Starting with release 7.5.11, activities may be color coded on the calendars and scheduling grids.

 

There are three different ways in which colors are applied to activities on the calendars and grids.  A style sheet (CSS file) is utilized to provide system default colors for events and sections if no other colors are specified, as well as to define colors for certain types of calendar elements that are not otherwise configurable (e.g. exam meetings).  Version 7.5.11 introduces the ability to also customize event and section activity colors based on their usage type (a data element similar to status), as well as event colors based on event type.

 

Additional options are included for custom color coding for overbooked activities and cell shading based on seat fill to indicate room utilization (the darker the color, the more seats are filled).

How the System Decides Color

The system supports color configuration for several different types of calendar items.  The list below shows each of these items and the ways in which they may be configured:

 

•Assigned Events (by Usage Type, Event Type, and via CSS)

•Unassigned Events (via CSS only)

•Event Setup and Teardown  (by Usage Type and via CSS)

•Event Pre and Post meetings  (via CSS only)

 

•Assigned Sections  (by Usage Type and via CSS)

•Unassigned Sections (via CSS only)

•Cross-listed Sections (via CSS only)

•Exams (via CSS only)

 

•Holidays  (by Usage Type and via CSS)

•Announcements  (via CSS only)

 

•Room Usage Controls  (by Usage Type and via CSS)

•Partitioned Room Conflicts (via CSS only)
 

•Overbooked Activities (user-specific Scheduling Grid setting)

•Seat fill-based coloration (user-specific Scheduling Grid setting)

 

When determining the color that should be displayed for an item on the calendar, the system uses the following process:

 

1.First attempt to apply color based on Usage Type

2.For events, if the Usage Type color is not configured, and/or is flagged "Defer to Event Type", then the system will attempt to use the Event Type color

3.For non-event activities, if the Usage Type color is not configured, then the system will use the default color from the style sheet

4.If there is no applicable Usage Type, the system will use the default color from the style sheet

The Calendar Style Sheet

The system default colors for calendar activities are controlled by the AstraCalendarExt.css file located in the Theme directory in the root directory of the web application.

 

If you wish to edit the default colors applied to any activity through the style sheet, it is strongly recommended that you edit the file named custom-calendar.css. This file, located in Theme/custom/custom-calendar.css, will override the default css file and will be retained upon upgrade.  Changes made directly to AstraCalendarExt.css will be overwritten any time the application is upgraded.

 

Reference the AstraCalendarExt.css file as the template to determine what css classes should be changed to achieve the desired color changes.

Usage Type and Event Type Color Configuration

A user interface is provided for configuring supported activity colors per Usage Type and Event Type.  Access to this option (the Color Selector) is provided to users as part of the Manage Calendars permission in their role.  The Color Selector may be accessed from the Admin section of the Calendars landing page, or from within the Calendars list page.

 

To select colors by Usage Type or Event Type, perform the following:

 

1.Select the Color Selector option.
 

 

2.A window is displayed with color editing options for both Usage Types (on the left), and Event Types (on the right).  The list of Usage Types is determined by the system and is not configurable.  The list of Event Types matches the list of Event Types used for event scheduling.
 

 

3.Click the pencil icon to edit the display color for a given Usage Type.
 

4.Click the color you would like to be used to represent the activity on the calendars and scheduling grids.
 

 

5.Click OK.
 
The selected color will be shown in the window.
 

6.For event-related Usage Types, you may place a check in the box in the column labeled "Defer to Event Type Color" if you would like the system to use Event Type colors first for activities with the given Usage Type.
 

7.To remove a selected color, you may click the delete icon next to the edit pencil.
 

8.Continue the color selection process for any Usage Types and/or Event Types you would like to customize.
 

9.Click Save on the Color Selector window to save your changes.