a la Microsoft' where you'll be able to choose every single button in the ruler and its position...

Kind regards

I need to print off individual reports. At the moment this is time consuming because I have to generate a report for each student by searching for a student in a class then exporting the report to dropbox then printing. I really need to be able to tell it to generate a whole class of individual reports at a time.
Thanks. Great app.