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Why google keep is my favorite note-taking app, 8 useful pcie cards to put in your secondary pcie slot.

Microsoft Planner is a to-do app that comes with Office 365. It's used for personal and teamwork planning, with a simple card-based interface that's similar to Trello . Here's a quick look at how to use it.

Planner is available for anyone with a paid subscription to Office 365 (O365), whether that's a personal subscription you've paid yourself or an enterprise license your company pays for. It's not available for free, but our sister site Review Geek has a list of great alternatives if you don't have a paid O365 subscription.

To access Planner, go to the Planner website and log in with your O365 account details. If you're already logged in, you can go straight to the application through the O365 app launcher.

Planner opens in what's called the "Planner Hub," which shows you the plans you've created yourself or been added to by other people. If you're using Planner with a personal O365 subscription, you'll only ever see plans you've created yourself in the Planner Hub.

Initially, the Planner Hub will be blank because you haven't created any plans yet. To create a plan, click "New Plan" in the main menu in the left sidebar.

Give your plan a name, choose whether it's Public (this doesn't mean public to the world, it means whether other people in your company can see the plan) or Private, and click "Create Plan."

Planner will create a new plan for you. You can now fill it with tasks by clicking "Add Task."

The new task panel will open. Enter a name for the task, a due date, and who it's assigned to (assigning a task to someone is more useful for organizations, rather than personal O365 subscriptions). Click the "Add Task" button to create the task.

Your task will appear under the "Add Task" window.

If you're wondering why the "Add task" window is still open, it's so you can add lots of tasks in quick succession without having to constantly click "Add Task." If you click away from the "Add Task" window, it will instantly disappear.

To open your new task, just click it. The Task window will open up with a lot of options to add information.

There are options to add a status, a priority, a due date, notes, checklists, attachments, and more. You can assign labels to color-code your tasks to the right of the item.

One important point is that there is no "Save" button. Once you've made a change to a task, just close it using the "X" in the top-right corner---all changes are saved automatically.

Once you've finished a task, set the Progress to "Completed" and then the task will be filtered in your bucket so it's less visible.

Having a long list of tasks is fine, but being able to have different lists to manage the tasks would be better. To manage those tasks, Planner has a concept of "Buckets." A new plan only has one "Bucket" called "To Do."

You can add as many buckets as you like using the "Add New Bucket" option.

We've added a "Done" bucket, but you can use any name.

To move a task from one bucket to the other, it's as simple as dragging and dropping.

You can move open or closed tasks between any buckets as many times as you like.

Planner has lots of other useful bells and whistles, but the combination of tasks and buckets is the main functionality. We've used Planner and quite like it---it's not as complicated as Jira or as customizable as Trello and Asana, but that might be a good thing, depending on your requirements.

If you want a simple to-do list tool that gives you a visual display of your tasks---and you have an O365 subscription---Planner might be what you're looking for.

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What is Microsoft Planner?

Planner  makes it easy for your team to create new plans, organize and assign tasks, share files, chat about what you’re working on, and get updates on progress. Source: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/task-management-software

Tip New to Microsoft Planner? Head over to the Microsoft Planner Guided Simulation for a hands-on tour. Visit the new Microsoft Adoption Demos page to view a wide range of Microsoft 365 demos.

Microsoft Planner training & resources

• Planner Quick Start
• Planner help & learning
• Microsoft Planner video training
• Create a plan in Microsoft Planner
• Microsoft Planner for admins
• Planner roadmap
• Planner Tech Community
• YouTube (Microsoft 365 channel search)

Latest news from the Microsoft Planner blog

• The new Microsoft Planner: What’s New and What’s Coming Next August 28, 2024
• The new Microsoft Planner in Teams is now available in GCC August 22, 2024
• Use sprints to be more Agile in Planner August 7, 2024
• Create Planner Tasks from the Viva Connections “Assigned Tasks” card August 1, 2024
• What's New for Planner in Teams in July 2024 July 29, 2024
• Microsoft Planner blog | Home

Related apps

• Microsoft Lists
• Microsoft Project
• Microsoft To Do
• Microsoft Viva Goals

Tip For guidance on which task management tool to use when, see “ Choose the right Microsoft tool for managing your work ” on the Microsoft Tech Community.

