worshipplanning.com Update Log - Feature Update

More Great News About File Uploads

Thu, 20 May 2010 01:31:00 -0400

A week or so ago we rolled out the multi-file upload feature. We didn't want to mention at the time, but that update was a precursor to an exciting announcement: Paid subscribers now have unlimited storage space for file uploads. You read that correctly: unlimited! Here is a screen shot of our new pricing page. This change is already in effect for all current accounts not in trial, so enjoy!

Multi-File Uploads....here at last!

Tue, 11 May 2010 02:10:00 -0400

We know this has been a bottleneck for some churches wanting to get their libraries in WP fleshed out. Well, tonight we updated the WP with a new file-upload interface that allows you to queue up multiple files and upload them in one fell swoop. Also, we streamlined the process for attaching files to elements in WP. If you know you need to upload the file from your computer (as opposed to attaching a previously uploaded one), you no longer are forced to open the page where all your previously uploaded files were listed. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

WP Version 3.9 Update and iPhone App Status

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:45:00 -0400

WP Version 3.9 Update and iPhone App Status Greetings WP'ers! It has been a little while since we've posted an update, but that certainly doesn't mean we haven't been busy. This Sunday night (April 18th) we will update WorshipPlanning.com to version 3.9. There are a couple significant changes you will notice right away, and many other subtle changes that will simply make your experience using WP smoother. The biggest change Planners will notice is an extremely helpful menu system that makes getting to the pages you need quick and efficient. For those with the proper security settings, creating a service, series, or new Planner account is always just one click away. The other significant change we made was to the worship pages (flow, roles, etc.). Our goal for this page was to more efficiently and intuitively use the space on the page. Rather than describe the changes, take a look at the screenshot below. This shows one of the menus opened (when you hover over the Service navigation link), as well as how we've cleaned up one of the worship pages. The space above the worship tabs is now more efficiently used to show the general service info. We also pushed the date/time/location of the service into the top blue banner. The left side now has the clickable calendar opened by default, and the various team panels listed below. And, by the way, if you are using Internet Explorer, many of the nice rounded corners you see in this screenshot will appear squared off. That's simply a limitation of IE (and one of the many reasons we recommend using FireFox or Chrome). Here is a few other enhancements we made that might interest you: - Planners can now indicate their own skills
- Helpers can specify their own profile picture
- Fixed a number of graphic design inconsistencies
- Fixed a number of mixed term references (i.e. "finalized" vs. "locked")
- Improved process by which user passwords are changed (more intuitive and secure)
For those looking ahead, let me share with you a few things in the development cycle right now. First, we are nearly done with a feature update that will allow Planners to upload multiple files at once. We are also working on some very cool enhancements to the Songs Library page(s), which will include the ability to create "sub-libraries" of songs. This should make finding and organizing songs much easier and personalized. Finally (as in, that last one I am going to mention here), we are looking into making mobile versions of MyWP available for Android and Blackberry devices. For an update on the iPhone app we've developed, read on.... iPhone App Status
Most of you know we have developed and beta tested an iPhone app for WorshipPlanning.com. We had great feedback from the gracious folks that were willing to help us make the app the best it could be (for version 1.0). The app was submitted to Apple for review on March 24, and it is still officially "in review" by their app development review team. This review stage is taking longer than we expected, though it is still well within the "typical" timeframe, according to Apple. We suspect the cause for delay might be the influx of iPad apps they now have to review. As soon as we learn more about our app's approval status, we'll certainly pass that information along to you.

WorshipPlanning.com Site Updates - Version 3.8

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:17:00 -0400

This evening we updated WorshipPlanning.com to version 3.8, and we're quite excited to share with you what these updates include. So, let's get right to it. Helpers can view ALL services - If authorized, any of your Helpers can now access service details of all services, not just the ones for which he or she is scheduled. This includes worship flow, assignments, virtual stage, files, and printouts. Authorization is granted on the page where you add/edit the Helper's information (People >> Helpers tab >> add/edit icon). We've added a checkbox that says 'Can view all services (including ones not scheduled for).' By default, no Helpers have this checkbox checked. Worship Flow Edits Improved - If your duties include modifying the worship flow, you'll notice a nice improvement to the way you add and edit worship elements. The worship detail fields now appear on a small pop-up window on the worship flow page. We've also changed the dropdown fields to have an 'auto complete' behavior (so you can simply start typing the desired entry, and WP will attempt to auto complete your text). Plus, we have put the Extra Notes on the same pop-up window, reducing the number of clicks needed to get all your information entered. MyWP Home and Assignments - As we posted in our blog last week (http://blog.worshipplanning.com), we have redesigned the main page used by Helpers. The redesign makes it much easier for Helpers to access the information they need. We've also included a calendar view (that shows by default if they have no pending assignment requests), and some quick links on the home page to frequently accessed functionality, like team files, password changes, and adding text/email alerts. And our video tutorials have been updated, so anyone can always check there (or contact us) should questions arrise. If you'd like to see the updates to MyWP for yourself, you can do so by logging in to http://my.worshipplanning.com using your email address and WP password. One last thing I want to mention is that our Worship Flow page improvements are really Phase 1 of some exciting plans we have. Phase 2 will likely include drag and drop of people and (hopefully) songs into worship elements. We also know some churches need down-to-the-second tracking of element durations. We anticipate including that in Phase 2 as well. If you have any questions of issues with these new features, be sure to let us know via our support site: http://support.worshipplanning.com.

