batch scheduling

[bkubisht]

Hey, I get to be first poster on this forum!

I'm completely new to PHP and am learning a little strictly to be knowlegable about phpScheduleIt.  I checked out the demo on the main site, and am now trying to install on a IIS local server.  (Not relevant, other than to show how much of a newb I am)

One thing I wish for is the ability to schedule multiple assets at the same time.  Like, present the user with all possible assets as a series of checkboxes, instead of a single combobox,  so many assets can be scheduled at the same time for a single event.  And as an improvement on that, perhaps default groupings of assets.  For instance, say I had a laptop and a projector.  These could be scheduled individually, or called out as a preset group called "mobile briefing package" where both items in the group get scheduled automatically.

If I get comfortable with phpScheduleIt and get the goahead from my management, I can nearly guarantee I'll be adding this feature to my own build, at least.

[bkubisht]

Uh, perhaps nevermind.  Looking at the enhancements on the main website, someone noticed that this capability already exists.  Maybe I just didn't see it because the demo only give access to a single asset.

[Nick]

First post!  Very cool!

This is being introduced in the next version.  This initial release will focus only on "additional resources", which are pretty much what you described: projectors, TVs, DVD players, etc.  The administrator will set up additional resources and how many of each are available.  Then, similar to how you invite other users to a reservation, you will be able to include additional resources.

In the future, if it's needed, you will be able to reserve many main resources at once: Conference Room 1 & 2, for example.  That feature really depends on the feedback I get on the initial release.

[thermskin]

Hi Nick,

Do you have any idea when this new wersion will be out?

Maybe to publish beta version so that we could test it?

Best regards,
T.

[Nick]

I'm aiming to have a beta out in about a month.  There are very few features left and none are should be that difficult.

[crichardson]

Did batch scheduling actually get put into the latest release?

Here's my scenario: I have a large lab of computers that is used to hold classes.  The lab can be used to hold more than one class at once (we put up screens and such).  Teachers need to be able to go in and reserve 20-30 computers at once for a class.  I see 2 options:
1) Each resource is a computer in the lab: How do I schedule 20 resources at the same time for one reservation?  This is the case I need batch scheduling for.

2) We have one resource which is the lab room and teachers select computers from the Accessories tab when they're reserving the lab: How do I allow multiple reservations at the same time on one resource?

Any other suggestions on how to model this would be appreciated.

[Nick]

Neither of those options are available yet.  The ability to have multiple reservations at the same time on the same resource is something that is planned, but I have no idea when it will get done.  Another feature that may be implemented is a "reservation clone", which would create a new reservation with the details of an existing one that you could modify.  It's not "auto batch reserving", but will be much faster than entering each reservation by hand.

[lamontef]

Hi Nick,

This would be a very valuable feature for my business as well. We are a sports training facility and have 7 spaces to reserve. Individuals can rent a cage for batting practice or a team can reserve four spaces for a practice. Since I have to keep a handle on what cages are rented every hour of the day, i need to be able to reserve the spaces at the same time.

So far though, it looks like a great program, once we can do multiple resources, I think it'll be just what I need. I'm going to try to make it work as is though and hope for the best with the addition...

Thanks

LaMonte Forthun