• Answers to top Microsoft Planner questions
• Attach files, photos, or links to a task
• Connecting tasks experiences across Microsoft 365
• Get more done with Microsoft Planner (YouTube video)
• How Microsoft Planner Works
• Manage Planner notifications
• Planner Blog
• Task management tips for Planner beginners
• Tasks in Microsoft Teams is now generally available!
• The project manager’s guide to planning a perfect project
• What is Microsoft Planner? (Microsoft Mechanics YouTube video)

The 365 Training Portal will be retired on December 10, 2024 Kindly note, this site has been curated, maintained, and paid for independently and is not affiliated with Microsoft. If you’d like to provide feedback, please use the feedback form . Best regards, Graham Owner/curator

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How to Use Microsoft Planner Tutorial

This How to Use Microsoft Planner Tutorial is suitable for users of Planner in Microsoft 365   

OBJECTIVE 

Track progress on projects and other work using Planner in Microsoft 365.  

MICROSOFT PLANNER EXPLAINED 

Microsoft Planner is a planning app that offers you a visual way to manage and track progress on projects or other work. Planner is available to anyone with a paid subscription to Microsoft 365, whether that’s a personal plan you’ve paid for yourself or a business/enterprise plan paid for by your company.  

Like other Microsoft 365 apps, Planner is available on the web and as a mobile app so you can keep up to date when you’re on the go.  

Microsoft Planner has a card interface, much like an application like Trello. It serves as a hub where team members can create business or project plans and organize tasks. In this Microsoft Planner tutorial, we show you how to get set up using Planner and how to make the most of Microsoft Planner. 

VIDEO TUTORIAL

STEP 1: DOWNLOADING AND LOGGING INTO PLANNER  

Planner can be accessed in a few different ways. Go to the Planner website and login with your Microsoft 365 account credentials.  

Alternatively, you can log into your Microsoft 356 portal and access Planner through the app launcher.  

Planner is also available on mobile devices for both Android and IOS.  

STEP 2: GET FAMILIAR WITH THE PLANNER HUB 

The first screen you’ll see is the ‘Planner Hub.’ This shows the plans you’ve created yourself or been added to by other people. If this is the first time you are using Planner, this will be blank.  

It’s worth noting that if you are using Planner with a personal Microsoft 365 subscription, you’ll only be able to see plans you’ve created for yourself in the Planner Hub.  

CREATE A PLAN 

Let’s start by creating a plan.  

• In the left-hand menu, click  New plan . 

• Give your plan a name.  
• Choose whether it’s  Public  (other people in your company can see the plan) or  Private .  
• Expand  Options  to add a description.  
• Click  Create plan.   

Planner will create a new plan.  

ADD TASKS 

Its now time to add tasks to the plan.  

• Click  Add task .  

The new task panel will open. Enter a name for the task, a due date and who it’s assigned to. If you leave a task unassigned, no one has ownership of that task.  

• Click  Add Task.   

Once assigned, the name of the person it’s assigned to will appear underneath.   

The Add Task panel will stay open so you can add lots of tasks quickly. To close it, just click away.  

The new task will appear in the To do section of the Planner Hub underneath the Plan name.  

To add more information to the new task, click it. The task window will open and allow you to complete additional information about the task.  

Tasks can be tagged with a label to categorize them. Labels can be renamed by clicking the pencil icon. You can assign one or more labels to a task.  

Choose to show either the task notes or the checklist items on the task card.  

There is no save button. Instead, close the window to save your changes and go back to the Planner Hub.  

STEP 3: ORGANIZING TASKS AND PEOPLE 

By default, all new tasks will be assigned to the To do bucket. Buckets are a way of grouping tasks together and organizing them. You can create your own task buckets in Planner.  

• From the Planner Hub, click  Add new bucket .  
• Type a name for your new bucket.  

To move a task to a bucket, click on the task, select a bucket from the drop-down menu, or drag and drop the task to the bucket.  

Once you’ve finished, your tasks should look something like this.  

Planner has additional buckets that tasks can be grouped into: Assigned to, Progress, Due date, Labels, and Priority.  

• Click the drop-down arrow next to  Group by Bucket .  
• Select a new bucket to group by.  

Use the filter to view only tasks that match the selected criteria.  

Add members to the plan by typing their name. Members must be within your organization.  

STEP 4: COMPLETING TASKS 

The status of tasks should be kept up to date so you can track their progress. Once a task has finished, it should be marked as complete.  

To see an overview of all tasks organized by progress, click  My tasks .  

A task can be marked as Complete in two ways. 

• Click the  circle  next to the task name to mark as complete and move it to the Completed bucket.  

• Click on the task and change the status to  Completed .  

Completed tasks get collapsed down to make them less visible when working in your plan.  

STEP 5: ORGANIZING PLANS 

After you’ve been using Planner for a while, you will probably find you have many plans. Organizing plans and marking the ones you use most often as favorites can be helpful.  

