Changes in November 2024
We are releasing some new features for both Portal and Desktop users as well as some layout changes in the Portal.
But first, what is the difference between these two versions? For more on this read this article.
Portal Reminders Settings Screen
The layout of this screen has been changed. Before the schedule for all reminder types was at the bottom of the screen.
Now everything to do with each reminder are bundled together. For example the SMS section contains details about the SMS reminder and the SMS schedule.
The Portal reminder settings screen has more options and is more advanced than the Desktop version. However all the features that you activate in the Portal side will also benefit users of the Desktop version.
Additional Messaging
This is a new feature that makes the automatic appointment messaging far more versatile. Again this can benefit Desktop users too
Additional Messaging is a bolt-on to the Appointment Reminders screen that allows the account administrator add extra forms of messaging to a setting. Examples are
- To send additional text message reminders
- To send additional letter reminders
- To send post-appointment text messages
- To send post-appointment letters
Additional messages can be configured to be sent before or after an appointment.
Appointment Types and Reminders
Appointment Types can now be given a default reminder setting. This means when making an appointment, choosing the appointment type can auto-select the reminder setting.
This is for diarybook set ups that have different reminder settings loosely based on the type of appointment.
For example: Choose appointment type Eye Test can auto-select the reminder setting Eye Test reminder
This feature has also being added to the appointments screen of the Desktop version
Blocked Times
When adding blocked times warnings are issued if the times being blocked already have appointments.
Blocked times now have the options of me, all or some. When choosing some an additional box allows you to select which users will be affected by the blocked time.
Reports
A new column has been added to reports APP001 and APP002 - end time - giving the end-time of the appointment
A new appointments report (APP004) - appointments and statistical analysis detailed
A new room usage report (APP005b) which is designed to compare durations of rooms booked with a breakdown of appointments marked completed versus not
Letters
When uploading Word .docx files for letter generation, diarybook will now run a check on the merge fields and give immediate feedback if it detects a problem with the letter.