One of the things we’re really proud of is the extensive sources of help we make available to our customers.
This includes complete both online help documentation and downlodable and printable manuals (in PDF format). We also have a host of easy to follow, step-by-step video tutorials. Furthermore, we’ve complied an extensive Knowledge Base containing answers to many common questions.
In the addition to this wealth of self-help resources, for the forthcoming release of MIDAS v4.16, we’re also adding an optional “Quick Tour” of the user interface within MIDAS itself:
Upon the very first login by a user to MIDAS, they’ll be presented with an option to take a quick tour.
The Quick Tour will outline all the key elements to their MIDAS screen, which they can step through at their own pace.
The tour will also describe the function of each toolbar icon that’s available to the user.
The Quick Tour can be closed at any point, and won’t be shown again the next time the user logs in.
Initially, the Quick Tour will only be available to new users running MIDAS under one of the English language variations. It will also only be shown on Tablet, Laptop, or Desktop devices. It won’t currently be shown on very small mobile device screens.
We’ve made a number of improvements for the upcoming v4.16 release of our MIDAS software when it comes to importing data from 3rd party calendars/booking systems, namely:
1) Faster importing of CSV data
We’ve managed to significantly improve the import speed of CSV data, which in previous versions could become very slow/sluggish depending upon a combination of settings in MIDAS and the amount of data being imported
2) Improved CSV support
MIDAS v4.16 now better handles instances where CSV data fields themselves contained a record delimiting character.
For example, take the following CSV (Comma Separated Values) line:
Item 1,Item 2,Item 3,"Item 4a, Item 4b",Item 5
Previously MIDAS would incorrectly analyze the 4th item as being two separate data items, “Item 4a” and “Item 4b”, instead of a single data record.
This behavior is now corrected when importing data into MIDAS v4.16.
3) Support for importing bookings with resources
Until now, whilst you could import bookings into MIDAS, it was not possible to “map” data – including resources – to the resources database within MIDAS.
We’ve addressed this for v4.16 and you can import resources along within your booking data.
To be able to import resources along with your bookings, you’ll need to ensure that your resource data falls within a single “column” in your CSV data file. MIDAS will then parse this data and attempt to determine the applicable resource and quantity.
For example, if you wish to import a booking which has two laptops and one data projector assigned to it, your CSV data field for this should be in one of the following supported formats:
“2 Laptop, 1 Projector”
“2 Laptop; 1 Projector”
“x2 Laptop, x1 Projector”
“x2 Laptop; x1 Projector”
“2x Laptop, 1x Projector”
“2x Laptop; 1x Projector”
“2No. Laptop, 1No. Projector”
“2No. Laptop; 1No. Projector”
Click here to continue reading about some of the other new & improved features coming in MIDAS v4.16!
If you follow our blog, you’ll already be aware of some of the exciting new features on the horizon with MIDAS v4.16. Our previous post looked at new filter options when it comes to generating printouts of your bookings.
We’re also adding a similar filter when it comes to generating invoices from your bookings:
Advanced Invoice Generation Filter
This provides additional flexibility to allow you to only generate invoices which include bookings that match specific filter criteria.
For example, as per the screenshot above, you can generate invoices only for bookings which have more than ten attendees.
The advanced filter allows you to choose a booking field (including any custom booking fields you’ve set up), select a match type, and enter a match string.
Match types available include:
Equals – Will include bookings where the selected booking field’s value exactly matches the string you enter.
Does Not Equal – Will include bookings where the selected booking field’s value doesn’t exactly match the string you enter.
Contains – Will include bookings where the selected booking field’s value contains an occurrence of the string you enter.
Does Not Contain – Will include bookings where the selected booking field’s value contains no occurrences of the string you enter.
Begins With – Will include bookings where the selected booking field’s value begins with the string you enter.
Ends With – Will include bookings where the selected booking field’s value ends with the string you enter.
Is Greater Than – Will include bookings where the selected booking field’s numeric value is higher than the value you enter.
Is Less Than – Will include bookings where the selected booking field’s numeric value is higher than the value you enter.
These powerful new filter options for both printout and invoice generation offer a whole new level of flexibility to your MIDAS system, and we’re sure they’ll be put to great use by our customers!
Click here to continue reading about some of the other new & improved features coming in MIDAS v4.16!
We’re adding a couple of cool new features to the print functionality in MIDAS for the next release of our web based room booking and resource scheduling software, v4.16.
New Advanced Print Filter
MIDAS already features a wealth of advanced print options. These may be accessed by right/long clicking the “Print” toolbar icon. They include the ability to print bookings over a custom date range and limit printouts of bookings to only include those taking place in certain venues or which are of specific booking types.
For v4.16, we’re adding an additional “Advanced Filter”:
This will allow you to only include bookings within your printout that match (or not) the value of certain fields. You can also match against any custom booking fields you’ve set up. You’ll be able to select a booking field from a drop-down list, select a match type, and a match string.
Match types available include:
Equals – Will include bookings where the selected booking field’s value exactly matches the string you enter
Does Not Equal – Will include bookings where the selected booking field’s value doesn’t exactly matches the string you enter
Contains – Will include bookings where the selected booking field’s value contains an occurrence of the string you enter
Does Not Contain – Will include bookings where the selected booking field’s value contains no occurrences of the string you enter
Begins With – Will include bookings where the selected booking field’s value begins with the string you enter
Ends With – Will include bookings where the selected booking field’s value ends with the string you enter
Is Greater Than – Will include bookings where the selected booking field’s numeric value is higher than the value you enter
Is Less Than – Will include bookings where the selected booking field’s numeric value is higher than the value you enter
So, for example, you could generate a printout which only includes booking where there are more than 10 people attending. Or you could generate a printout which excludes any bookings that have “exclude from printing” in their booking notes, etc.
A “Case Sensitive” option is also available allowing you to optionally make string matches case-sensitive.
But that’s not all….
Limit Resource Category When Printing Bookings With Resources In “Grid” Layouts
The Advanced Print settings window in MIDAS allows you to choose between two different print layouts – a “table” layout and a “grid” layout.
If “grid” layout is selected, bookings are printed in a “grid”, with venues listed vertically, and each date shown across the horizontal axis. You can further specify a field you’d like to be shown within each grid cell. For instance, selecting “Booking Types” would create a printout indicating the types of bookings taking place in your venues over the selected date range.
The ability to select “Resources” as the field to show on these printouts has long been available. However, for v4.16 we’ve also introduced “Resources (Equipment)”, “Resources (Consumables)” and “Resources (Staffing)” options, allowing you to further drill-down the resources on your print-outs.
These new options provide a some great new possibilities! For example, selecting a “Resources (Staffing)” grid printout, will generate a printout of which venues, dates, and times your staff are assigned to.
Click here to continue reading about some of the other new & improved features coming in MIDAS v4.16!
