user guide

This guide walks through the process of booking, rescheduling, and cancelling appointments using CDL Scheduler.

booking an appointment

step 1: select a meeting type

When you visit the scheduler, you will see a list of available meeting types. Each type shows a name and description.

The available meeting types are:

  • Office hours — for students enrolled in a course this term

  • Chat or check-in — for research discussions or general conversation

  • Project meeting — for lab project updates and discussions

  • Other — for non-standard meetings

Click on a meeting type to proceed.

Meeting type selection page

step 2: choose a duration

After selecting a meeting type, you will see four duration options:

  • 15 min

  • 30 min

  • 45 min

  • 1 hr

All durations are available for every meeting type. Click on a duration to proceed.

step 3: choose a date and time

After selecting a duration, a calendar view appears showing available time slots. Available slots are highlighted in green and sized to match your chosen duration.

  • Use the arrow buttons to navigate between weeks

  • Click on an available slot to select it

  • The calendar displays times in your local timezone (adjustable via the timezone selector at the top)

Calendar view showing available time slots

step 4: fill out the booking form

After clicking a slot, the booking form appears. Fill in:

  • First name and Last name — your name as it should appear on the calendar event

  • Email — where you will receive the confirmation (and reschedule/cancel links)

  • Format — choose between virtual (e.g., Zoom) or in-person

  • Purpose — briefly describe why you are booking

  • Notes — (optional) any additional details

Note

If you selected Chat or check-in or Project meeting, an instruction banner will appear at the top of this step asking you to share a Google Doc with your agenda and supporting materials before the meeting.

Booking form with fields for name, email, format, purpose, and notes

Click Submit to complete your booking.

step 5: confirmation

After submitting, you will see a confirmation page with:

  • The meeting type and duration

  • The meeting date, time, and location (virtual link or physical address)

  • Links to reschedule or cancel your booking

Booking confirmation page showing meeting details

Tip

Save the reschedule and cancel links from the confirmation page or your confirmation email — you will need them to manage your booking later.

rescheduling a booking

If you need to change the time of your booking:

  1. Click the reschedule link from your confirmation email or the confirmation page

  2. A calendar view appears showing available time slots (similar to the original booking flow)

  3. Click on a new available slot

  4. Confirm the reschedule

After rescheduling:

  • The original calendar event is removed

  • A new calendar event is created at the selected time

  • Both you and the calendar owner receive an updated confirmation email

  • New reschedule and cancel links are generated (the old links will no longer work)

Note

Each time you reschedule, new management links are generated for security. The links from your original booking will stop working.

cancelling a booking

If you need to cancel your booking:

  1. Click the cancel link from your confirmation email or the confirmation page

  2. A cancellation confirmation page appears showing your booking details

  3. Click Confirm Cancellation

After cancelling:

  • The calendar event is removed

  • Both you and the calendar owner receive a cancellation notification email

  • The booking is marked as cancelled and cannot be rescheduled

email notifications

CDL Scheduler sends automatic email notifications at each stage:

confirmation email

  • Sent to both the visitor and the calendar owner

  • Contains the meeting type, duration, date, time, location, and purpose

  • Includes an iCal attachment (.ics file) that can be added to your calendar app

  • Contains links to reschedule or cancel the booking

reschedule notification

  • Sent to both parties when a booking is rescheduled

  • Contains the new meeting date and time

  • Includes an updated iCal attachment

  • Contains new reschedule and cancel links

cancellation notification

  • Sent to both parties when a booking is cancelled

  • Confirms the cancellation with the original meeting details