Appointment Editor

This Help File Page was last Modified on 04/16/2021

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Appointment Editor

This Help File Page was last Modified on 04/16/2021

Phe Appointment Editor provides a simple way to set an Appointment for a Technician to provide service, or to visit a Subscriber for some other reason.

The Appointment Editor usually, but not always, is used to Schedule a Work Order.

The Appointments set for a Technician on the Technician Scheduling Form will also appear in the Employee Calendar.

 

HelpFilesTechnicianSchedulingForm

Technician Scheduling Form - Technician Schedules Grid - Day View tab

 

Appointment Types Review:

By default, All Appointment Types will be included when Viewed in the Technician Schedules Grid on the Technician Scheduling Form.

 

HelpFilesAppointmentTypes

Appointments - Appointment Types

 

When an Appointment is created for a Work Order from the Pending Work Orders List, that Appointment is automatically assigned an Appointment Type of Work Order, or Installation - based on the Work Order Format Type assigned to that Work Order.

When an Appointment is entered for a Work Order created for a Job Task, the automatically assigned Appointment Type will be Jobs.  

When an Appointment is entered for a visit to a Subscriber, when no Work Order is involved, the automatically assigned Appointment Type will be Work Order.  

oIn this case, using the Drop-Down Selection List provided in the Appointment Type field, Choose Other and enter the remaining information, as appropriate.

 

The Appointment Editor (illustrated below) may be accessed in several ways.

 

HelpFilesNew AppointmentEditor

   Appointment Editor accessed using the Technician Scheduling Form's New Icon

 

1.Click the New Icon on the Technicians Scheduling Form (see the resulting New Appointment Form illustrated above) to create a New Appointment with a Subscriber.

2.Click on a Work Order Number (WO#) in the Pending Work Orders List, then Drag & Drop that selected Work Order Number onto an open Time Slot in the Technician Schedules Grid on the Technicians Scheduling Form.

Following a Confirmation question, the Appointment Editor will open automatically.

 

HelpFilesTechnicianSchedulingConfirmAppointment

 

3.Click Edit, after Selecting a specific Appointment listed on the Day View tab of the Schedule Grid on the Technicians Scheduling Form, to update or modify that Appointment's information.

4.Double-Click on an existing Appointment listed on the Day View tab of the Schedule Grid on the Technicians Scheduling Form to update or modify that Appointment's information.

 

Using the Appointment Editor:

When a New Appointment is created by Clicking the New Icon on the Appointments section of the Technicians Scheduling Form, an open Work Order (Installation Order, or Job Order) is not required.  

Before entering the remaining New Appointment information, use the Drop-Down Selection List  provided to Choose the appropriate Appointment Type.

Beside those Appointment Types, Appointments for Other (a miscellaneous catch-all category) reasons to visit Subscribers are also needed.

 

HelpFilesAppointmentTypesOther

If Work Order (Installation Order, or Job Order) is the selected Appointment Type, a Work Order Number must be chosen using the Drop-Down Selection List provided.

When Scheduling a New Appointment,

Click the Drop-Down Selection List arrow on the right of the Work Order field's Question Mark ? HelpFilesAppointmentEditorOpenWorkOrdersSelectorto Choose Unscheduled Work Orders.

 

HelpFilesAppointmentEditorWorkOrderOptions

 

Then Select the Work Order Number to be assigned to the Technician.

 

HelpFilesTechnicianSchedulingWorkOrderField

 

When Scheduling an additional Technician for an existing Appointment:

Ensure that the Work Order field is set for Open Work Orders so any Work Order - whether Scheduled or not - is available in the actual Work Order field's Drop-Down Selection List.

 

HelpFilesTechnicianSchedulingWorkOrderSelections

 

Work Order - Using the Drop-Down Selection List provided, Choose the Work Order Number that was previously Scheduled and to which the additional Technician is to be assigned.

 

HelpFilesTechnicianSchedulingWorkOrderField

 

Note: When using the Windows® Drag & Drop method to create an Appointment,  the Work Order Number and the appropriate Appointment Type will be filled in automatically (see below).

