Device Schedules
Device schedules affect the locking and unlocking behavior at specified times of the day/week. There are two kinds of Device Schedules; Auto-lock (also known as Passage Mode) and Lock Action Schedules. These two types of schedules are set independent of each other, but both can be working on the lock at the same time.
Auto-Lock should already be set and specified in the Device's Settings Page.
To create and set Lock Schedules, select the 'Devices' Tab then 'Device Schedules'.
Select 'Create your first schedule' or 'Add Schedule' then name the schedule and select the schedule type.
The schedule Type will either be Auto-Lock or Lock Action. You will also be able to apply a Thermostat or Power plug schedule if using one of these supported devices.
After naming the schedule and selecting the schedule type, specify the schedule days and times, and click 'Save'.
Select the day of the week and assign a start time in the top row. Use the toggle to switch between 'Passage-Mode' and 'Auto-Lock' (explanations below). Use the Trash Can icon to delete the corresponding time slot. Use the Plus sign icon to add another time slot. Use the Page icon to copy the schedule for a particular day from a previous day.
Auto-Lock Schedules
Before discussing the Auto-Lock Schedule, let’s first define what auto-lock mode does. This mode determines how the lock behaves after it is successfully unlocked by a code. The door can either remain unlocked (Passage Mode), or, much like a hotel, it can be set to re-lock a short time after unlocked. If you want to ensure that a door remains locked, enabling Auto-lock mode is helpful. Disabling Auto-Lock mode is more often done in residential uses where you often want to leave your door unlocked when home.
The Auto-Lock setting is also referred to as "Passage Mode" and determines the behavior of the lock after a user code successfully unlocks the door. After the door is unlocked, will the door re-lock (like in a hotel), or will it remain unlocked until the user locks it again.
If "Enabled", this will cause the door to re-lock after a user code successfully unlocks the door.
If "Disabled", it will remain unlocked.
if "Schedule", you can also adjust this mode according to a schedule. For example, during business hours you may want the lock to be in passage mode. In this case, a schedule could be created to disable auto-lock Monday - Friday 9-5.To create an Auto-Lock schedule, go to Devices/Schedules. This schedule will then be selectable from the lock settings page when the Schedule radial button is selected.
Read more about this setting in the Device's Settings article.
Auto-Lock Timer
When Auto-lock is enabled, this setting determines the length of time the lock remains unlocked before re-locking. Range is 5 to 20 seconds. Default is 5 seconds.
Lock Action Schedule
A schedule can be created to Lock and Unlock the door at specific times of the day. For example, you may want the door to unlock on its own at 9 AM and lock on its own at 6 PM. Or, you can create a schedule to just lock the door every day at 6 PM.
Schedules can be created by going to Devices/Schedules and then creating a Lock Action Schedule. This schedule will then be selectable on the lock settings page.
However, there are situations when you want a lock to switch between Auto-Lock and Passage mode.For example, an office may want to switch into Passage Mode at the start of business hours, say 8 AM. This way, the first person to unlock the door after 8 AM will cause the door to remain unlocked for the remainder of the business day. Then at 5 PM, the business may want to switch back to Auto-Lock mode to ensure the door remains locked after business hours. To switch between enabling and disabling Auto-lock, a schedule can be created to accommodate these changes at specific times on specific days of the week, such as Monday - Friday, 9-5.
Lock-Action Schedules
The second type of Lock Schedule is a Lock Action Schedule. This schedule can be used to physically lock or unlock a door at a specific time of day. We don’t typically recommend setting a schedule to automatically unlock a door, but it may be appropriate for some situations.
In the previous example of the business setting an Auto-Lock schedule to remain in passage mode during business hours, this business also wants to make sure the door physically locks at 5 PM. To do that, they will need to create a Lock-Action schedule that triggers the door to lock Monday - Friday at 5 PM.
