How Can I Create A Work Schedule Program?

November 27, 2007 7:02 AM

Need advice on how to make a work schedule... possibly writing a program?

I'm a school librarian. I have to make a new schedule every month for classes to come visit the library. I have to work these classes around not only myself, but the classes' lunch times, PE classes, music classes, etc.

As of now I have the school lunch schedule on one sheet, other classes on another, etc. Long story short, it takes me 2,000 years to plan a schedule every month. (Also other things come up such as field trips, etc. that I have to work around.)

So. Is there a simpler, technology-based way to do this? I was thinking a basic program that has all the info in it that would show a conflict as I go along (It would need to be a VERY basic program, as I'm computer savvy but know very little about programming). I'm not limiting myself to just this avenue... I'm open to any suggestion, as long as I can do it on a computer. I have access to all MS Office apps.

posted by miltoncat to computers & internet (3 comments total)

Outlook does this. Enter each party's relevant schedule and then set up appointments with the library. You will be notified of conflicts.

Let me know if you want specifics. I teach Outlook, and use it myself all the time.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:09 AM on November 27, 2007

Seconding Outlook (or maybe even Google Calendar). I've used Outlook to schedule desk services in my library for years.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:18 AM on November 27, 2007

1. Sign up for Google Calendar.
2. Setup multiple calendars in Google Calendar, one for each class plus one for your hours/events.
3. Select different colours for each class.
4. Enter events/schedules in each class' respective calendar
Then you can activate/deactivate individual class-calendars to make their events appear and disappear. When every class is activated you should see what common free time exists.
posted by KevCed at 8:31 AM on November 27, 2007