A Little Love for the Helpers

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:14:00 -0400

In the next week or so, we will be rolling out a major update to the MyWP site that we think your volunteers will really love. I'll detail it out more in a blog post the evening we roll it out, but here are the highlights, plus a little screenshot to whet your appetite.

Fancy calendar that shows their assignments and rehearsals.
Cleaner assignments page with much more intuitive access to service and team information.
Default worship flow display with Extra Notes for the Helper showing by default.
(and this is a BIG one) Ability for authorized Helpers to view services details of ALL services.

We are in the last phase of testing, so keep an eye on our Twitter, Facebook, and Blog updates for when we roll it out. And we plan on updating our video tutorials in time for the roll-out as well.

WP iPhone App...Testers Wanted

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:53:00 -0400

Our iPhone app is oh so close to Testing phase. If you are interested in helping test and being the first to use this slick extension of WorshipPlanning.com, we invite you to sign up now using the link at the bottom of this post. Here are answers to a few questions you might have: Q: Can anyone be a tester?
A: We have a few requirements.

Own an iPhone or iPod Touch.
Have a Planner or Helper account with a church that is currently subscribed to WorshipPlanning.com (no trial accounts).
Be willing to give us feedback on the app.
We are also putting a limit on the number of testers, so if you want to sign up, don't dilly dally.

Q: When will the app be ready to install?
A: We are hoping around the middle of February. Q: How long will the test phase last?
A: It depends on the kind of feedback we get. Ideally, a month of testing would be nice. But if our testers find many things we need to fix for the first public release, it could be longer. Q: How will I provide feedback on my experiences?
A: A few times throughout the test phase we will create some brief online surveys using our 360WP site. If you need immediate support, or just can't wait to give us your thoughts, we'll ask that you use our Support Center (http://support.worshipplanning.com) to contact us. Q: What can I do with the app?
A: The app offers most of the functionality of the MyWP pages: view services, respond to assignments, access contact info of team members, download (some) files. If you find it is missing functionality you'd like on your mobile device, let us know. We plan on updating the app on a pretty regular basis. Q: What happens after the test phase?
A: Once we certify the public release version as being ready, we will submit it to the App Store. Current estimates for app approval by Apple are up to 3 weeks. Q: Will the app cost anything from the App Store?
A: No, the app will be free. Of course, it will only be useful to people with accounts in WP. Q: Will trial accounts be able to use the App Store version?
A: Yes. Q: Once I sign up to be a tester, what will happen next?
A: When the app is ready for you to install, we'll email you a couple of files and the instructions on how to install it (using iTunes 9). Then, you'll need to take an old ball cap, write "Quality Assurance Tester" on the front of it, and wear it whenever you run the app. iPhone Tester Sign-up Page

More (and shorter) video tutorials

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:54:00 -0400

As promised, we have added a few helpful items to Worship Planning support, both on our support site (http://support.worshipplanning.com) and within the main and My WP sites. All have centered around video tutorial improvements. In the main and My WP sites, we have broken down many of the large (8+ minute) videos to shorter ones that allow you to jump straight to the "how to" information you need. This is especially helpful for new team leaders and volunteers as they try to figure things out. On the Support site, the tutorial page shows a complete listing of all the videos. But, we have also created video "tracks" that allow Helpers and Planners easily walk through a set of videos to learn about certainly functionality of the site. Right now we have only 3 tracks, but we will certainly be adding more. Also, when you perform a search on the support site, the results now include a list of relevant videos that you might find helpful. Our goal is to make it very easy for everyone, including team leaders and volunteers, to use the site. Got feedback on how? Post a comment and let us know!

