What's new with PT Conference Maker v11

What's new with PT Conference Maker v11?

Note from John Kirn, lead developer at Graphtech for PT Conference Maker...

This is PT Conference Maker's eleventh year in development- Happy birthday PTCM!

Every year I implement many new PTCM features, making it more intuitive and easier to use. In most cases these new features were requests from the schools already using PTCM. We welcome this feedback, as it has helped grow PTCM into the robust solution that it is today.

As usual, I have made numerous major changes and feature enhancements to PTCM this year. Below are my notes on what's new with PT Conference Maker v11, with those that I feel are more significant listed first.

-John Kirn
-Graphtech Systems

Ability to add multiple teacher breaks

PTCM v11 adds a new feature to the Advanced Admin Menu, that allows you to create a uniform break for up to 10 teachers at a time.

Ability to create team conference for non-enrolled teachers

Previously the Create a New Team Conference feature in the Advanced Admin Menu only allowed you to create a team conference if the student was enrolled in the same course with multiple teachers. PTCM v11 adds the option to override this after selecting the teachers, and instead type in a Course ID you want the team conference created for.

Easier to manipulate conferences for multiple students using Admin Module

When viewing multiple student schedules in the Admin Module, PTCM v11 adds a new feature that makes creating and deleting conferences for each displayed student much easier. When this feature is checked, each student has additional create/delete conference buttons, which open in new windows. After creating/deleting a conference, this new window can be closed, returning you to the multiple students schedules which can be updated using a Refresh button.

Ability to modify student password

PTCM v11 adds a new feature to the Admin Module, that allows you to modify a student's PTCM password.

Printer friendly teacher schedules

For those schools who allow teachers to login into the Admin Module, PTCM v11 adds a new feature allowing teachers to open their schedules in a printer friendly window.

Option to hide parent name in Teacher Schedule Printout Generator

For those schools who require parents to identify themselves, PTCM v11 adds an option to hide these parent's names when using the Teacher Schedule Printout Generator in the Admin Module.

Improved data resetting

Previously when uploading data in the Implementation Module, if you elected to reset your data and return to step 6, the data was not actually flushed out until you uploaded new CSV files. This had the side effect of allowing you to continue to use the PTCM Admin Module, which confused several schools. PTCM v11 now flushes out your data as soon as you confirm you want to reset your data and return to step 6.

Parent email address verification

PTCM v11 adds a feature that validates email addresses entered by parents, if the parent elects to email their confirmed schedule to themselves. This will prevent emails not being delivered due to parents accidentally entering an invalid address (missing the at sign or period).

Student ID/Number space at end bug fixed

The bug has been fixed where if a parent entered a Student ID/Number with a space at the end, the system will no longer allow the parents continue, and subsequently get an error after selecting teachers to meet with.

CSV download single apostrophe bug fixed

The bug has been fixed where when downloading CSV files from the Teacher Schedule Printout Generator in the Admin Module, names containing single apostrophes are now listed properly.

CSV open slot times bug fixed

The bug has been fixed where when downloading CSV files from the Teacher Schedule Printout Generator in the Admin Module, empty slot times are now listed properly if the option to include open slot times is selected.

Joomla log out bug fixed

For schools who have Joomla based websites, the log out buttons in the parent module now redirect to your school's homepage properly.

Email line break bug fixed

All emails sent from PTCM now default to Unix line breaks, which are more universally accepted by most email clients, providing an easier to read email with proper line breaks.

Parent letter helper

PTCM v11 adds a section to the Implementation Module's parent letter step, that displays the previously provided registration window and conference days/times. This makes it easier to verify your parent letter has the exact same information that was entered into the Implementation Module.

Spring conferences survey

When setting up your school's info in the Implementation Module in the Fall, PTCM v11 adds a question if you'll be using PTCM in the Spring. The answer to this question will help Graphtech expedite setting up Spring PTCM Implementations.

Focus added to Admin Module login

PTCM v11 now defaults to the username field when opening the Admin Module login page.

Graphtech support option simplified

If your school did not pay Graphtech to provide parent helpdesk support the during last season you used PTCM, the question is no longer asked is you will be paying Grapthech for support in the Implementation Module.

Graphtech support number change

If your school is paying Graphtech to provide parent helpdesk support, our helpdesk number is no longer listed after your registration window closes, and is instead replaced with the number entered for "who should Grapthech direct parents to call at your school if our helpdesk is not able to answer their questions?" during the implementation process.