• From the Planner Hub, hover your mouse over the plan to be marked as a favorite.  
• Click the  star  icon.  
• Alternatively, click the three dots and select  Add to favorites . 

Plans can also be copied. When you copy a plan, Planner creates a duplicate copy with the same settings, tasks, and members. To get a shareable link to the plan, copy the link instead and paste it into an email or another messaging app.  

STEP 6: CHARTS AND SCHEDULE 

Click on the  Charts  tab to see a high-level analysis of all planned activity. See how tasks are broken down by Status, Bucket, Priority, and Member.  

Click the  Schedule  tab to see tasks in calendar view.  

STEP 7: CONNECTING TO OTHER APPLICATIONS 

To view other options relating to this plan, click the three dots.  

When you create a new plan in Planner, an Outlook group will also be created. Use this group directly from Outlook to have conversations, share files and attachments, and connect to apps like Trello and Twitter.  

Brainstorm and share ideas with fellow plan members in a OneNote notebook.  

Create a SharePoint site with fellow plan members.  

As you can see, Microsoft Planner is much more than just a boring task list. Importantly, it’s simple enough to use for most people without a lot of Microsoft Planner training. If you are looking for a dependable planning app that isn’t complicated and you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, Planner is worth checking out.  

Take a look at more Microsoft Office tutorials from Simon Sez IT.

Deborah Ashby

Deborah Ashby is a TAP Accredited IT Trainer, specializing in the design, delivery, and facilitation of Microsoft courses both online and in the classroom.She has over 11 years of IT Training Experience and 24 years in the IT Industry. To date, she's trained over 10,000 people in the UK and overseas at companies such as HMRC, the Metropolitan Police, Parliament, SKY, Microsoft, Kew Gardens, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP.She's a qualified MOS Master for 2010, 2013, and 2016 editions of Microsoft Office and is COLF and TAP Accredited and a member of The British Learning Institute.

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How To Use Microsoft Planner: A Step-By-Step Guide

Discover the intricacies of using Microsoft Planner with our comprehensive, step-by-step blog. From the introduction to Microsoft Planner to setting up your account, navigating the user interface, assigning them to team members, and utilising labels and categories - this blog covers it all. Learn to set due dates, attach files, and engage in task discussions.

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How to use Microsoft Planner is something every person working in an organisation must know about. It is a powerful tool that helps individuals and teams organise tasks, collaborate and stay on top of their projects. Master project organisation with a step-by-step guide on how to use Microsoft Planner. Learn to optimise tasks, deadlines, and team collaboration for success. 

Table of Contents  

1) Introduction to Microsoft Planner 

2) How to use Microsoft Planner? 

   a) Step 1- Setting up your Microsoft Planner account 

   b) Step 2- Navigating the user interface 

   c) Step 3- Setting up a new plan 

   d) Step 4- Adding tasks and details 

   e) Step 5- Assigning tasks to team members 

   f) Step 6- Using labels and categories 

   g) Step 7- Setting due dates and  

   h) Step 8- Attaching files and documents 

   i) Step 9- Commenting and discussing tasks 

   j) Step 10- Mentions and notifications 

3) Conclusion 

Introduction to Microsoft Planner  

Microsoft Planner is a handy tool found in Microsoft 365. It is aimed at aiding people and teams in sorting out and following their tasks. It's a virtual to-do list that makes managing work easier. Whether you're on your own or working together with others, Planner is here to help. 

Imagine having a neat digital board where you can list all the tasks you need to do. You can even give them names, explain what they're about, and say who should do them. And guess what? You can work with others smoothly.  

If you have a group project, you can all see the tasks, chat about them, and make sure everyone's doing what they should. It's like teamwork made simple! Microsoft Planner is all about making work organised, teamwork smooth, and getting things done without the hassle.   

How to use Microsoft Planner: A step-by-step guide  

Here we discuss the steps you have to follow to use Microsoft Planner effectively. This section will also give you an insight into the features of this versatile tool from Microsoft Office 365. 

Step 1- Setting up your Microsoft Planner account  

To begin using Microsoft Planner, you'll need a Microsoft 365 account. If you're part of an organisation or have a personal Microsoft account, you can access Planner through your web browser. 

Step 2- Navigating the user interface  

Think of the Planner interface as a map for your work journey. It has different places you'll visit, like a dashboard showing all your plans, a section for each plan's tasks, and a spot for notifications. Getting comfortable with this layout is like knowing your way around a new place. So, spend a little time here to make your Planner experience even better!   

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Step 3- Setting up a new plan  

Once you're in the Planner dashboard, click on the " New Plan " button to initiate the process. Here, you'll be prompted to give your plan a title and provide a concise description. This step is crucial as it sets the foundation for your plan, offering a clear context to your team about its purpose and objectives.   

