NW Scheduler/Publisher - Updates, Support, and Suggestions

[Floyd]

10 hours ago, computerwiz said:

 

I think it depends more on your internet speed than your computer.  We have both a fast system & fast internet.  If all the other brothers put in their schedules, NWS has a lot to download.  And even with both things fast, it could take 5-8 seconds.

 

Territories are pretty HUGE.  If you have a brother working on that, it could significantly increase the time.  If I remember correctly, the computers at our KH were delayed to 15-20 seconds when I was working on the territories.  But once that's done, that part of the startup for NWS should go quickly.

 

I am pretty much the only one doing stuff. There shouldn't be a lot to sync on my computer. Its the "Loading" screen that seems to take a lot of time. The syncing screen zips by.

[Tortuga]

4 hours ago, Mike047 said:

Just remember the tortoise and the hare, you young'uns

Never met a hare I didn't like...😁

 

[Mike047]

I just wish I could grow more of 'em!

[coolbrz731]

15 hours ago, Floyd said:

 

I am pretty much the only one doing stuff. There shouldn't be a lot to sync on my computer. Its the "Loading" screen that seems to take a lot of time. The syncing screen zips by.

So the syncing depends on how many people are doing stuff?  Because sometimes a certain part of the syncing seems to crawl

[foghorn]

Based on many observations, here's what I suspect happens (disclaimer - just an educated guess, observation only). 

STAGE 1 = Load executable. A few seconds for the PC to load the program. Then the program establishes a connection to the server. Time to do this depends on your internet speed at that moment and on the number of users connecting to the server at that moment. I imagine there are several time periods during the week that are especially busy. And of course, some servers are slower than others.

STAGE 2 - Synchronization. It appears that each data type (ie, publisher info, duties, talks, mid-week meeting, territories) is checked. If the server data is different from your data the last time you closes the app, then that data file must be downloaded to your PC. For example, if your talk coordinator added speakers yesterday, your data will be out of date, and the speaker file must be transferred to your PC.

[luisenriquereyes]

NW Scheduler 7.4 now available 😁

Release Notes

NEW FEATURES

• 64-bit Version. We are pleased to announce a 64-bit version of NW Scheduler. Our installer will automatically install the 64-bit version on 64-bit computers, and the 32-bit version on older 32-bit computers. A 64-bit application can use more Virtual Memory, which should make it run faster and improve the Territory map view. Note: If you have a 64-bit computer, you may need to remove any old shortcuts.
• Online Meeting Attendance. We've now split Meeting Attendance to In Person and Online. We hope this helps elders identify trends and encourage more to return to in person meetings.
• Import from Territory Assistant. You can now import Territory information from Territory Assistant.

NEW TEMPLATES

• New S-89 Assignment Slips. Assignments slips have been updated to use the new S-89.
• Territory Card. Many new Territory Card templates, including: 1-per page, 2-per page with Notes on back, 2-per page with Notes on side, 4" x 6" size, 5" x 7" size, Landscape with Notes on back.
• Public Speaker Availability.
• Public Talk Availability.
• Public Witnessing Schedule. New Portrait layout.
• LDC Volunteers. Shows all LDC Volunteers and their details.
• Combined Approved Assignments and Duties by Person.

UPDATES

PROGRAM

• Improved Startup and Load time.
• Improved Sharing sync time.
• Added Startup Logs (Click Help > Logs button in the bottom-right corner)

 

USER ACCESS

• Updated User Access view design
• Emailing now requires Person Information - View or Edit. This is because name and email information is contained in Person Information.

GROUPS

• Field Service Groups and Other Groups page now includes a new 'Email' button to quickly send an email to all members of a Field Service Group or Other Group (e.g. Pioneers, Elders, etc)

PERSONS

• Warning now shown if you try and delete a person with outstanding Public Talk assignments.

SCHEDULE - PUBLIC TALKS

• Added "Public Speaker Notes" to Select Public Speaker view

SCHEDULE - CIRCUIT OVERSEER VISIT

• Can now schedule up to 3 publishers for Field Service with the CO and his wife per period.
• Can now change the CO Name for this visit, e.g. if there is a substitute CO or several couples visiting together.

TERRITORIES

• Can now Import from Territory Assistant and ALBA
• Territory Boundaries can now be imported via CSV
• New Territory Setting: Navigate by Coordinates. This can be used for places where address navigation is not effective.
• Territory Label Size and Color can now be set per Territory
• Letter Writing and Phone territories can also have a Territory Boundary.

NW Publisher App (*version 3.4.0 and greater*)

• Screen Lock PIN can be enabled for added security. Tap Settings. Note: If a publisher forgets their PIN, they must Disconnect and Reconnect.
• Territory Addresses will now Navigate by Coordinates if either the Territory Setting is enabled, or the address does not have a Number and Address
• Meeting Attendance can be submitted for both In Person and Online
• Song Numbers added to Midweek Meeting Schedule. Note: You must refresh current schedules to show the songs
• App Persons now includes a new Quick Step to Send App Registration Email to a single person
• App Logs have been improved to now include all logs from all appointed brothers.

