In our Easter 2017 release we have fixed some minor bugs:

a - 29/10/16 - reveals the EMAIL field in the client details windows

b - 29/10/16 - Adding a group event had some sporadic issues with the client drop down selection.

c - 17/04/17 - Group events were not showing in either the Calendar View or the Printer Friendly View.

This latest release brings the ability of adding multiple clients to an appointment speeding up the addition of group sessions such as classes. In the appointment window check out the Client List tab. Here you can add extra client names to the appointment or even add in bulk from a client group.

In the appointments list you get one entry for a group event. But take a closer look and you'll see a magnifier icon beside the pencil icon. Clicking this opens the group event showing you a list of participants and a summary screen for confirmation metrics.

Enjoy!

Version 7.4 of DiaryBook has just been released with one major enhancement (automatic voice reminders) and some very useful minor enhancements.

Automatic Voice Reminders

As well as being able to remind your clients of their appointments by email and SMS text, you can now get DiaryBook to automatically call your client's landline and speak the appointment details to them.

As with text reminders, you can pick the number of days before the appointment the reminder should occur. Another similarity is the ability (optional) of the client to feedback and confirm their attendance (by pressing 1 on their keypad) or signal that they are unable to attend (pressing 3 on their keypad).

The reminder itself has two parts to it. The first part is a recording of your own voice saying the who, where and how of the appointment. The second part is text-to-speech where DiaryBook's voice speaks the actual appointment details such as the day, date and time.

You can make as many recordings as necessary to accommodate different scenarios such as appointment types, locations and users.

You can also be more vague in situations like home visits where the time of the visit is not as predictable.

Appointments List

The appointments list now shows a pencil icon in each row. Clicking on the icon opens the appointment window to edit. This is a shortcut to highlighting the appointment and clicking the pencil icon in the toolbar. It is also a way to accommodate further icons for future enhancements.

The appointment row will show a green, yellow or red background to each row depending on feedback from the client on confirmation or cancellation of an appointment to make it easier to view.

When viewing appointments for a particular date in the future the default date in the New Appointment window will synchronise.

Any blocked times will also show in the appointment list and will display properly in the calendar views.

Using Multiple Accounts

Previously users who had profiles on more than one DiaryBook account had to have separate email addresses and passwords to sign in.

Now users can have the same sign-in credentials and use the Switch feature to jump from one DiaryBook account to another. Please note that the DiaryBook accounts are still separate and that this feature is a shortcut for moving between them.

Unable To Attend (UTA)
"Unable To Attend" is a new appointment status for those who need to differentiate between a client who is cancelling their treatments (discharging) and a client who is cancelling a single appointment slot to be rescheduled.

DiaryBook will use UTA instead of CANCELLED when a client does a negative feedback (using text reply, email link or voice keypad input).

Appointment Statistics Report
There is now a detailed statistics report that can give a summary of all appointments in a given date range with totals by department.

When adding or editing a user you can specify if that user is a Service Provider. Only users that are Service Providers can have appointments made against their name.

This means when making an appointment you will only see Service Providers in the list and not a list of all the users including admin staff. It is a way of tidying the list.

Users who are not service providers can continue to make appointments for other service providers.

In addition Blocked Out Times can now be accessed by users that do not have administrator privileges to manage their own times only.

Please email support@diarybook.com if you have any queries about this release.

#7.3.4

We don't write information on every DiaryBook update as many of them are quite small and have little or no affect on your work. However, update 7.3.4 is worth mentioning as it introduced another minor but useful feature. You can now specify how client names are displayed in the list of appointments [firstname, lastname] or [lastname, firstname].

You have to dig deep to find this option. Open your user profile, scroll the tabs at the top of the window to the right until you see the Advanced User Settings. Click on that and find the ClientFirstLast setting.

The reminder service can be tested without registration or payment. Simply visit the site and choose a reminder template. You'll be given 1 free credit. Simply enter in your mobile phone and click Send. Done.

After your free test you can choose to register and receive another 5 free credits for further testing.

1 appointment reminder costs 1 DB Credit.

From special offers on the website to regular promotions on our Facebook and Twitter feeds our users can easily keep their messaging costs down.

The simplicty of the new website belies the rich collection of features and appointment management capabilities of DiaryBook. To access these open up DiaryBook Clinic from the user menu.

Previously the allow-double-booking option would override all time checks relating to the practitioner and any resources.

Now, however, the allow double-booking option no longer relates to blocked times. An appointment cannot be made that overlaps a blocked time for a user.

This change has been made as a request from one of our users and we agree that it makes sense. Thanks for your input.

Please email support@diarybook.com if you have any queries about this release.

This version introduces some great new features as well as some changes to the rules to improve both the efficiency and usability of the service.

Book Multiple Resources

Each appointment can now attach to multiple resources thereby blocking those resources from being booked by another user. Resources can include anything but usually are rooms and equipment.

When making an appointment the resources drop-down will show your usual list but now you can make multiple selections by ticking the ones you need.

In your appointments list the RESOURCE column is now RESOURCES and will list resources used for each appointment.

Appointments List

As well as the column change mentioned above there is a new column - End. This shows the end time of each appointment. It is the appointment time + the appointment duration.

Time Increments

When making an appointment the Time field is a drop-down list of time slots. By default these are in 5 minute increments. This can be customized for each user to be any increment such as 10, 15 20, 30 and 60 minutes.

To change your increment

• Click the pencil icon next to the times on the appointment window
• In the Time Increment menu select the new time increment
• Click Save

Double-Booking Rules

Double-booking will no longer work in all circumstances. A user and/or resources can still be double-booked but only if the user making the new appointment is the same user that created the existing appointment(s) too.

Minor changes

• END column shows end-time of appointment
• Status bar in appointment windows shows who created the appointment and when
• The compose window clears down after each Send
• Some logo and colour changes

Please email support@diarybook.com if you have any queries about this release.

Sending SMS Texts

Email to SMS

Use your email to instantly send text messages through Iflow's email gateway. Avoids any software installation.

Web Portal

Sign in to Iflow online to compose and send your texts to individuals or groups.

Message Centre 7

Install MC7 for Windows and send texts to individuals, groups and marketing lists.

Receiving SMS Texts

SMS to Email

Receive texts direct to your email inbox. Email is great for 2-way conversations.

Message Centre 7

Popup notifications of new messages and new conversation view in your inbox.

Web Portal

Sign in to Iflow online to view all your received messages.

Sending Faxes

Email to Fax

Use your email to instantly send fax documents including pdf, Word and Excel attachments.

Message Centre 7

Print your Windows document to MC7's fax printer driver.

Receiving Faxes

Fax to Email

Receive faxes direct to your email inbox in PDF format. Optional text alerts and password protection.

Message Centre 7

Download pdf faxes from your inbox

Web Portal

Sign in to Iflow online to view all your received messages.

Email Campaigns

Message Centre 7

Send your campaigns with MC7 with optional attachments, link analysis and opt-out management.

Marketing List Managements

Message Centre 7

Import marketing lists for SMS, email and faxing from Excel, text files, Google and Outlook accounts.

Download Message Centre 7 here

Our services are moving forward and keeping up-to-date with the latest technologies and unfortunately MC4 cannot keep up with the fast changing pace.

New Software

Message Centre 7 is the latest major version of our software and is available to download here or from your Iflow Dashboard online. It is still in beta mode (the techie way of saying we're still improving it) but we have had some of you field testing it for us. Unfortunately MC4 users cannot upgrade to MC7. We recommend you uninstall MC4 then download and install MC7.

Of course our support staff are available to help you through the process and to show you around the new software. We'd love to hear your feedback.