Building the Handbook
Setting up your Handbook
Head to https://app-manager.districttoolbox.com/Manage/Handbook-App-Options to edit all the options you need for your Handbook. These options reflect across the board for your App and PDF version of the handbook.
You can drag and drop each item to re-order, edit, delete, and add new options for each section.
Submission Types
For all reports, you have the option of submitting a Text or a File (PDF) report. Whereas uploading a PDF may be more convenient, we highly encourage a Text report for all reports if possible. This is the magic of the Toolbox! We will do all the formatting for you. We will strip out all the comic sans, weird colors, and make all your reports a standard size and font. Dynamic styling is still available as well as images, links, formatting, and more.
In addition, we can also employ the use of generated translations. This will automatically translate any report into the available languages through Google Translate. These generated translations can be edited and adjusted as needed.
Information Section
This section is anything at the beginning of your handbook including a Cover Page (PDF only), Leadership and Boards Page (auto-generated), and other items (e.g. Letter from the GS), Facility Map, etc.).
Statistics Section
This section controls where statistics show up on a couple of locations.
Handbook Statistic Report If true, will be included on the Statistic Pages (e.g. Church Membership for all churches ranked from most to least with a total)
Monthly Form Mark as true if you want this statistic to be collected on the Monthly Attendance Report.
Lead Pastor Report Mark as true if you want this statistic to be collected on a custom form with the Annual Statistic form field option.
Church Report: Featured Statistic Mark as true if you want this statistic included on the Church Report at the top of the PDF or the App report page.
Church Report: Annual Statistic Mark as true if you want this statistic included on the Church Report in the bottom annual reports section of the PDF or the App report page.
Calculation If you have the statistic marked as true for the monthly and annual form, you can have the system automatically calculate the statistic on the annual from from the monthly form. Options include:
Average
Aggregate
None
Description On the form, there is a tooltop option to give a "help message" for further explanation of what you want reported on.
Leadership Section
This section populates two areas - the reports submitted by each leadership office as well as the People List page.
e.g. District Superintendent
Other Leadership Section
This section collects names for each position. No reports are submitted for these people, is only utilized for the People List page
e.g. Recording Secretary
Board Positions and Officers Section
This section is only utilized for the People List page collecting names for each position. No reports are submitted for these people. Board reports are included in the next section. Each Board can have committess within each board (e.g. Elders, Laypersons). If the board is not broken up into committees, just repeat the name of the board in the committee field. To specify multiple committees, seperate each one with a comma (e.g. Elders, Laypersons).
e.g. District Advisory Board | Elders, Laypersons
Boards and Committees Section
This section populates two areas - the reports submitted by each leadership office as well as the People List page.
e.g. District Advisory Board
Custom Sections
You can add custom sections to order your handbook as you deem necessary. This will only collect submitted reports. Use the Add Section for Reports to add or remove sections as needed.
e.g. Treasurer Reports
Leadership & Boards Information
This populates the People List in the App and PDF. It pulls positions from the Leadership, Other Leadership, and Board Positions & Officers options. Click the "Complete Leadership & Boards Information" button to submit the names for each position.
Collecting Reports
To begin building your handbook, you can click on "Manage" for each section to submit information. From there, you can upload or submit your report. When a report has been submitted, it will be marked as submitted with a green checkmark. Submitted reports can be edited at any time and re-submitted.
You can also manage, edit, delete, and add report options in this view.
Sending a Report Submission Request
To help reduce your work, we have also included the option to send emails directly to a leader to submit their report direclty into the Toolbox. Click the Send Report Submission Request button and select the report from the list you want to request to be submitted. This will send the specified email and direct link to submit their report.
Keep in mind, this will still allow you to view and edit their response once submitted.
Creating the PDF Handbook
Generate Each Section you want included
Once each section is ready, you can click "Generate" to create the PDF version of that section. You must generate a section again after changes have been made.
If you don't want to include a specific section, don't generate a version of that section.
Church Reports
We have two Templates currently of our Church Reports.
Template 1 is a full page report with church information, allocation percentages, featured stats, written report, and annual stats.
Template 2 includes two churches per page with church information, featured stats, and written report.
Have an idea for a new template? Let us know! We would love to add it to our list.
Once you have each section generated and you are ready to create the final PDF, click "Combine Handbook" to create a new version of the generated PDF. This will combine all the generated sections into one PDF with your Cover page (if uploaded) at the beginning.
The bottom table will inlucde each created handbook from year to year for your future reference.
Handbook Distribution Suggestions
Our goal is for you not to need a printed copy of your Handbook, however we understand sometimes these are necessary.
We suggest you generate your PDF and add a link to your District Website and make available for any churches to provide a printed copy to their delegates as needed.
Last updated