Working Together
In this case, the Auto-Lock and Lock-Action Schedules, while set separately, are working together. At 5 PM the door will physically lock due to the Lock-Action Schedule. It will also switch into Auto-Lock mode at the same time so that if anyone unlocks the door after 5 PM, it will relock behind them. After Friday at 5 PM, the lock will remain this way over the weekend until 8 AM on Monday. However, it will remain locked until the first employee enters after that time.
Schedule Use Cases, Examples, and Additional Information
At this time, Allowing an Access Exception schedule to override the Lock and AutoLock schedules is not a current function. Furthermore, you do not need an exception schedule for Auto-lock. You would only need to create an exception schedule for the days that you do not wish for your lock to run on the normal schedule. An Access Exception will not stop someone from using a valid code to unlock the lock. If you want to make it so a code will not work on a certain date, then you would need to use an access schedule to apply this restriction. When you create a code for a Guest, you will see that you can create a corresponding access schedule to allow their codes to only work on certain days and times.
The schedules and exceptions must be set in the portal and synced with the lock in advance of the scheduled start time. The lock will need to heartbeat (or be set to wake on keypress) to connect and apply the settings or schedules before they will start working.
Please see our Access Schedules and Access Exceptions article for additional information and instructions on adding exceptions to schedules.
Use Case and Examples
Exception Schedules are for things like Holidays and other dates when specific Access Users are not allowed access. For instance, a specific Access User (‘Dave’) is allocated an Access Schedule (called ‘Normal Day’) that allows access Monday to Friday between 9 am and 5 pm. However, that user is not allowed access on Christmas Day so an Exception Schedule is set up (Called ‘Christmas Day) with 25th December set, and that Exception Schedule is linked to the Access Schedule (‘Normal Day’).
This setup should allow Dave access on all Monday – Friday from 9 am – 5 pm except on 25th December when it falls on a Monday – Friday (obviously if 25th December falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it won’t make any practical difference as Dave is not allowed access on those days regardless).
We have another user ‘Jane’ who needs 24-hour access 365 days a year, so she will be set up accordingly and any of the exceptions for ‘Dave’ and ‘John’ won’t affect her access.
Summary: A schedule has to be applied to a user for their access to be restricted. If you create an access user without an access schedule, they would have 24-hour access.
Another user ‘John’ needs access on the first Monday of each Month 9 am -5 pm. You'll set an Access Schedule (called 1st Mondays) for Mondays 9 am – 5 pm and then set up an Exception Schedule listing the dates that the user should not be allowed access (this could be done using 12 date ranges).
Summary: An exception could be set up to limit every day beside the first Monday of each month. To do this you would need to look at a calendar and select the dates of the month besides the first Monday. Access schedules on their own would apply to all Mondays because it's a weekly schedule. Access schedules repeat every week. There is also a limit to how many exception entries you can have (40 entries max).
In these examples, both Dave's and John’s schedules and exceptions work on their specific codes as allocated. For instance, even though John can only gain access for 1 Monday each month, Dave will still be able to get in every Monday except for the specific Holidays defined and linked to the Access Schedule applied to him (i.e. the Access Exceptions are not ‘additive’ for the lock itself).
Summary: You can have multiple access schedules on a lock and it is dependent on the access code.
Note: There is a 63 entry limit to the total number of Access Schedules and Access Exceptions per account.
Access Schedules are configured via the Access tab
Access Schedules can be created from the 'Access' tab.
Access Schedules are used to limit users' access to the doors & locks they are given access to and can also be applied to Guests.
For example, an employer may create a schedule for Monday - Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM each day. Selecting this schedule for the Guest would send this schedule to the lock as part of their credential. When this user's pin number is entered on the lock, the door will only unlock if within the parameters of the schedule.
If providing access to an entire location or group of locks, the schedule that is selected will be sent to all locks and doors within the location or group.
Access Schedules must be created prior to the Access Schedule selection and can be created by going to the Access User main menu, then selecting the Schedules tab. Please read more in the Access Schedules article.
Note: Access schedule application for Guest Access users does not work on the 500i. This feature is compatible with the RG (5i), 6i, BG (3i), CG (7i) and ACS systems.