Step 4- Adding tasks and details   

Once your plan is ready, it's time to add tasks – those little jobs that make up the big picture. Give each task a name and describe what it's all about. You can even attach important files to tasks and set how important they are. If some tasks rely on others, you can show this by linking them together.  

Step 5- Assigning tasks to team members  

To delegate tasks in Microsoft Planner, begin by opening the task you wish to assign. Within the task details, locate the " Assign " field and click on it. From there, you can choose the team member(s) responsible for the task. It's essential to distribute work thoughtfully, considering both workload and team members' skills.   

Step 6- Using labels and categories  

Within the task list, locate the " Labels " option, often represented by a tag icon. Click on this option to create new labels or utilise existing ones that suit your project's needs. Once labels are set up, assign them to each task by simply clicking on the desired label. This action groups tasks together providing a visually clear way to organise and categorise your tasks. 

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Step 7- Setting due dates and reminders  

Within the task details, locate the " Due Date " field and click on it. From there, choose the date by which the task should be finished. You can set reminders to stay on top of your tasks by clicking on the " Add Reminder " option. Decide when you want to be reminded, and Planner will notify you, helping you and your team stay focused and meet deadlines efficiently.  

Step 8- Attaching files and documents  

First, open the task you want to add files to and locate “ Attachments ”. Click on this icon, and a menu will appear allowing you to upload files – either by selecting them or even dragging and dropping. To access the attached files, simply open the task again and click on the name of the attached file.  

Step 9- Commenting and discussing tasks  

Click on the specific task to open its details. Scroll down to find the comments section, often labelled as " Comments " or " Discussion ". Here, you can engage in discussions by typing your comment in the provided area and pressing " Send " to share. This initiates real-time conversations where team members can reply, allowing a smooth communication of task-related matters.  

Step 10- Mentions and notifications   

To involve specific team members, simply type "@" followed by their name within task comments or description . A dropdown list will appear, allowing you to select the right person. Once mentioned, the team member will receive a notification, indicating their involvement is required in the ongoing discussion or task. This efficient system ensures timely engagement.  

Master the art of efficient communication with our Microsoft Outlook Masterclass course from The Knowledge Academy.  

Step 11- Using the progress tracker  

Click on the "Tasks" tab within the plan, and there you'll find a list of tasks. Each task is accompanied by a progress indicator. It signifies various task statuses, such as 'Not Started', 'In Progress', or 'Completed'. As you scroll through the list, these status indicators offer a quick visual summary of how tasks are advancing, allowing you to look the overall progress of the project briefly.  

Click on this indicator and choose the suitable status – whether it's 'Not Started,' 'In Progress,' or 'Completed.' As you make these changes, the Progress Tracker responds in real-time.   

This feature offers an instant snapshot of how tasks are progressing across the entire plan.  It allows you to stay informed and effectively manage your project's advancement.   

Step 12- Creating checklists and subtasks  

To enhance task management within Microsoft Planner, consider utilising checklists and subtasks for better clarity. Simply access the task you wish to break down into smaller steps. Within the task details, locate the checklist option and click on it.  

Start entering the items or subtasks you want to include in the checklist. As you progress, you can check off each subtask upon completion. This feature aids in effectively managing complex tasks by breaking them into manageable components.   

Step 13- Using custom labels and filters  

Begin by accessing "Labels" on the main Planner dashboard to create or modify labels to suit your team's workflow. When creating or editing tasks, apply relevant labels to categorise tasks appropriately.  

To further enhance organisation, utilise the filter icon in the task view, allowing you to select a specific label and view tasks associated with it. This feature optimises task sorting and prioritisation, aligning your workflow seamlessly with your team's unique needs.   

Step 14- Integrating planner with other Microsoft apps  

In Microsoft Planner, find the three-dot option, then select the preferred Microsoft 365 application to integrate with, such as Outlook or Excel. Follow the provided prompts to configure the integration, ensuring effortless communication and task management across application.

Step 15- Access and Permissions  

To solve access and permission issues in the Microsoft Planner web version, begin by going to plan settings and check if team members have the correct access. If someone has trouble accessing it, invite them using their Microsoft 365 email and double-check their email. If issues continue, ask your organisation's admin for help as they can fix more complicated permission problems. 

Conclusion  

Microsoft Planner is a tool that can bring significant change in the productivity of your organisation. By following the above step-by-step guidelines, you can learn how to use Microsoft Planner effectively. 

