This article addresses common questions and issues related to the App Newsfeed feature in your Edlio Mobile App.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Q: How many posts can I create in the App Newsfeed?
A: There is no set limit to the number of posts you can create. However, for optimal user experience and system performance, we recommend archiving older content regularly. The default visibility setting (configurable in App News Settings) determines how many days posts remain visible to users.
Q: Can I control who sees specific posts?
A: Yes, when creating or editing a post, you can set access permissions to control visibility. Options include making the post visible to all users or restricting it to specific roles (Students, Parents/Guardians, Teachers, Administrators) or custom user lists.
Q: How do I know if users are reading my posts?
A: The App Newsfeed includes a view counter for each post, displayed in the "Viewed by" column of the management interface.
Q: Can I edit a post after it's published?
A: Yes, you can edit a post at any time. Find the post in the App Newsfeed management interface and click the edit (pencil) icon. Make your changes and save the post to update it.
Q: What file types can I attach to posts?
A: You can attach a variety of file types to posts, including:
Images (JPG, PNG, GIF)
Documents (PDF, DOC/DOCX, XLS/XLSX, PPT/PPTX)
Audio files (MP3)
Video files (MP4)
For optimal mobile experience, we recommend using PDF for documents and MP4 for videos.
Organization Questions
Q: How should I organize my categories?
A: We recommend creating categories that:
Reflect your organization's structure and communication needs
Are intuitive for users to understand
Don't overlap significantly in scope
Use consistent naming conventions
Are limited to 8-12 total categories to avoid overwhelming users
Q: Can I create subcategories?
A: The standard category system doesn't support hierarchical subcategories. However, you can implement a naming convention that simulates this structure (e.g., "Athletics - Football," "Athletics - Basketball"). Alternatively, you can use tags for more granular organization within categories.
Q: How long do posts stay visible in the app?
A: By default, posts remain visible for the number of days specified in the App News Settings (typically 45 days). You can override this for individual posts by setting a specific expiration date when creating or editing the post. Posts that have expired will no longer appear to users but remain in your management interface unless manually deleted.
Common Issues and Solutions
Content Creation Issues
Issue: Rich text formatting doesn't appear correctly in the app
Solution:
Keep formatting simple for best results on mobile devices
Avoid complex formatting like tables or columns
Use headings, lists, and bold/italic sparingly
If formatting issues persist, try recreating the post with simpler formatting
Issue: Images appear distorted or cropped in the app
Solution:
Use images with a 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratio for optimal display
Crop images to the desired appearance before uploading
Keep file sizes under 5MB for better performance
Avoid images with small text that might be difficult to read on mobile devices
Issue: Videos won't upload or play correctly
Solution:
Ensure videos are in MP4 format for best compatibility
Keep videos under 100MB in size
Check the video resolution (720p is recommended for mobile devices)
Publishing Issues
Issue: Scheduled posts aren't appearing at the specified time
Solution:
Verify that the correct date and time were set (pay attention to AM/PM)
Check that the time zone settings in your account match your actual location
Ensure the post doesn't have any publishing restrictions that might prevent it from appearing
Look for the post in the management interface to confirm its status
If the post shows "Published" but isn't visible in the app, try refreshing the app or clearing the app cache
Issue: Multiple users can't edit the same post simultaneously
Solution:
The system doesn't support concurrent editing of the same post by multiple users
Establish a workflow where users communicate when they're editing specific posts
If a post appears locked, wait 15-30 minutes for the system to release the lock
For urgent changes, contact the user who currently has the post open
Category and Organization Issues
Issue: Categories aren't displaying in the expected order
Solution:
Categories typically display alphabetically in the app
To control the order, you can add numbers to the beginning of category names (e.g., "1-Announcements," "2-Events")
Check that all categories have the appropriate access permissions set
Verify that the user has permission to view all categories
User Access Issues
Issue: Some users can't see posts they should have access to
Solution:
Verify the user's role in the system (Student, Parent/Guardian, Teacher, Administrator)
Check that the post's access permissions match the user's role
Ensure the user is properly assigned to any custom lists used for access control
Confirm that the user has the latest version of the app installed
Have the user try logging out and back in to refresh their session
Issue: Posts are visible to users who shouldn't have access
Solution:
Check the post's access permissions to ensure they're correctly set
Verify that the user's role is properly assigned in the People section
Ensure that any custom lists used for access control are properly maintained
Edit the post to adjust access permissions if needed
For urgent cases, consider temporarily unpublishing the post until permissions are corrected
Technical Troubleshooting
Performance Issues
Issue: App Newsfeed is loading slowly
Solution:
Review the total number of active posts (consider archiving older content)
Check for large media attachments that could be slowing performance
Ensure images are properly optimized for web/mobile use
Consider reducing the default visibility period in App News Settings
Monitor system-wide performance through Edlio's status page
Issue: High storage usage related to newsfeed content
Solution:
Audit media attachments for unnecessarily large files
Implement size guidelines for content creators (e.g., maximum image and video sizes)
Regularly archive older content that's no longer needed
Consider using external hosting for very large media files
Optimize image files before uploading them
Integration Issues
Issue: External feeds aren't importing properly
Solution:
Verify that the feed URL is correct and the source is currently active
Check that the feed format is compatible (typically RSS 2.0 or Atom)
Review feed synchronization settings and frequency
Look for error messages in the section related to feeds
Test the feed URL in a feed validator to ensure it's properly formatted
Advanced Troubleshooting
Content Management Workflow Issues
Issue: Managing content across multiple administrators
Solution:
Develop clear guidelines for content ownership and editing
Assign specific categories to different administrators for clearer responsibility
Implement a content calendar visible to all administrators
Establish conventions for post titles to identify the creator
Hold regular coordination meetings for content planning
Best Practices to Avoid Common Issues
Create consistent templates for recurring post types to maintain quality and reduce errors
Optimize all media before uploading to prevent performance issues
Establish clear naming conventions for posts and categories
Implement a content review process for sensitive or high-priority information
Regularly audit and archive content to maintain system performance
Document your category structure and access permission strategy
Test posts on multiple devices before publishing important announcements
Maintain an up-to-date content calendar to prevent scheduling conflicts
Back up important content periodically by exporting data
Review analytics regularly to understand user engagement patterns
Getting Additional Help
If you're experiencing issues with the App Newsfeed that aren't addressed in this document, please contact Edlio Support through one of the following channels:
Help Desk: Click the "Contact Support" link in the footer of the admin dashboard
When reporting issues, please include:
A clear description of the problem
Screenshots if applicable
Steps to reproduce the issue
Your school/organization name
Your contact information
Browser and operating system information