Time defintions are used to schedule messages to be sent automatically. Time Definitions are defined and maintained using the Message Time Defintion dialog, available from the Schedule Message dialog.

The Schedule Message dialog is displayed whenever a new scheduled message is being defined, or an existing scheduled message is being modified. The Modify Schedule button displays the Time Definition dialog.

Time and Day defintions are specified using dropdown lists and numeric time edits. Combinations of the constructs below make up a complete defintion:

Day References



Date References



Julian References



Offset References

Current Defintion List

The Current Defintion list encompasses the entire specification. Multiple reference types may make up the list, as in Day, Date, Julian and Offset. Any number of reference specifications may be included in the list to make up the complete definition.  If it is not in the list, it is not in the defintion -- simply selecting from the dropdown lists without pressing the Update or Add buttons will not accomplish anything.

Modifying an existing specification

Selecting an existing entry in the Current Defintions box causes the date defintion fields above it to be filled with the corresponding values, and the Update button to become enabled. Dropdown list entries may then be reselected, and time respecified. The Update button updates the currently selected entry in the Current Defintions list. Pressing the Add button adds a new entry in the current definitions list.

Adding a new specification

First, select the type of date reference desired. The types allowed are:

Day	Specify by day name (Monday, Tuesday, etc). May be all months (JAN-DEC) or limited to a specific month. Frequencies include Every, and 1st through 5th, as well as Last.
Date	Specify by day-of-the-month, which is Everyday, Lastday, and 1 to 31. May also limit by particular month and year.
Julian	Reference by day of the year number. May be limited by year.
Offset	Adds an adjustment to the defintion, so that if any day result falls on a undesired day of the week, e.g. Saturday or Sunday, an offset may be applied to force the result to a desired day of the week, e.g. Friday or Monday. Offsets are specified in postive or negative numbers of days.

Display Calendar Button

The Display Calendar button generates a calendar projection for the entries in the Current Defintions List. The entries in red are the dates the match the defintion. The projection is for up to three years of dates.