Looking to master Microsoft Planner? Enhance your skills with Microsoft Planner Training course from The Knowledge Academy  

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How to Make a Timeline in PowerPoint (Template Included)

Timelines allow organizations to estimate how long it will take to execute a project, no matter what industry they’re in. This is done by identifying all the tasks that will be executed, estimating their duration and then determining their start and end dates.

Besides tracking time and scheduling tasks, project timelines also allow project managers to know exactly when resources such as labor, materials and equipment will be needed, which is important for completing projects on time and estimating costs accurately.

Because of their importance for project planning, there’s a large number of free and paid software tools that can help make project timelines. In this blog, we’ll explain how to create a timeline in PowerPoint.

Why Make a Timeline in PowerPoint?

One of the main advantages of using PowerPoint to make a project timeline is that most people are familiar with this software and it can be easier to use than other Microsoft products such as Word, Excel or Project.

Along the same lines, PowerPoint is available in most organizations which makes it a cost-effective alternative to project management software. This also makes it a file format that’s easy to understand for external project stakeholders such as clients.

Unfortunately, PowerPoint wasn’t designed for project management and lacks the project planning, scheduling and monitoring features that specialized software such as ProjectManager can offer. ProjectManager offers multiple tools for making and monitoring project timelines, including Gantt charts, kanban boards, real-time data project dashboards and much more. Get started with ProjectManager for free today.

While PowerPoint may not be the software organizations need for managing projects, it’s still ideal for making simple timelines for project management presentations. As the team is likely already familiar with PowerPoint, it can be a positive solution for those who aren’t ready to upgrade to more powerful and dynamic software.

PowerPoint Timeline Template

This free PowerPoint timeline template is ideal for explaining to project team members their tasks, their expected duration, and the due dates for their completion during a project management presentation such as a kickoff meeting or a project status meeting.

How to Make a Timeline in PowerPoint in 3 Steps

Let’s now review the step-by-step process of creating a timeline in PowerPoint. If you don’t want to make a timeline from scratch, you can instead download our free PowerPoint timeline template from our project management templates library. We’ve broken the template into sections for each employee and their tasks, all on an easy-to-read timeline.

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Use this free PowerPoint Timeline Template to manage your projects better.

1. Define the Time Frame the Project Timeline Will Cover

Timelines may span across multiple timeframes, such as a month, a year, or even longer. Usually, businesses and nonprofit organizations employ yearly timelines divided into quarters as this is the preferred timeframe for business planning and reporting. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll make a monthly timeline to spread the workload of a small project team . To get started choose a blank page layout, which will facilitate the next steps.

When the table appears, select all the columns in the top row, right-click them and then select “Merge Cells.” This will combine all these cells and this merged cell will work as the heading for the timeline. For this example, we’ll enter the name of the month and year. Then enumerate the bottom row cells to show the day of the month.

Once you’ve completed the steps above, the timeline should look like this.

2. List Team Members and The Tasks They’re Assigned to Complete

Now, repeat the process of inserting a table, but this time it will be a two-column table. The cell in the top left corner will be used to identify the team member who will be completing project tasks , and the rows under it will be used to list the activities they’re responsible for. Then the size of the column to the right needs to be adjusted as shown below.

For these two task list tables, we used two columns and five rows, but you might add more rows depending on your team’s workload .

3. Add Project Tasks to the PowerPoint Timeline

Now it’s time to add bars to represent project tasks, their start and end dates and durations. To do so, simply choose a shape from the top menu. In this case, we’ll use a rectangle with rounded corners, as this shape is typically used in Gantt charts , the most commonly used project scheduling tool. Then start adding these shapes to show the tasks that each of your team members will complete as shown below.

Congratulations, you’ve just created a PowerPoint timeline template your organization can use to plan its projects and analyze workload .

However, as stated above, PowerPoint can help make a basic timeline but doesn’t offer the planning, scheduling and tracking features needed to manage tasks, processes or projects. If you’re looking for project management software to help create detailed timelines, try ProjectManager instead.

ProjectManager’s Gantt Chart Is Better Than a PowerPoint Timeline

ProjectManager is award-winning project management software that’s designed to manage projects from start to end. This involves making timelines, assigning tasks to team members, tracking the cost of resources and helping project managers monitor how resources are being allocated. Let’s review some of its key project planning and scheduling features.

Make Interactive Project Timelines with Multiple Tools

ProjectManager’s online Gantt chart maker is ideal for making project timelines that show much more than just the due dates and duration of tasks. With this robust project scheduling tool, project managers can link task dependencies, identify the critical path, allocate resources and compare cost estimates against actual project costs. Best of all, it allows users to create their own columns to track unique variables about project tasks.

Then once a project timeline has been created using the Gantt chart, the tasks that make it up can be managed using other tools such as kanban boards , project calendars, and task lists. These allow project managers and team members to visualize the project timeline from different perspectives and manage work with their favorite tool.

Track Project Timelines with Real-Time Data

After making a timeline it’s important to have tools to track the progress of the team that will execute the work to ensure the project will be completed within the planned time frame. ProjectManager’s Gantt chart syncs with project management dashboards that show the percentage of completion of tasks, resource utilization and cost tracking information, which helps project managers check whether their teams are on track to meet the project on time and under budget. There are also a variety of real-time data reports that can be generated in minutes.

Balance Your Team’s Workload and Track Costs

ProjectManager offers a workload management chart to visualize how tasks are being allocated among team members, which is very helpful when making a timeline. With this tool they can determine who is over or underallocated, so they can distribute work evenly. This helps make a realistic timeline. Additionally, ProjectManager’s timesheets automatically log the work hours of employees based on the tasks they’re assigned to in the Gantt chart and other project planning tools.

Related Content

We’ve created dozens of blogs, templates and guides to help project managers master the art of making project timelines. Here are a few of them.

• Project Timeline Software – Create a Project Timeline Online
• Project Timeline Maker: How to Make a Project Timeline Online
• Project Timeline: The Ultimate Guide (with Examples)
• Free Excel Timeline Template
• How to Create a Timeline in Excel (Free Templates Included)
• Free Google Sheets Timeline Template: Create Plans Online

ProjectManager is robust project management software equipped with multiple project management views to help you manage every aspect of your project. Choose between Gantt charts, kanban boards, project dashboards and other award-winning project management tools. Get started for free today.

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Fund-Raiser for Jan. 6 Defendants Will Be Held at Trump’s Golf Club

Mr. Trump is said to not be attending the event, although an invitation lists him as an “invited guest speaker.” It will be held two months before Election Day.

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By Alan Feuer

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A nonprofit organization that supports people charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol is set to hold a legal fund-raiser for the rioters next month at former President Donald J. Trump’s private golf club in Bedminster, N.J.

The event — billed as the J6 Awards Gala and hosted by the Stand in the Gap Foundation — is scheduled to take place at the golf club on Sept. 5, according to an online announcement , with tickets costing up to $50,000 for a table for 12. The money is being raised to pay for legal fees for those being prosecuted for their roles on Jan. 6, when a mob stormed the Capitol to protest Mr. Trump’s loss in the 2020 election.

While the announcement lists Mr. Trump as an “invited guest speaker,” Mr. Trump does not plan to attend the event, according to a person familiar with his plans. Mr. Trump’s former lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani, is also listed as an invited speaker, but a representative for Mr. Giuliani did not respond to a request for confirmation.

Regardless of whether Mr. Trump will be present, it is an unusual — and potentially risky — move to permit a soiree supporting those who stormed the Capitol to be held at one of his most recognizable properties just as his presidential campaign goes full speed for its final few months.

Mr. Trump himself is facing multiple conspiracy charges in connection with the events of Jan. 6. The same day the groups is to hold its fund-raiser in Bedminster, a hearing will be held in Federal District Court in Washington to determine how to assess the effect on Mr. Trump’s case of the recent Supreme Court ruling granting him a broad version of executive immunity.

Democrats have repeatedly placed the siege of the Capitol at the center of their attacks against Mr. Trump. At their convention in Chicago on Wednesday night, they played an extended video montage of violent footage from the assault, overlaid with excerpts from Mr. Trump’s incendiary speech on Jan. 6, exhorting the crowd to “fight like hell.”

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Microsoft sends Windows Control Panel to tech graveyard

A paint-like rescue unlikely for old configuration warhorse.

Microsoft has confirmed that the venerable Windows Control panel will finally be put out to pasture in favor of a shiny new Settings app.

The confirmation came in a support document regarding System Configuration tools in Windows. The document covers the myriad ways users can customize their experience through the graphical user interface and solemnly intones in the section on the Control Panel: "The Control Panel is in the process of being deprecated."

The replacement is the Settings app, which first turned up in Windows 8 and, frankly, lacked much of the functionality of its predecessor. The situation improved with Windows 10, and Microsoft has continued to add features to the app with Windows 11.

Microsoft stated: "While the Control Panel still exists for compatibility reasons and to provide access to some settings that have not yet migrated, you're encouraged to use the Settings app, whenever possible."

The critical point to note is that not all settings have been migrated, although the direction of travel is clear. In addition, several third-party configuration apps are accessed through the old interface. Those are, however, gradually fading away.

