I’ve been using ScheduleBud for months now, and these are the tricks that actually make a difference. Trust me—once you know these, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without them.

Table of Contents

1. Calendar Navigation Mastery
2. Bulk Task Creator
3. Customize Your Navigation Bar
4. Quick Add vs Regular Add
5. Calendar Controls Settings
6. Task Completion Shortcuts
7. Dark Mode & Theme Customization
8. Sidebar Customization

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Calendar Navigation Mastery

I used to be one of those people who just stayed in month view all the time. Big mistake! ScheduleBud’s navigation is actually pretty clever once you know what you’re doing.

Navigation Shortcuts You Might Be Missing

See those little controls in the top-left? Yeah, those are more useful than they look:

• Arrow Buttons: Click left/right to jump around. Works in any view—month, week, or day.
• View Buttons: Honestly, this is where the magic happens. One click switches your whole perspective.

Switch Views Based on Your Workload

Here’s what I’ve learned about when to use each view:

Month View is your bird’s-eye view

• Perfect when you’re planning ahead or trying to spot those awful weeks where everything’s due at once
• I always start here when uploading a new syllabus

Week View is where I live during busy periods

• This is your go-to during midterms and finals
• Great for time blocking and seeing how your week actually flows

Day View is for when things get intense

• Multiple deadlines? Day view.
• Need to plan your study sessions hour by hour? Day view.
• It’s like having a microscope for your schedule

My Go-To Workflow

This might sound obsessive, but I switch views constantly:

1. Start in Month View to see the big picture
2. Zoom into Week View to plan out my week
3. Drop down to Day View when I need to get granular

I probably switch views 3-4 times every time I open ScheduleBud. Once you get used to it, it’s second nature.

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Bulk Task Creator

Okay, this one’s a game-changer. I used to sit there creating tasks one by one like some kind of caveman. Then I discovered the Bulk Task Creator and suddenly I’m adding entire assignment sets in like 30 seconds.

When to Use It

Anytime you’re facing a bunch of similar tasks. Weekly homework, project milestones, those annoying recurring assignments—you know the drill.

Here’s How It Works

1. Find the 📋 Button: It’s right there in your calendar header—says “Bulk Add”
2. Set the Basics: Pick your class and task type once
3. Rapid Fire: Just type titles and dates
4. It Remembers: ScheduleBud actually remembers what you did last time, which is nice

Tips That Actually Matter

Keep Your Naming Simple:

• “HW 1”, “HW 2”, “HW 3” (don’t be fancy—”Homework Assignment Number One” is just painful)
• “Quiz Ch 1”, “Quiz Ch 2” (stick to patterns)

Group Similar Stuff:

• Do all your homework for one class at once
• Batch your reading assignments
• Project milestones work great together

Let It Help You:

• Set your class and type first—it applies to everything
• The due time carries over, which is perfect for those classes where everything’s due at 11:59 PM
• It remembers your task types for next time

Real Example

Last week I had to add a bunch of CS assignments:

1. Clicked 📋 Bulk Add
2. Set it to “Computer Science” and “Homework”
3. Typed: “HW 3”, “HW 4”, “Lab 2”, “Reading Ch 5”
4. Set the dates and hit Create All

Boom. Four tasks in maybe 20 seconds. Would’ve taken me 2-3 minutes doing them one by one.

Honestly, for multiple assignments, this saves me way more time than it should.

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Customize Your Navigation Bar

Here’s something most people don’t realize: you can actually rearrange your navigation bar. I know, mind-blowing stuff.

Make It Work for You

Just drag and drop your favorite views to the front. I’m a visual person, so I keep Calendar first. But if you’re more of a list person who practically lives in Tasks, move that up front.

The best part? You can change this whenever you want. I’ve probably rearranged mine three times this semester as my workflow changed.

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Quick Add vs Regular Add

So ScheduleBud gives you two ways to create tasks, and honestly, knowing when to use which one makes a huge difference.

⚡ Quick Add: For When You’re Moving Fast

I use this for:

• Basic homework (you know, the usual stuff)
• Reading assignments
• Simple deadlines
• When I’m in a rush and just need to capture everything

Where to find it: That ⚡ lightning bolt in your calendar header

What you get:

• Task title
• Due date
• Class selection
• Everything else gets sensible defaults

Why it’s great: Way faster than the full thing—like 60% faster

📝 Regular Add: For the Complex Stuff

I switch to this when:

• I’ve got a complex project with lots of moving pieces
• It’s time-specific (like a presentation at 2:30 PM)
• I need to add notes or descriptions
• Canvas sync is being weird and needs customization

How to get there: Click the “+” button for the full modal

What you get:

• Everything from Quick Add, plus:
• Specific times (start, end, duration)
• Description fields
• Custom task types
• Canvas integration controls

Which One Should You Use?

Go with Quick Add when:

• ✅ It’s just regular homework
• ✅ 11:59 PM deadline works (which, let’s be honest, is most of the time)
• ✅ You don’t need notes
• ✅ You’re adding a bunch of simple stuff

Use Regular Add when:

• ✅ You need a specific time (like that dreaded 8 AM presentation)
• ✅ Duration actually matters (3-hour exams, ugh)
• ✅ You need to write yourself notes
• ✅ Canvas is being Canvas and you need to fix something

My Strategy

Most of the time, I use Quick Add

• I capture about 80% of my tasks this way
• Get everything in first, worry about details later

The defaults actually work:

• It remembers which class I picked last time
• Task types are usually right
• 11:59 PM is perfect for most assignments

My “capture then refine” approach:

• Quick Add during those frantic planning sessions
• Go back later to add details to the important stuff
• Best of both worlds—nothing falls through the cracks

For example:

• Quick Add: “Math HW 5”, “Read Ch 3”, “Discussion Post”
• Regular Add: “Final Presentation” (because I need to block out that specific time)

This way I capture everything fast but still plan the complex stuff properly.

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Calendar Controls Settings

So those calendar controls? You can actually customize how they work. I had no idea for the longest time.

What We’re Talking About

View Buttons: Those Month/Week/Day switchers Navigation Arrows: The previous/next buttons Quick Actions: Your ⚡ Quick Add and 📋 Bulk Add buttons

By default: They show up when you hover (keeps things clean) But you can change it: Make them always visible if you want

Always-Visible vs. Hover-Only

• Always-Visible: I switched to this because I got tired of hunting for buttons. Great if you have a bigger screen.
• Hover-Only: Cleaner look, but sometimes I forget where things are.

Just go to Settings > Calendar Preferences if you want to mess with this.

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Task Completion Shortcuts

Completing tasks isn’t just about checkboxes. There are some neat shortcuts that make the whole process way more satisfying.

Making It Feel Good

• Quick-click anywhere on the left side of a task. Done.
• I love how completed tasks get that strikethrough and fade out—makes it super clear what’s finished.
• Check things off as you go. Trust me, it builds momentum and keeps your list from getting overwhelming.

What the Different States Mean

Active Tasks: Normal looking, ready to tackle Completed Tasks: Strikethrough and faded (but you can still see them) Overdue Tasks: Get highlighted so they’re impossible to ignore

My approach: I check things off as soon as I’m done. Keeps the active list clean and honestly, it just feels good.

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Dark Mode & Theme Customization

Okay, let’s talk themes. ScheduleBud looks good in both light and dark mode, and switching between them actually makes more of a difference than you’d think.

Why Dark Mode Is Actually Great

For those late-night cram sessions:

• Way easier on your eyes when the lights are dim
• Less blue light (which is supposedly better for sleep, though let’s be honest, we’re probably up late anyway)
• Saves battery on laptops

Helps you focus:

• Dark backgrounds are less distracting
• Your tasks really pop
• Calendar events are easier to spot

Looks professional:

• Modern and clean
• Perfect when you’re screen sharing
• Matches most other apps you’re probably using

When I Use Each Theme

Light Mode:

• Daytime work, especially when there’s good natural light
• When I’m reading a lot (somehow easier on my eyes)
• Screen sharing with people who might find dark mode jarring

Dark Mode:

• Evening work (pretty much my default after 6 PM)
• Long study sessions
• When I want to reduce eye strain

Fun fact: Some people actually switch automatically based on time of day. I just pick one and stick with it for weeks at a time.

How to Switch

1. Settings Menu: Hit that gear icon
2. Appearance Section: Theme options are right there
3. Instant: Changes happen immediately
4. System Sync: You can set it to follow whatever your computer is doing

My Take on Choosing

Try both for different types of work:

• I use light mode when I’m doing a lot of reading
• Dark mode for planning and task management

Think about your setup:

• Match your lighting situation
• Consider what other apps you’re using
• Remember if you share your screen a lot

Honestly, it’s personal:

• Some people are just light mode people, others are dark mode people
• Try each for a few days
• Go with whatever doesn’t make you squint

Getting Fancy With It

Some people get really into theme workflows:

• Light mode for morning planning sessions
• Dark mode for evening reviews
• It’s like visual cues for different types of work

Consistency matters:

• Match your computer’s theme
• Coordinate with your other apps
• Less jarring when switching between things

Bottom line: Pick whatever doesn’t strain your eyes. The best theme is the one that lets you work longer without getting tired.

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Sidebar Customization

Here’s something I wish I’d known earlier: you can resize the sidebar. Sounds simple, but it actually makes a big difference depending on your setup.

Why This Actually Matters

Narrow sidebar (the default):

• More room for your actual calendar
• Works well on smaller screens
• Less visual clutter

Wide sidebar:

• You can actually read your full class names
• Easier to click on things
• Better if you have long course names (looking at you, “Organic Chemistry Laboratory”)

How to Do It

Just drag: Look for the resize handle on the right edge of the sidebar You’ll see a preview: Shows you what it’ll look like as you drag It remembers: Your preferred width gets saved It has limits: Can’t make it so narrow or wide that it becomes useless

What Width Works When

Got long course names? Go wider

• “Introduction to Statistics for Business”
• “Organic Chemistry Laboratory”
• “History of Western Civilization”
• You know the type

Taking a lot of classes? Medium width works well

• 5+ classes and you’ll want to read the names without squinting
• Saves you from constantly scrolling

Simple setup? Keep it narrow

• Short names like “Math”, “CS”, “Bio”
• Only 3-4 classes
• Big monitor and you want to focus on the calendar

Organization Tips

Order matters:

• Put your most-used classes at the top
• I go by priority, but alphabetical works too
• Drop finished classes as the semester goes on

Make scanning easy:

• Wider sidebar = you find classes faster
• Keep things in the same spots
• The color coding actually helps more than you’d think

My Recommendations

Based on your screen:

• Big monitors (24”+): Go wider, you’ve got the real estate
• Laptop: Medium width usually hits the sweet spot
• Small screen: Keep it narrow, you need every pixel for content

Based on how you work:

• Always switching classes: Wider makes clicking easier
• Live in calendar view: Narrower gives you more calendar space
• Bit of both: Medium width is probably your friend

Honestly, just experiment:

• Try wide for a week
• Try narrow for a week
• You’ll know what feels right

The best sidebar is the one you don’t think about—it just works for how you actually use ScheduleBud.

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Getting More Help

Questions? Email me at tony@schedulebud.app - I personally read and respond to every message.

Feature Requests? I’m always improving ScheduleBud based on student feedback.

Found a Bug? Let me know and I’ll fix it quickly.