UPDATED TEMPLATES

• S-10 Congregation Analysis updated to include Incarcerated.
• Re-added a 2-page S-21 to save pages when printing.
• Territory Coverage report can now Filter by Type, Category and Area
• Territory Addresses Report can now "Hide Address Status", the header is repeated for each page, includes page numbers and can also choose which Address Fields to include
• Pioneer Hours and Pioneer Reports now include "Infirm" label. Also includes Special Pioneers and Field Missionaries.
• Pioneer Report can now optionally include Details such as Pioneer Start Date, Auxiliary Pioneer months, last Pioneer School, etc.
• Circuit Overseer Report now includes Total Publishers figure, and also Meeting Attendance Type statistics.
• Literature Report includes Notes

NEW LANGUAGES

• Liberian English (NW Publisher app)

Edited December 26, 2023 by luisenriquereyes

[jwhess]

The related NW Publisher app updated as well.  It is well to remind the users.  Many more use the Publisher app than the "Parent" app (NW Scheduler) that gives it meaning.

[Bart1044]

Hello All. Another question that I do not seem to be able to find the answer. Can Groups be scheduled for cleaning assignments? I only see a way to assign individuals. 

[Sooner Guy 89]

When you click on the week or meeting you should get a drop-down menu to change to 'Feild Service Group'

 

This what I get:

 

 

When our sister congregation is assigned the outside cleaning for a week, we select 'Neighbor Congregation'

[Mike047]

when we assign  brothers for hall and garden cleaning we have set up a 'cleaning and garden care' section in the Life and Ministry meeting section under 'Schedules'. We subtitle this section 'Hall Cleaning' and assign the group by group name. Each member of the group gets a reminder. We set it up also under the Weekend Meeting section, so we have covered a cleaning period (in this congregation it is for one week.

 

If we were doing the assignments for one month we would set it against each week during the month.

[Tortuga]

We created an Other Group for the entire congregation, it makes it easier to schedule everyone for the major hall care the end of the month.

[Bart1044]

18 minutes ago, Benjamin said:

When you click on the week or meeting you should get a drop-down menu to change to 'Feild Service Group'

 

This what I get:

 

 

When our sister congregation is assigned the outside cleaning for a week, we select 'Neighbor Congregation'

Thank you

[Tortuga]

Just curious but what happens if a publisher enters hours even if they aren't pioneering? Does that get added to any reports or does it just stay in their publisher record without affecting anything?

[Mike047]

It only goes forward as a tick, not for the hours to be submitted

[Floyd]

45 minutes ago, Tortuga said:

Just curious but what happens if a publisher enters hours even if they aren't pioneering? Does that get added to any reports or does it just stay in their publisher record without affecting anything?

 

I just checked and the hours do get submitted but I think they just quietly sit there.

[Tortuga]

13 minutes ago, Floyd said:

 

I just checked and the hours do get submitted but I think they just quietly sit there.

Thanks. We are just starting to use NWS/NWP and the secretary just imported some information. I noticed it had the hours for each publisher and I didn't know if that would skew any reports. I'm sure that any information entered since October is correct and all of the required reports have been submitted, so it's a non-issue, but I was still curious. Thanks.

[Mike047]

You will find that imported hours are from the previous figures, prior to the new reporting system.

 

Some of our brothers continued to put in their hours as a way of keeping their own records, but it is better for them to keep records offsite really.

[Sooner Guy 89]

2 hours ago, Tortuga said:

Just curious but what happens if a publisher enters hours even if they aren't pioneering? Does that get added to any reports or does it just stay in their publisher record without affecting anything?

Not really answering the question, but when I have all FS reports each month I take a look at all non-pioneers and remove the hours entered if they have forgotten or added in accidentally. (That is just my OCD coming into play) But since there is no place for them on the S-1 report it doesn't really change anything.

[Tortuga]

4 minutes ago, Benjamin said:

But since there is no place for them on the S-1 report it doesn't really change anything.

Thanks. We are still getting familiar with the program, so I just looked at the S-1 and saw that Publisher hours are not included in the report even if they are in the publisher record. That's what I was wondering about. So, if anyone decides to include their service hours anyway, it won't hurt anything, it will be archived in their publisher record.

[Aja]

7 hours ago, Benjamin said:

Not really answering the question, but when I have all FS reports each month I take a look at all non-pioneers and remove the hours entered if they have forgotten or added in accidentally. (That is just my OCD coming into play) But since there is no place for them on the S-1 report it doesn't really change anything.

Same process for me. I've also tried to gently remind the friends that are doing this, about the new direction from the Slave on this matter. I imagine many just see the box and put it in because it's there. I would love if the app had some kind of dynamic layout for submitting their report.

 

Are you a special/regular/auxiliary pioneer?

 

If yes, you get the option to add your time.

 

If no, then no option to add your time.

 

I'm willing to bet the OCD crowd we're in is probably a minority though and not worth the programming time or effort necessary to make something like that happen😅

 

 

Edited January 6 by Aja

[jwhess]

100 years of habit is hard to break.

[Mike047]

John, you really don't look that old, a few wrinkles maybe

[Tortuga]

I like how the NWS has an option for the Elders (and MS) to see the Publishers Contact information in NWPublisher. Do you think it would it be helpful if there was an option called "Appointed Brothers" so the congregation could see the Elders (and MS) contact information?

[coolbrz731]

Does anyone know how to submit time for previous months for some friends that are shown as irregular but shouldn't be?

 

Also related, I just found out that if you go to the Publishers tab under Me, and you touch your group, you can simply touch any unchecked box and it'll give you the option of checking the box for that person and submitting their time

[foghorn]

6 hours ago, coolbrz731 said:

Also related, I just found out that if you go to the Publishers tab under Me, and you touch your group, you can simply touch any unchecked box and it'll give you the option of checking the box for that person and submitting their time

Yes - that is a great feature. Note, though, that it must be enabled in the App Features section: