Download the app to your device through the app store. Sign up for an account using an email. You can also use your Twitter, Apple, or Google account.
Inside the app, you have a calendar, task list, and notes on the free version. I use an android phone. When I signed up and created my account, the app asked to sync my calendar. Feeling daring, I said yes, and my entire Google calendar loaded into Planner Pro, including all my categories. If you are planning to use the feature, it works wonderfully.
The three bars on the top left will give you access to the features of the app.
Calendar
This is similar to Google calendar. Click on Day, and the calendar will display the entire month, today’s date, and all the tasks/events on the date you chose. The feature allows you to see the entire calendar at once as well as the individual day.
To add an event to your calendar, click on the day of the event. Press the plus button at the bottom of the page. Choose event, task, or note. I’ll choose event for this entry. Next, add a title, what calendar it goes on (because of the sync, I manage a few calendars), and start and end (both date and time). You can make events all day by clicking the check box. Planner Pro also asks about the time zone. You can create a repeatable event by clicking the box with One Time Only. The pop-up will ask how often the event repeats and on what day. It also has an end date if needed. Add a location if required. The feature does not automatically connect to a mapping app. You can add a notification to remind you of the event and when you will receive the notification. Other contacts can be invited to events, but you must allow the app access to your contacts. Events can be color-coded with one of eleven colors. Add a note to the event for any details required. Last, you can mark yourself as Busy or Available for the event if you share your calendar. When finished, press save at the top.
Tasks
Tasks has several features: Inbox, Today, Due Soon, and Projects (a pro feature). Click on Inbox and then the plus at the bottom to add a new task. The app prompts you with “I want to…” Fill in the box with your task. Set a due date and choose a time and notification for the task. If you choose to do the Pro option, you can make tasks repeatable. Next, set a priority for the task. These are labeled A, B, or C with a number up to ninety-nine. Each task can have sub-tasks and notes. Once you enter all the info, click Save at the top. Once several tasks are entered, you can sort them by due date, priority, or alphabetical. Need more time on a task? Choose the Edit option on any task and click the calendar at the top to change the due date. You can move the task, mark it as finished, or delete it. Clicking on the day they are due will show you the tasks on the calendar.
Notes
Notes are a great way to add info quickly. Click on Notes under the three-bar menu, then click on the plus button. Add the text of the note under Description. You can also add three pictures to the note. You must give the app access to your camera and photo files. Take a picture or choose one. Click on the picture from the gallery. It will show the picture larger. You can add a picture by clicking on the little circle at the bottom. The circle will become green with a checkmark. Press Save at the top. It automatically adds the date to the note, but if you click on the calendar, you can change the date. Notes are added to the calendar, the same as tasks and events.
Each item on the calendar has a unique look to differentiate it. Tasks have checkboxes. Calendar items will be the color designation you assigned when you created the event. Notes will appear in full at the bottom of the list.
Settings
Settings at the bottom of the page will allow you to customize the app. Under General, you can use a 24-hour calendar, change the interface style, and add and remove calendars. You also have options for which view to start with (Month, Task, Notes, or Day) and add a passcode to the app. Events can change the default calendar, day start and end, and notifications. Tasks can change the default priority and what “due soon” means, and lets you see completed tasks.
Next week, we will cover potential uses for writers.
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