Improved People Availability System

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:46:00 -0400

Last night we updated the site with a significant improvement to the People Availability feature (where Planners and Helpers block off days they cannot serve). Prior to this update, people could only only block off the AM and/or PM hours of a given day, one day at a time. With this new update, Planners and Helpers will be able to mark themselves unavailable for: - Specific services (whether or not the services have been created in WP) - Time range within a single day (i.e. Jan 3, 9:30am >> 3:30pm) - Time range across multiple days (i.e. Jan 2 - 6:15pm >> Jan 5 - 11am) - Inclusive date range (Jan 1 >> Jan 8) As before, Planners with a high enough security level can change the availability of Helpers and other Planners. But we have also added to the Teams page an "availability" tab that displays a calendar of dates/times/services blocked by team members. Only team leaders have access to see their team's availability calendar. Team leaders also have the ability to change the availability of their team members, regardless of security level. In the next few days, we plan on adding some enhancements to our support pages, as well as more video tutorials to assist team leaders and helpers with using the site. That will probably be our last enhancement update until the new year. With Christmas just a few weeks away, we want to avoid the risk of creating new bugs or issues with the site. We continue to develop a mobile version of WP that will be a native app for iPhone, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Android, and Symbian devices. We also are working on some exciting improvements to the Songs Library and Worship Flow pages. Stay tuned for more info....

Secondary Email and SMS Text Messaging

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:12:00 -0400

This evening we applied an update to the WorshipPlanning.com site that has been frequently requested. Planners and Helpers can now receive WP communications through multiple email address and/or text message numbers. On your Account Settings page, you can add additional channels of communication, and specify which types of communications should be sent to each channel. The image below shows an example of a Planner that has one secondary email and one text message number set up. Notice that the Primary email address ALWAYS receives the message, regardless of the type of communication. But each secondary channel can be individually configured based on the type of message being sent:

Assignment Notification
Assignment Response Notification (Planners only)
Message Board Updates
Service Changes
General Team Communications
User Account Updates

When a secondary channel is added, WP will send a short confirmation code via the new channel. Once received, the Planner/Helper will need click the "confirm" link and enter that code. This will activate that channel. Messages sent to secondary email addresses will be exact copies of what is sent to the primary email address. However, messages sent to text message numbers will be very abbreviated in attempt to keep the message all in a single text message. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to post a comment here or contact us via our support site (http://support.worshipplanning.com).

New Worship Flow Printout and Roles/Skills Tool

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:40:00 -0400

As the busy time of year approaches (one them, anyway), we are continuing to work very hard at providing you new enhancements and functionality to the site. To get these new features to you as quickly as possible, we try to update the site as soon as they pass our testing process (as opposed to waiting for a bunch of them to be ready before do the update). This evening we made a couple of quick updates, and have a few more coming in the next few days. Tonight we added another Worship Flow printout style; one that has been requested by a few folks. The style is called "Flow and Assignments". The top part of the page is similar to the Standard printout, except with better use of page space and zebra row shading. The bottom part of the page shows the service details/notes on the left side, and assignment lists of your team(s). The other update we made can be seen by clicking on the People navigation link. You will notice a new tab called "Roles/Skills". This new tab has taken the place of the Roles page linked from the Admin page. What's more, you can now click on the role name itself and a window will open showing the role details AND a list of your people that have that role specified as a skill. Stay tuned for more feature updates in the next few days (possibly a week)....

So...Where have you guys been?

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:07:00 -0400

Despite the lack of activity on our blog and twitter accounts, we have been quite busy with both development efforts and marketing campaigns. And on both fronts, we feel we're making great progress.

From a development perspective, we have one feature nearing the end of selective-church testing, and another feature that is in the middle of internal testing. The former is our Assignments Auto Reminder feature. Each team can be set up to have WP automatically send a reminder email to members that are assigned to an upcoming service. Team Leaders can specify the number of days prior to the service that the message should be sent, as well as the message subject and body.

The other feature will allow Helpers and Planners to add "channels of communication" to their account. Currently you can only have a single email address associated with your account in WP. This feature allows you to add additional email addresses, and even text message phone numbers. What's more, you can specify the types of communication you'd like sent to each secondary communication channel. We hope to add Twitter and Facebook direct messaging as communication channels, but for the time being we've run into some API limitations with each of those systems.

So, what else is in the hopper? We have started laying the ground work for mobile and Facebook versions of WP. There is an effort afoot to make the process of building worship flows a little more intuitive. Also, 360WP will soon be getting a face-lift. And, of course, we have several other initiatives that we are yet ready to share. But it continues to be exciting times for both our staff AND our subscribers!

