This chapter covers the following topics:
To be able to show resource work shift information, the implementor or system administrator must define a calendar with start and end date information. For example, you can create a corporate calendar which runs from January 01, 2003 to December 31, 2003. Once the shifts and exceptions are specified, they can be associated with the calendar used specifically for resource scheduling.
Calendar types include, Corporate, Division, Group, Personal, and Team.
Use the CRM Administrator responsibility to navigate to Calendar > Calendar Setup > Define Calendar.
Use the define shift window to define available work hours. A shift is defined at the time a resource is available, and a shift pattern is the shift that extends for a longer period of time. Shift patterns cannot overlap with each other.
Examples of a shift can be that a service engineer works from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, or from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. from Tuesday through Friday. A shift pattern for the service engineer is that she works from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday and from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for Tuesday through Friday. This shift pattern can be defined from January 01, 2003 to May 31, 2003. Times are interpreted in the time zone that is tied to the individual resource or group resource. For all other types of resources, the schedules and availability times are interpreted in the server time zone.
In addition, implementors can further specify if the shift is a regular or standby shift in the Availability Type field. After identifying shift information, implementors can then associate it with a specific calendar.
The shift information can be seen as yellow background displayed in the Gantt chart while using Assignment Manager for resource selection.
Use the CRM Administrator responsibility to navigate to Calendar > Calendar Setup > Define Shifts.
Enter the time the shift begins in the following format: 00:00.
Enter the duration of the shift in the Hours and Minute fields, such as 10 hours and 30 minutes. The shift end time is calculated automatically once the duration is entered.
You must define not only your working hours, but also the times when you are not available for work, such as federal holidays, vacation, or sick days. These days are exceptions to your regular working shift.
Times are interpreted in the time zone that is tied to the individual resource or group resource. For all other types of resources, the schedules and availability times are interpreted in the server time zone.
Use the CRM Administrator responsibility to navigate to Calendar > Calendar Setup > Define Exceptions.
Select a category from the LOV. A category is a predefined type of exception.
Define a start and end date for your exception.
You can use the Assign Shift and Exceptions window to perform the following actions:
Assign a Calendar to a Shift
After defining work shifts, the implementor or system administrator must assign them to a calendar. To assign them to a calendar, query up the calendar specifically used for scheduling resources, and then enter shift information in the Shifts tab.
Navigate to Calendar > Calendar Setup > Assign Shift/Exceptions.
Assign a Calendar to an Exception
Use the same calendar that has work shift information to assign previously defined exceptions. As a result, this calendar will have both available and unavailable work information for a period of time.
Navigate to Calendar > Calendar Setup > Assign Shift/Exceptions and use the Exceptions tab.
After associating work shift and exception information to a calendar, the implementor can assign resources to it.
In order to show the resource work shift information as yellow background in the Gantt chart while using the Assignment Manager for resource selection, the implementor or system administrator must select YES in the Primary Calendar field. This is because only the primary calendar will be considered for availability purposes.
Note: A resource can be assigned to many calendars, but can have only one primary calendar for a period of time.
Resources of any categories defined in Resource Manager can be assigned to a calendar.
Use the CRM Administrator responsibility to navigate to Calendar > Calendar Setup > Assign Resources.