====== PowerSchool Tips and Tricks ======
**TIP** = **T**ech-knowledge-y **I**s **P**ower\\
These tips and tricks were given out during the WCS PowerSchool training class on Tuesday, November 4, 2014.

TIP #1: Use **Print Scrn** key to document instructions.\\
TIP #2: Use **Ctrl-A, Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V** to Copy/Paste\\
TIP #3: Use Sorting and Filtering in MS Excel when analyzing exported data\\
TIP #4: Proofread reports rather than immediately printing to save resources\\
TIP #5: Notice the //Average / Count / Sum// at the bottom of the MS Excel worksheet\\
TIP #6: Use the PowerSchool **Help** Utility\\
TIP #7: Use //wiki// pages and request topics\\
TIP #8: Use form letters for bulk mailing\\
TIP #9: Use multiple tabs to navigate through PowerSchool\\
TIP #10: Run Custom Reports for data integrity\\

**Personalize**
  * Change password
  * Default sign in page – this is a great way to incorporate the Daily Bulletins for your PowerSchool users by setting the Daily Bulletins page as the default start page.
  * Interface - Enable **Smart Search** to aid in typing for searches on the PowerSchool Start page
{{:powerschool:powerschool:personalize.png}}

**Daily Bulletin**
  * Create Daily Bulletins by selecting **Special Functions** under //Functions//, and then select **Daily Bulletin Setup**. Click **New+** to create the bulletin and click **Preview Bulletin** before proceeding. 
  * Any PowerSchool user can set the Daily Bulletin page as the **Default sign in page**
  * View the announcements at any time by simply clicking on **Daily Bulletin** under //Functions// 
 
**[[powerschool:powerschool:studentsearches|PowerSchool Searches]]**
  * Use **/** to get inactive records
  * Use **contains** instead of **=** to broaden your results
  * Use **;** between two searches as “AND”
  * Use ***as_of=10/1/14** to find all active on that date
  * Use **in** (not IN) to search several values in a list
  * Use **@** as a wildcard for searching similar field values
  * **Example:** //Searching on **@-** will list all students with a hyphen in their first or last name.//

**PowerSchool Screens**
From the URL address, changing "**frn**" to "**mcr**" to see the full list of values

**Group Functions**\\
Start a MS Word document to copy and save favorite searches or Quick Exports parameters
  * List Students - 
  * Quick Export - 
  * Student Screens

**System Reports**
  * School Enrollment Audit
  * Section Enrollment Audit
  * Teacher Gradebook

**[[powerschool:powerschool:customreports|Custom Reports]]**
  * Consecutive Absence Report - search for 15 consecutive days absent.
  * [[powerschool:powerschool:gradebookvsstoredgrades|Gradebook Vs. Stored Grades]] - finds grades that have not been updated.
  * Last Gradebook Update - lists the teachers that haven't updated their gradebook in a specified number of days.
  * [[powerschool:powerschool:birthdaylists|Birthday List]] - lists birthdays for specified month by date.
  * [[[[powerschool:powerschool:phonenumbersearch|Phone Number Search]] - searches for a phone number in the various phone number contact fields.
  * Bad Enrollment Dates - finds the enrollment records where Exit Date is before the Entry Date.
  * Bad Entry Dates - lists active enrollment records entry date falls outside of current school year.

**Report Queue**\\
  * When you run a report instead of clicking on View, right-click on **View** and **Open in a New Tab** then you can toggle between your report and PowerSchool. Another option is to click the middle mouse (scroll) button to launch the new tab.
  * Run the report again by clicking the //title// of the report in the //Report Queue//. Check the box that states **Run job again?**
  * [[powerschool:powerschool:autoreport|]]

**Enrollment Summary Screen**
  * Can be run by a specific date
  * Can be run with a current selection
  * Great for state reports or grants that want an ethnicity breakdown

**Windows Tips**
  * Use the Windows **logo** button + **Tab** key to display the screens in 3D flip
  * Use **Alt**+**Tab** keys to toggle through all the open windows
  * Use **Ctrl -** to decrease the window scale, **Ctrl +** to increase the window scale
  * Use **Ctrl-A** (select all), **Ctrl-C** (copy to clipboard), and **Ctrl-V** (paste from clipboard) to move data across programs
  * Use **Ctrl-F** to search a string on any page or application

**Computer Maintenance**\\
  * Set Bookmarks
  * Clean off your desktop - create Shortcuts on your desktop rather than saving documents directly on your desktop to increase performance

**Perform monthly maintenance**\\
Best to close all internet browsers and all programs before performing these tasks.
  * Disk Cleanup - launch the tool from the //Control Panel// of your computer, under **Performance tools**
  * Disk Defragmenter - launch this tool by clicking **Advanced tools** on the //Performance tools// page
  * Run virus scans using free online tools such as [[http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security-essentials-download|Security Essentials]] and [[https://www.malwarebytes.org/mwb-download/|Malware Bytes]].