Updates Applied on Aug 30

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:47:00 -0400

Yesterday evening we applied a performance update to the Team Scheduling page (where people scheduling for all future services is displayed) that should be quite noticable, especially for churches that have many teams and/or many future services scheduled. The enhancement should render the entire page within a couple of seconds, rather than a couple services at a time over the period of 10 seconds or so. For those curious, we did this by changing our code to generate most of the HTML on our server, rather than passing raw data and asking the browser to process and render the HTML. We also made a small tweak to our database that helped optimize the way data is retrieved. With this update we also made two non-critical fixes. First, if a Helper marked himself as unavailable for a day that he had already been penciled in by a Planner, the Planner would not know of this change in availability and be able to schedule the person. To handle this, we now do a check for penciled-in assignments as the person marks a day as unavailable. If a conflict is found, the penciled-in assignment is changed to status Declined, with a note stating that the person has recently marked that day as unavailable. The other issue fixed was that the file description in MyWP was missing on some pages. That description now shows as it should. We are continuing to add many video tutorials to the site. Just look for the "Video Tutorial" link on the left side of pages in WP. We hope to soon index these in such a way that they can be easily searched on our support center.

Quick Update on What's Coming

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:39:00 -0400

Since it has been a few weeks, I wanted to post a quick update on what what will be in the next update to WP (currently scheduled for this coming Sunday night).

From a feature-perspective, we'll be rolling out improvements to the team management pages. Managing team members, team roles, and default roles will work just like scheduling people, as far as the interface goes. You'll be able to drag and drop said elements onto your team in a familiar fashion.

Our update will also include more video tutorials, as well as a few account configuration "tracks". The tracks will trigger automatically when you try to perform a task that your account hasn't been set up for yet. For example, if you try to create a service and don't have worship flow template defined, WP will help you create a template before creating the service. The configuration tracks will be most helpful for churches new to WP, though if you have never created a team or added additional people, these tracks will be helpful to you also.

We are planning to start regularly occurring "webinar" sessions that cover various topics. Probably the first topic we cover will be on managing teams and scheduling people. If you have any ideas for other topics, feel free to post a comment with your suggestion.

SPAM Button Trigger Finger

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:59:00 -0400

As churches start to really use the people scheduling and team features, more and more volunteers are getting emails that originate from WP. By the strictest definition of the word, these emails might be considered spam because they are often unsolicited. But 99.999% of all emails sent from WP are actually team leader/member initiated and pertain to the recipient's church or team.

Nonetheless, the increase of emails can make recipients want to click the "Mark as Spam" button in their mail software. While doing so might stop the emails from showing up in their inboxes, it can have a negative effect that is much more widespread. In fact, a couple Internet service providers have blacklisted emails sent from WorshipPlanning.com because enough of their customers have marked messages sent from WP as spam (even though the emails were initiated by their team leaders/members). We have since been removed from those lists, but our fear is that this could be an increasing problem in the future.

So, to help deter recipients from flagging WP messages as spam, we are making a change to the subject line. We considered changing the subject to be "SPAM Check:Safe", "Very Important Message", "Message From The President", or "Please, Please, Please Read This!". But in the end, we decide the best thing is to simply add the name of the church to the front of the subject. So, updates to message boards will have a subject like: "-Grace Church- New WP Discussion Post". Our hope is that recipients will be less inclined to flag something as spam if they easily see the message is related specifically to their church.

We plan on implementing this change the evening of August 2nd. If you have any feedback regarding this issue, feel free to leave a comment.

Improved Privacy, Creating a Series, and a New Home Page

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:40:00 -0400

Last night we rolled out three new updates that we want to tell you about.

Privacy Settings
Lately we have had several requests to give Helpers and Planners some options on restricting who can see their contact information. As of this morning, both Helpers and Planners can now set one of three levels of privacy for his/her contact info: 1) Visible to all Helpers (within church account) 2) Visible only to Helpers that are teammates 3) Not visible to any Helpers. This setting can be change by clicking on the "account settings" link in the upper right area of most pages in WP (and myWP). The default setting is "Visible to all Helpers" since that is the equivalent of what it has been in the past. Administrators can also adjust this setting when adding or editing Helpers and Planners. It is important to note that Planners can always view the contact information of fellow Planners and all Helpers.

Creating a Series
Updates to this page make it even easier to create a series of services. One really nice feature is the ability to skip weeks mid-series, if desired. We also added a 3 minute video tutorial right on the Create a Series page. Just look for the Video Tutorial icon on the far left side of the page.

New Home Page
We are really excited about this enhancement. Because it is still in the final testing phase, you have to click on a link at the bottom of the current Home page to see the new one. But we think you'll be very happy with the improvements. There is even a pretty nifty calendar! If you have any feedback you'd like to give us on this page, feel free to let us know.