CPM Staff Tutorials

PL Assignments

Updated on

This article describes how to create an individual Smartsheet for members of the Professional Learning team as well as connecting it to the personal and group calendars. Updated 11-07-2020

Getting Started
1. Before starting, note the following:  Make your first PL Assignment entry before deleting any test entry rows.
  • DO NOT DELETE any test assignment row until after you add your first assignment row following the test row.
  • Check to make sure the total days is accurate located in the column before the PLS Event.
  • Then delete the test row.
2. Enter your PL Assignments (3 ways)!
  1. Enter by a form from a name on the dashboard.  All Regions,  1 California, 2 Northwest, 3 Southwest, 4 Great Plains, 5 Great Lakes, 6 Southeast, 7 Northeast
  2. Enter directly from your personal assignment sheet.
  3. Enter manually on your assignment sheet.
3. When making edits in your PL Assignment Smartsheet ​save your changes​. Smartsheet does NOT automatically save edits.
  • Click on the floppy disk icon at the left (OR)
  • Save using the shortcut: command "S".
Micheal Marsh - Smartsheet.com
4. Instructions for PLS Event field

Please refer to the instructions below when filling out the "PLS Event" field in your Personal Form.

  1. Use initials for the State where the work is assigned -OR- VL if Virtual (i.e. VL, MN, WI, MI, IL, etc)
  2. Use first initial and last name (i.e. BBrusoe)
  3. In parenthesis indicate the Event Category or the work being done. Then the cohort or city (FFI Cohort 5 Sessions 1-6, FFI Days 1-3 San Diego, ISV San Diego, Coaching, Info Meeting, Conference, Travel, Vacation, Other, Project, etc.)

E.g.:

CA - BBrusoe (FFI Days 1-3 San Diego)

VL - BBrusoe (FFI Cohort 5 Sessions 1-2)

CA - BBrusoe (BoE San Diego)

VL - BBrusoe (BoA Cohort 3)

CA - BBrusoe (ISV San Diego)

VL - BBrusoe (ISV Clovis, CA)

WI - BBrusoe (Travel)

WI - BBrusoe (Vacation)

5. Instructions for Event Category field

Please refer to the instructions below when filling out the "Event Category" field in your Personal Form.

Select VL or IL of the correct event, ones that are not listed are Other of VL or IL. Overall, if the category is not there, then Other.

e.g. Project work that needs to block your calendar so you wont be scheduled for a learning event on that day is Other.

  • VL-FFI
  • VL-BoE
  • VL-BoA
  • VL-BoD
  • VL-Other
  • IL-FFI
  • IL-BoE
  • IL-BoA
  • IL-BoD
  • IL-Other
  • ISV
  • Coaching
  • Info Meeting
  • Conference
  • Travel
  • Vacation
  • Other
6. Instructions for Contract # (If Contracted) Field

Please refer to the instructions below when filling out the "Contract # (If Contracted)" field.

  1. If the event is contracted, add the contract # here.
  2. In the description in the PL Event field, indicate where in the contract this is. i.e. Days 1 & 2 of 5.
  3. When the contract is completed, add a comment to the row tagging your RPLC. Refer to step #7 below if you need instructions on how to tag your RPLC.
7. How to Comment and Tag Your RPLC

Go to the left side of the row you are in and click on the message bubble and pen icon.

  1. Click to add a comment.
  2. From there you can write your comment and tag your RPLC by typing in their email address/contact name.
  3. Click the blue arrow to save your comment.
  4. You can tell if someone has left a comment because the message bubble will be highlighted in blue at the end of the row.
Exporting to a Google Calendar

1. Syncing your Smartsheet to Google Calendar​ (This step only needs to be done one time.)

  • Step 1:  View your Smartsheet in Calendar View.
  • Step 2:  Under the file menu, choose Publish to Google Calendar.
  • Step 3:  Slide the ‘Off’ button to ‘On’ in order to sync.
Directions for PL Assignments - Google Docs

Note:  When you publish your PL Assignments Smartsheet to Google Calendar a new google calendar is created.  This calendar is NOT added to your Personal CPM Google Calendar.  You will need to follow the directions below to copy your published PL Assignment Google Calendar events separately to your Personal CPM Google Calendar. 

2. Steps to Copy your Assignments to your Personal CPM Google Calendar:

2.1. Step 1: Turn on your personal Assignments calendar

Directions for PL Assignments - Google Docs

2.2. Step 2: Click on the  Assignment (a pop-up window appears)

Directions for PL Assignments - Google Docs

2.3. Step 3: Choose the Three Dots icon.

Directions for PL Assignments - Google Docs

2.4. Step 4: Select the Copy to option for your Personal CPM Google Calendar.

Directions for PL Assignments - Google Docs

Note:  When making any needed edits to an Assignment you will have to go back to your PL Assignment Smartsheet. Edits made in Google Calendar do not populate back into your PL Assignment Smartsheet.

Managing Issues
  • This section is for issues that come up with a quick explanation.
  • Watch the video for a demo on how to fix five of the issues or check out the image descriptors below.
  • PL Assignment Sheet Issues Video
1. Issue #1: Rows are missing.
  • Check to see if a filter is on.
  • If so, turn the filter to "Filter Off".
(148) PL Assignment Sheet Issues - YouTube 🔊
2. Issue #2: The PLS Event is partially hidden
  • The first two columns are frozen with a scroll bar at the bottom.
  • Move the scroll bar to the right to view the entire event (Or)
  • Wrap the column (Or)
  • Drag the middle bar to the right to view the entire PLS Event.
(148) PL Assignment Sheet Issues - YouTube 🔊
3. Issue #3: The Sheet Summary is in the way of the columns.
  • The Sheet Summary has data on all of your events.  
  • Click the Sheet icon at the far lower right to toggle it on and off.
(148) PL Assignment Sheet Issues - YouTube
4. Issue #4: The extra columns for ISV is missing.
  • The additional columns for ISV is at the far right of the sheet.
  • Use the scroll bar below to move to the columns at the right.
  • The additional columns are in Blue or Green
  • To view only the ISV rows, turn the filter on to ISV.
(148) PL Assignment Sheet Issues - YouTube
5. Issue #5: When entering data, errors or skipped lines occur.
  • Invalid Data can occur the the Total Days column if you hit return before adding the start and end dates.
  • If you add or delete information in blank rows, it could disrupt the formulas.  
  • Delete any extra rows and bad data rows to fix the problem.
  • For more information, watch the video above.
(148) PL Assignment Sheet Issues - YouTube
6. Issue #6: Calendars do not show all of PL's events

Not all of the PL assigned events may show on the first page of the Regional Calendars and All Regions Calendar. If a specific calendar date has too many events on one day, some events will be "hidden", or moved onto the next page.

To see more events listed on a calendar date, click the blue "Next" button shown at the bottom of the calendar. Keep scrolling through "Next" until you find your event listed.

Previous Article Links to View Mode & Edit Mode
Next Article Implementation Support Visit Google Form