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Basic Scheduling

Schedule Creation​

Setting Up a Basic Schedule​

  1. Access Form
  • Navigate to the Scheduled Content section in the Visual Experience Engine.
    • Create new scheduled content.
    • Or click Edit on existing scheduled content.
  1. Set Schedule Details
  • Scroll to the Scheduling section.

    • Click on "Add Schedule" to create a new schedule entry.

    • Slot:

      • Enter the slot identifier where the scheduled content will appear.
      • This should match the slotId of a <SlotPlaceholder> in your Next.js site.
      • The slot controls both where the scheduled content can display and its order/priority when multiple scheduled content items target the same slot.
      • Use descriptive slot names for easier management.

    • Online From:

      • Select the start date and time when the scheduled content should begin displaying.
      • Use the date picker to choose the exact date and time.
      • All times are based on your local timezone.

    • Online To:

      • Select the end date and time when the scheduled content should stop displaying.
      • Ensure that the end date is after the start date.
      • Leave blank for indefinite campaigns (if supported by your configuration).

Schedule Rules and Validation​

  • Mandatory Fields:

    • Slot, Online From, and Online To are required fields.
    • You must have at least one schedule per scheduled content item to publish.

  • Validation System:

    • The system enforces that the end date must be after the start date.
    • If you attempt to save a schedule with errors, validation messages will appear.
    • All scheduling conflicts are flagged before publishing.

When Scheduled Content is Shown​

Scheduled content is displayed to users only when all of these conditions are met:

  1. Published – The scheduled content must be published (published === true).
  2. Has schedules – At least one schedule entry exists for the scheduled content.
  3. Current date in range – The current date and time falls within at least one schedule's "Online From" and "Online To" range.
  4. Platform match – The scheduled content targets the correct platform (web) and device types.
  5. Placement match – The scheduled content is assigned to a slot that matches a <SlotPlaceholder> (slotId) on the current page.

If any of these conditions are not met, the scheduled content will not appear on your website. Schedule times use your configured time zone for accurate matching.

For the full schedule model, data structure, and web vs. app differences, see Scheduled Content (Banner).

Schedule Management​

Editing Schedules​

  1. Modify an Existing Schedule

    • Within the Scheduling section, locate the schedule you want to edit.
    • Change the Slot, Online From, or Online To fields as necessary.

  2. Save Changes

    • After editing, click Save to apply your changes.
    • Ensure that you save changes after editing each schedule.

Deleting Schedules​

  • Click the "Delete" link next to a schedule to remove it.
  • Confirm the deletion if prompted.
  • Ensure at least one schedule remains active per scheduled content item.

Multiple Schedules​

You can add multiple schedules to a single piece of scheduled content to display it at different times or in different slots. For details on managing multiple schedules and creating complex scheduling patterns, see Advanced Scheduling.

Best Practices​

  • Consistent Slot Usage:

    • Keep track of which scheduled content is assigned to each slot.
    • Use descriptive slot IDs that match your website's HTML for easier management.

  • Avoid Overlapping Schedules:

    • Ensure that multiple scheduled content items assigned to the same slot do not have overlapping schedules.
    • This prevents conflicts where multiple scheduled content items might try to display simultaneously.
    • For detailed conflict resolution strategies, see Advanced Scheduling.

Scheduling Template-Based Scheduled Content​

When working with scheduled content templates, consider these additional scheduling considerations:

Template-Specific Scheduling​

  • Responsive Design: Template-based scheduled content automatically adapts to different devices, so ensure your device selection matches your target audience
  • Variable Updates: Schedule template variable updates to coincide with campaign changes or seasonal updates
  • Performance Optimization: Template-based scheduled content is optimized for fast loading, making it ideal for high-traffic time periods

Template Scheduling Best Practices​

  • Consistent Timing: Use templates to maintain consistent scheduling across multiple campaigns
  • Variable Scheduling: Consider scheduling different variable configurations for different time periods
  • Template Rotation: Rotate between different templates while maintaining consistent scheduling patterns

Template vs. Custom Scheduled Content​

  • Templates: Faster to create and schedule, consistent responsive behavior
  • Custom Scheduled Content: More flexibility but requires additional testing and scheduling considerations

Learn more about Scheduled Content Templates and their scheduling capabilities.