The Control Panel has been a feature of Windows since version 1.0 and shows a list of applets from which a user can change the settings for the operating system or other third-party applications. It's a friendlier tool than diving into the registry or fiddling with configuration files, but undeniably less attractive than the modern Settings app.

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The support document applies to both Windows 10 and Windows 11, and we asked Microsoft if it planned to deprecate the Control Panel from both, or just Windows 11. We also asked if the company had a timeline in mind since the Control Panel is not listed on Microsoft's list of deprecated features .

We will update this piece should there be a response.

The Control Panel has had a good run, but in the world of Windows 11, it feels very much like a throwback, and with every setting that Microsoft has added to Settings app or moved away, the eventual fate of the old interface has been clear.

Confirmation that the Control Panel is headed for the chopping block is long overdue. For administrators who still use it to change the odd setting or two, it is time to plan a migration.

So. Farewell then Control Panel.

Host of a thousand settings. But soon You will host none.

Apologies to EJ Thribb. ®

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New updates issued on student loan forgiveness credit during save plan forbearance.

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WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 30: U.S. President Joe Biden is joined by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona ... [+] (L) speaks on his student loan forgiveness plan at the White House on June 30, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The Education Department unveiled some important updates to published guidance for borrowers pursuing student loan forgiveness who are being impacted by the ongoing SAVE plan forbearance .

SAVE, which stands for Saving on a Valuable Education, is a new income-driven repayment program launched by the Biden administration last fall. The plan has several significant benefits including reduced payments, a subsidy that prevents loan balances from ballooning due to interest, and eventual student loan forgiveness. But this spring, after millions of borrowers had already enrolled in SAVE or were converted from REPAYE, its predecessor plan, two groups of Republican-led states filed legal challenges seeking to block the program.

Earlier this month, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a sweeping injunction that halts implementation of the SAVE plan. As a result of the court order, the Education Department has put millions of borrowers into a forbearance, and temporarily has stopped processing IDR applications, leaving many Americans in limbo as the litigation continues.

Here are the latest updates, and what borrowers need to know about IDR, PSLF, and student loan forgiveness as the SAVE plan forbearance continues.

How The SAVE Plan Forbearance Works For Those Pursuing Student Loan Forgiveness

During the SAVE plan forbearance, covered borrowers will not have to make payments on their student loans. In addition, no interest will accrue, so their balances will not grow.

But the time spent in the forbearance will not count toward student loan forgiveness under IDR plans, or for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. PSLF is a separate program that permits student loan forgiveness in as little as 10 years for borrowers who are employed full-time for qualifying nonprofit or government organizations, although most borrowers need to be in an IDR plan in order to make qualifying payments. PSLF is not being challenged as part of the SAVE plan litigation, but borrowers pursuing PSLF may be impacted, as the forbearance effectively pauses student loan forgiveness progress .

New Password Hacking Warning For Gmail, Facebook And Amazon Users

Today’s nyt mini crossword clues and answers for wednesday, august 28th, microsoft update leak—good news revealed for 30% of windows users, new guidance narrows idr options for those looking to switch plans to resume loan forgiveness progress.

Previously, the Education Department had indicated that borrowers in the SAVE plan forbearance could switch to a different IDR plan to maintain progress toward loan forgiveness under IDR and PSLF. The department had said that any of the other IDR plans would be available, if borrowers qualify.

However, the updated guidance issued on Monday provides a more complicated picture of alternative IDR options. “Borrowers may apply for the following income-driven repayment (IDR) plans: SAVE (previously known as REPAYE) and Income-Based Repayment (IBR),” says the guidance.

Previously, the department had indicated that borrowers could also apply for Income-Contingent Repayment or Pay-As-You-Earn, but the new guidance restricts access to those plans.

“Borrowers should note that under the court’s injunction, no new enrollments are being accepted for the PAYE or ICR Plans, with two exceptions: borrowers who applied for the PAYE or ICR Plan before July 1, 2024, and borrowers who applied for the PAYE or ICR plan between July 18 and August 9, if approved for that plan, and borrowers with a consolidation loan that repaid a parent PLUS loan can continue to enroll in the ICR Plan (but not the PAYE Plan),” says the department.

By way of background, PAYE and ICR were supposed to be phased out for new borrowers starting on July 1 under the SAVE plan regulations. But the 8th Circuit’s actions scrambled those rules. The court issued a temporary stay on July 18, then broadened that stay into a more sweeping injunction on August 9. The Education Department appears to be allowing new enrollments in PAYE and ICR for those who applied during the administrative stay period, but not after the court enacted the injunction.