 

Accessing the Appointment Editor using the standard Windows® Drag & Drop method to assign an Appointment for a Work Order to a Technician:

On the Pending Work Orders List, there is a list of Work Orders (from oldest to newest) determined by whatever Filters were applied to the list.

 

HelpFilesTechnicianSchedulingPendingWorkOrdersListing

Technician Scheduling Form - Pending Work Orders List

 

The easiest way to Schedule a Work Order is to Click on the desired Work Order Number (see the WO# column) in the Pending Work Orders List and then Drag & Drop it onto an open Time Slot for the appropriate Technician on the Day View tab in the Schedule Grid.

The Appointment Editor will open automatically following a Confirmation message.

That Work Order Number will be inserted automatically into the Appointment Editor Form, and cannot be changed (see the illustration below).

The Appointment Editor Form will also be pre-populated with the following data:

oAppointment Type - based on the Work Order Type based on the associated Work Order.

oTechnician's Name - matching the Technician column into which the Work Order Number was Dragged.

oStart and End Dates and Times - based on the Time Increment established in the Planner View - which will usually be modified to better indicate the expected time required to complete the associated Work Order.

oWork Order (Number) will be inserted automatically into the Appointment Editor Form, and cannot be changed (see the illustration below).

oTechnician Code - matching the Technician Name assigned above.

oAppointment Description - as constructed based on the Appointment Description defined through the Service Options tab of the User Options Form.

If not entered when the Work Order was created, enter the Service Type and add any Scheduling Instructions, if needed, and Save the Appointment.  (The instructions should be no longer than 200 characters or they will not be fully shown on the Technician's printed Work Order)

 

HelpFilesNew AppointmentEditorWorkOrder

New Appointment - Work Order entry dialog

 

Here is the complete list of the information required to properly define a Work Order Appointment:

Appointment Type - The type of Appointment is selected using the Drop-Down Selection List provided.

In most cases, when using the Drag and Drop method to create an Appointment, the appropriate Appointment Type will be inserted automatically.

This is because the selected Work Order has already been assigned its Appointment Type of Work Order.

Subject - The Name of the Technician who is being scheduled.

When an open Time Slot in a Technician's column is selected, that will be the Technician's Name.

When the Work Order Number Drag and Drop method was used to create an Appointment, the Technician assigned to that Work Order will be the default.

If this is not the correct Technician, re-select a Technician using the Drop-Down Selection List in the Technician field (see below).  

The correct Technician's name will be inserted automatically.

If a different Technician was assigned when the Work Order was initially created:

oIt will be ignored and the currently selected Technician will be used.  

oThe newly selected Technician will replace the original Technician in that field on that Work Order.

Start Date - By default, it will be Today.  

Use the Drop-Down Calendar/Date Entry field to change the Date, if appropriate.

If the Start Date selected would not be displayed in the current Day View, the New Appointment will be recorded but the start of it will not appear until that day is selected (using the Calendar) for viewing in the Day View.

Start Time - By default, it is the starting time of the Time Slot selected (and so it will be highlighted in blue) in the Day View tab.

You may enter a different Start Time.

To preset the default Start Time for a New Appointment, Click on an open Time Slot.

Optionally, once the Appointment is saved, you may Click and Drag down the column to select multiple Time Increment positions.

This will properly populate the Start and End Time information on the New Appointment Form

 

HelpFilesTechnicianSchedulingTimeSlotHighlighted

Highlighted Time Slot Area

 

End Date - By default, it will be Today.

You may use the Drop-Down Calendar/Date Entry field to change the date, if appropriate.

You may enter an Ending Date and Time in a future day to schedule a multiple day installation or service.

If the End Date selected would not be displayed in the current Day View, the New Appointment will be recorded but the end of it will not appear until that day is selected (using the Calendar) for viewing in the Day View.

Multi-Day Appointments appear on the Day View above the Time Slots.

End Time - By default, it is the ending time of the Time Slot(s) highlighted in the Day View tab.

You may enter a different End Time.

