New Feature: Text Limits

We're really excited to announce a new feature in ProposalSpace: text limits.

Call admins can now assign a word or character limit to any text field in a proposal submission form or role form. Just select "Word Limit" or "Character Limit" from the pull-down menu in the question settings, then enter the number of words or characters you want for the limit.

We designed the feature to follow Twitter-like rules, so responses are allowed to exceed the limit.

Extra text is displayed with ellipses, which can be clicked on to reveal the full response.

Check it out and let us know what you think!

Ignorance is Bliss

Call administrators: Have you ever come across a proposal that, for whatever reason, you just want to ignore? Now you can!

Simply select "Ignore" (from the Options menu) for any draft proposal or unapproved submission and ProposalSpace will treat it as if it never existed. To see the proposals you've chosen to ignore, just click the "Show Ignored" link. And to start tracking an ignored proposal again, just select "Don't ignore".

Tips for Effective Conference Proposals

We just came across some excellent advice from Alessandro Angelini for how to create and present the best possible paper for an educational conference, including how to:

• Find a suitable conference
• Write a strong abstract
• Write the paper
• Prepare the presentation
• Present the paper

You can find it at http://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2010/11/03/angelini

Updated Data Exporting

Just a quick note to let everyone know that we've updated the data export feature to accommodate the newly expanded, customizable role forms and to include review data.

Custom Role Forms

ProposalSpace has always allowed call admins to customize the terminology used for roles people play in a proposal. You can configure your call to use whatever terms you want... "speakers", "presenters", "authors", "collaborators", etc.

Now, you can also configure what information you collect about each of those people. Using our drag-and-drop form builder, you can create a custom form to collect information like qualifications, disclosure statements, membership status, favorite football team... whatever you want! Questions can be optional or required and are unique to each role you've established.

To access the feature, just go to your call's configuration page and click on "Roles". You'll see a link there (under each role you've created) to "Customize Form". If you have an active call in place, don't worry. We've carefully moved the previous questions—name, organization and disclosure—over to the new feature.

Oh, and we've included this new feature in our core modules, so there's no need to ask for an upgrade or to pay extra to use it. It's available to everyone right away.

New Reviewer Assignment Feature

We've just introduced a new feature in ProposalSpace that allows call administrators to assign submissions to individual reviewers.

Before now, every reviewer had access to every submission. If a call admin wanted to spread out the workload, the admin would have to contact reviewers outside of the system to let them know which submissions to review and which to ignore.

Now, admins can make individual assignments, either from the Submissions page (where reviewers can be assigned to a submission) or from the Reviewers page (where submissions can be assigned to a reviewer).

We designed the feature with a lot of valuable input from our users, but we never stop wanting feedback. So check it out and let us know what you think!

Submission & Withdrawal Notices

We've just added a couple of features to the site that should make managing submissions a little easier for call admins:

• The site now automatically notifies call admins by email whenever a proposal is submitted. Before, call admins had to log in to check on any activity. Now, that information is delivered right to their inboxes.
• The site now automatically notifies proposal managers by email whenever a proposal is withdrawn. (A copy of the withdrawal notice is also placed in the manager's Message Center in case the email has problems making it through.) Plus, call admins have the option of including a message with the withdrawal notice.