Complications Remain For Switching IDR Plans, Says Updated Student Loan Forgiveness Guidance

As a practical matter, borrowers applying for IDR plans or looking to switch should be aware of several important considerations:

First, the online IDR application remains down. Borrowers can apply via a paper application, but “Borrowers should also note that, as result of the injunction, servicers have temporarily paused processing of IDR applications until we can ensure applications are processed correctly,” says the updated guidance. “Borrowers should expect a lengthy delay in processing of applications, especially for borrowers applying for SAVE/REPAYE. We do not currently have an estimate of how long this will take.”

In addition, as long as SAVE remains blocked, borrowers can apply for SAVE, but they won’t be permitted to actually enroll unless the injunction is lifted. “Borrowers are still permitted to apply for IDR plans, including SAVE (previously known as REPAYE), even though the court has enjoined some of the SAVE and other IDR plan provisions,” says the department. But, “once applications are processed, borrowers who are enrolled in the SAVE Plan may be placed in a general forbearance if litigation remains ongoing or servicers cannot calculate payments at the amounts required by court orders. In this general forbearance, interest will not accrue, and time spent in this general forbearance will not count toward PSLF or IDR forgiveness.”

Taken together, the new guidance effectively means that for many borrowers, the only real option to switch from SAVE to another IDR plan is Income-Based Repayment, also known as IBR. IBR can be a much more expensive plan than SAVE, and also has a partial financial hardship requirement that may prevent some borrowers with higher incomes from enrolling.

“We encourage borrowers to review the specifics of each IDR plan as borrowers make the best choices for their circumstances,” says the department’s new guidance. “For example, if a borrower enrolls in IBR and then moves to a different repayment plan, accrued and unpaid interest will capitalize.”

Processing Forbearance Could Be A Workaround For Borrowers Close To Student Loan Forgiveness

In its new guidance, the Education Department makes a distinction between a “general forbearance” and a “processing forbearance:”

• A general forbearance can be for a variety of circumstances, and is the type of forbearance being imposed on borrowers enrolled in, or applying to, the SAVE plan. Time spent in the general forbearance does not count toward student loan forgiveness under IDR or PSLF.
• A processing forbearance is a type of forbearance that is briefly imposed on borrowers while certain applications, such as for IDR plans, are processed. Under new regulations enacted last year, a processing forbearance can count toward loan forgiveness under IDR or PSLF, albeit for a limited time.

“If servicers need time to process a borrower’s IDR application, servicers will move the borrower into a processing forbearance for up to 60 days,” says the updated Education Department guidance. “Interest accrues during this short-term processing forbearance, and it is eligible for PSLF and IDR for up to 60 days.”

This means that borrowers applying for an IDR plan, or seeking to switch from SAVE to IBR, could be placed into a processing forbearance for a month or two. While interest will accrue during that time period, it will count toward loan forgiveness under IDR and PSLF. This may not matter for many borrowers, but for those who are very close to their loan forgiveness threshold under either IDR or PSLF, that extra month or two could be enough to get them over the edge.

But there’s a significant caveat. “If the borrower’s application is not processed within in 60 days, the borrower will be moved into a general forbearance that does not count toward PSLF or IDR until their application is processed,” says the department.

The Education Department reiterated in its updated guidance that the new PSLF buyback program remains a possible workaround for those on track for student loan forgiveness under PSLF.

What Comes Next For Student Loan Forgiveness Rollercoaster

The Biden administration has appealed the 8th Circuit’s ruling to the Supreme Court . The nation’s highest court is also potentially considering a separate appeal from the 10th Circuit, which reached the opposite conclusion and allowed the SAVE plan to move forward while litigation over the program continues. The starkly different legal conclusions likely increases the chances that the Supreme Court will take up the matter — either issuing a relatively narrow decision only on the scope and effect of the injunction while the legal battles continue in the lower courts, or a broader ruling on the SAVE plan itself.

In the meantime, borrowers still face enormous uncertainty as the SAVE plan forbearance continues.

“The court order is preventing the Department from offering the SAVE Plan while litigation continues,” says the guidance. “Borrowers will be in this forbearance until the legal situation changes or servicers are able to send bills to borrowers at the appropriate monthly payment amount.”

“The terms of the SAVE Plan and other IDR plans are subject to the outcome of ongoing litigation,” warns the department — apparently referencing the fact that the 8th Circuit’s ruling called into question student loan forgiveness under other IDR plans, as well .

The recent court rulings threaten millions of borrowers “who have dutifully repaid their loans for up to 25 years by denying forgiveness that has been available under law for three decades,” said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in a statement earlier this month. “We remain committed to supporting borrowers and fighting for the most affordable repayment options possible for millions of people across the country.”

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