To preset the default End Time for a New Appointment, Click on an open Time Slot.

Optionally, you may Click and Drag down the column to select multiple Time Increment positions.

Then, when you have selected the amount of time to be allocated for this Appointment, Click the New (Appointment) Icon.

This will properly insert the Start and End Time information on the New Appointment Form

Work Order - Use the Drop-Down Selection List to Choose the appropriate Work Order Number if it has not been inserted by the system.

Technician - By default, it will be the first Technician listed in the Day View tab.

If you have selected a Time Slot in a different Technician's column, that will be the default Technician.  

If this is not the correct Technician, re-select a Technician using the Drop-Down Selection List in the Technician field.

Service Type - Unless the Service Type was entered when the Work Order was initially created, use the Drop-Down Selection List to Select the appropriate Service Type for this Work Order Appointment.

Scheduling Instructions - Enter any special instructions that might be needed by the Technician, or another Scheduler, that will assist them in better servicing this Subscriber.

The instructions should be no longer than 200 characters or they will not be fully shown on the Technician's printed Work Order

Appointment Description - A message will be automatically inserted in this field based on the Work Order Number selected, the Subscriber, and the predefined Appointment Description message initially defined in the Service Options Form.  

You may add to, and/or edit, this information.

Because the Appointment Description field on the Appointment Editor Form may have several more lines of data than what is displayed in that field (the contents of this field may be pre-formatted using the Appointment Description option on the Service Options tab of the Users Option Form), this Appointment Description field may be scrolled using the Up/Down Arrows on your keyboard, and the scroll wheel on your mouse (if enabled).

 

Click the Save button to record the Appointment information.

If there are no additional Technicians to be scheduled for this Work Order, Click the Close HelpFilesCloseBox box on the Appointment Editor Form.

 

Also see Scheduling Multiple Technicians for instructions on how to assign more than one Technician to the same Work Order using the Appointment Editor's Schedules tab.

 

Here is the information required if you Choose a Work Order previously assigned the Install Appointment Type:

 

HelpFilesAppointmentEditorInstallation

Appointment Editor for an Installation

 

Here is the information required if you Choose a Work Order previously assigned the Job Appointment Type:

 

HelpFilesNewAppointmentFromJobServiceRequest

Appointment Editor for a Job

 

Appointment Type (in this case the original Work Order was created as a Job Task within Job Costing),

Subject will be the name of the Technician,

Start and End Dates and Times, will be default to the Time Slot selected on the Technician Schedules Grid

Work Order Number as Chosen.

Technician Employee (Joe Smith) is the Technician who is being assigned to the Appointment

Service Type (in this case an Addition to an existing system - ADDS) assigned to the Work Order

Scheduling Instructions are entered for special Scheduling Information, (e.g.,Detailed information or something as simple as ASAP).

The instructions should be no longer than 200 characters or they will not be fully shown on the Technician's printed Work Order

Appointment Description automatically inserted based on what was specified as the Appointment Description in the Service Options tab of the User Options Form

 

Here is the information required if you Choose the Other Appointment Type:

If you select the Other Appointment Type, there are less fields to complete (see below).

 

HelpFilesNewAppointmentOtherType

New Appointment Editor for the Other Appointment Type

 

Subject - The Name of the Technician who is being scheduled.

By selecting (Clicking on) an open Time Slot for a Technician, by default that will be the Technician's Name inserted here.

If this is not the correct Technician, re-select a Technician using the Drop-Down Selection List  in the Technician field.  

The correct Technician's name will be inserted automatically.

Start Date - By default, it will be Today.  

You may use the Drop-Down Calendar/Date Entry field  to change the date, if appropriate. 

If the Start Date selected would not be displayed in the current Day View tab., the New Appointment will be recorded but the start of it will not appear until that day is selected in the Calendar for viewing in the Day View.

Start Time - By default, it is the starting time of the Time Slot selected (and so it will be highlighted in blue) in the Day View tab.. 

You may enter a different Start Time.

To preset the default Start Time for a New Appointment, Click on an open Time Slot.

