Friday 1 March 2013

Multiple entries in the same time slot

Calendars cells can be either mutually exclusive or allow intersection between plans.  Most lesson planning packages have mutually exclusive cells.  I think they should allow intersection.  Here's why.

1.    Real life doesn't nicely partition events.  Overlapping is common.  For instance, you have duty periods during your lunch break.
2.    Bulk copying of records isn't possible with mutually exclusive cells.  Where are the copied plans going to go?  You don't want new records replacing existing records or new records inserting themselves into the display.  Instead they must go into a holding area from where they must be individually assigned to a new time slot.
3.    Being able to duplicate records in the same cell can have real advantages as previously noted when using Rotating Schedules.
4.    Template copying relies on record duplication.  If you want to copy a new record from an existing one its much easier to take a complete copy of the record and then delete the parts you don't want, than to cut and paste to make up a new record.

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