How to create a Master Schedule

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    In this guide, you’ll learn how to create a new master schedule in the Staffinc Suite application. Master schedules define working hours or days off and can be assigned to employees, similar to shift patterns in the old attendance system. This process will take you from the Master Schedule List page, through the creation process, and back to the list page upon successful creation.

    Access the Create Master Schedule Page

    1. Navigate to the Master Schedule List Page: Start on the "Master Schedule List" page, which displays a list of existing master schedules (if any). For new clients, you may see a default schedule named "Default Working Schedule" created automatically by the system.
    2. Click the Create Master Schedule Button: Highlight and click the "Create Master Schedule" button to start creating a new schedule.

    Enter Master Schedule Details

    You’ll now be on the "Create Master Schedule" page, where all fields are empty and ready for input:

    1. Fill in the Details: Start by filling in the details for your new schedule. All fields (Master Schedule Name, Description, Schedule Type, Start Time, and End Time) are initially empty.
    2. Enter the Master Schedule Name: Input a unique name for your master schedule, such as "Morning Shift," in the Master Schedule Name field. This name must be unique across all schedules for your client (case-insensitive).
    3. Add a Description: Input a description for your master schedule, like "Morning shift for weekdays," in the Description field to provide more context.
    4. Select the Schedule Type: Choose the schedule type from the dropdown, such as Regular Schedule, Day-Off, or National Holiday. If you select "Day-Off" or "National Holiday," the Start Time and End Time fields will be disabled and automatically set to 00:00–23:59.
    5. Set the Start Time: Input the start time for the schedule, for example, 09:00, in the Start Time field. This field will be disabled if the Schedule Type is "Day-Off" or "National Holiday."
    6. Set the End Time: Input the end time for the schedule, for example, 17:00, in the End Time field. This field will be disabled if the Schedule Type is "Day-Off" or "National Holiday." Ensure the start and end times are not the same (a minimum 1-minute difference is required).

    Handle Cross-Date Schedules

    • If the start time is greater than the end time (e.g., Start Time: 22:00, End Time: 06:00), a warning banner will appear: "Notice: The start time is greater than the end time, indicating a cross-date schedule. This is allowed but please confirm the times." Verify the times are correct before proceeding.

    Submit the Master Schedule

    1. Check the Create Button State: The "Create" button will be disabled if any validations fail (e.g., start time equals end time, required fields are empty, or character limits are exceeded). Ensure all fields are correctly filled to enable the button.
    2. Click the Create Button: Once all validations pass, the "Create" button will be enabled. Click it to submit your master schedule.
    3. Handle Unique Name Validation (If Applicable): If the Master Schedule Name is not unique (case-insensitive), an error toast will appear: "Error: The Master Schedule Name is already in use. Please choose a unique name and try again." Update the name and resubmit.

    Confirm Successful Creation

    • Return to the Master Schedule List Page: After successful creation, you’ll be redirected to the "Master Schedule List" page. A success toast will confirm: "Success! Your master schedule has been created and added to the list. You can now assign it to employees." The newly created master schedule will be highlighted in the list.