Optionally, you may Click and Drag down the column to select multiple Time Increment positions.

Then, when you have selected the amount of time to be allocated for this Appointment, Click the New Appointment button.

This will properly pre-populate the Start and End Time information on the New Appointment Form

End Date - By default, it will be Today.

You may use the Drop-Down Calendar/Date Entry field  to change the date, if appropriate. 

You may enter an Ending Date and Time in a future day to schedule a multiple day installation or service.

If the End Date selected would not be displayed in the current Day View tab, the New Appointment will be recorded but the end of it will not appear until that day is selected for viewing in the Day View.

End Time - By default, it is the ending time of the Time Slot(s) highlighted in the Day View tab.

You may enter a different End Time.

To preset the default End Time for a New Appointment, Click on an open Time Slot.

Optionally, you may Click and Drag down the column to select multiple Time Increment positions.

Then, when you have selected the amount of time to be allocated for this Appointment, Click the New Appointment button.

This will properly pre-populate the Start and End Time information on the New Appointment Form

Technician - By default, it will be the first Technician listed in the Day View tab.

If you have selected a Time Slot in a different Technician's column, that will be the default Technician.  

If this is not the correct Technician, re-select a Technician using the Drop-Down Selection List  in the Technician field.

Work Order, Service TypeScheduling Instructions, and Priority are not required, and so cannot be entered..

Appointment Description - Enter information such as Name, Address Contact Information, etc., as required to identify the purpose and location of this Appointment.

 

Click the Save button to record the Appointment.

If there are no additional Technicians to be scheduled for this Work Order, Click the Close HelpFilesCloseBox box on the Appointment Editor Form.

 

Editing an Existing Appointment may be accomplished in one of two ways:

Click Edit after you Select a specific Appointment listed on the Day View tab of the Technicians Scheduling Form.

Double-Click an existing Appointment listed on the Day View tab of the Technicians Scheduling Form.

In either case, the Appointment Editor will open and contain the information on the selected Work Order.

Modify the information as required.

Save the Appointment.

If there are no additional Technicians to be scheduled for this Work Order, Click the Close HelpFilesCloseBox box on the Appointment Editor Form.

See the Scheduling Multiple Technicians chapter for instructions on using the Schedules tab on the Appointment Editor to add additional Technicians for this Work Order Appointment.

 

Modifying the Date and Time of an Appointment - Changes to the Appointment record may easily be made without actually opening this Appointment Editor by using the keyboard's arrow keys:

Once an Appointment has been set, it can be quickly and easily moved (re-scheduled) within the Day View area of the Technicians Scheduling Form using these methods:

Click on the Appointment that you want to move to a different Time and/or Day slot on the Day View schedule

Use the up and down #$ arrow keys to move that Appointment to a different open Time Slot, as needed.

If more than one Technician's Schedule is being displayed, Click on the Appointment and using the left ! or right " arrow keys, move the Appointment to a different Technician's open Time Slot, if needed.

You may also Select an Appointment and then Click on the bold left side border of that Appointment which activates the special Appointment Mover pointer that enables the ability to Drag and Drop the Appointment up, down and/or laterally to another Time of Day, a different Day, and even to another Technician's column.

Finally, after Selecting an Appointment, you may Click on the bold bottom or top border of that Appointment to enable the ability to Drag either (or both) of these borders to lengthen the time range for that Appointment.

These changes in Time of Day, a different Day, Length of Time and to another Technician will be instantly updated within the Appointment Editor.

Important Note: If the change involved reassignment to a different Technician, Double-Click on the Appointment to open the Appointment Editor, then Click the Save button to update the Appointment with the correct Technician's Name in the Subject field.

 

Scheduling Multiple Technicians - It is not unusual to assigned more than one Technician to the same Work Order

When more than one Technician is needed to complete a Work Order - whether for a complete system installation or a complex repair, use the Schedules tab on the Appointment Editor Form where any number of Technicians may be Scheduled for service on the same Work Order.

 

HelpFilesAppointmentEditorSchedulesTab

Schedules tab on the Appointment Editor Form