Understanding "Before and After" in a Rule or Sensor Schedule

Why this option is important

When setting a schedule for a Rule or Sensor Schedule, the iMonnit software implements schedules defining a day as an entire 24-hour period starting at 12:00:00 AM and ending at 11:59:59 PM. 

Therefore, despite the instinct to set a schedule as a person might think, you will need to consider how the iMonnit software handles schedules.

Understanding "Between" 

Although it may be instinctual for a person to select the option "Between" when configuring a schedule, consider the following. 

When the desired schedule crosses the threshold between the end of a day (11:59:59 PM) and the start of a new day (12:00:00 AM), the election "Between" is not applied. 

This is applicable when it is needed for a schedule to be applied overnight, crossing the threshold of one day to another. 

Since the software applies the day schedule as a single 24-hour period, if you select "Between" and the start time you then choose is a later time (than the end time), the schedule will not be applied.

It is important to understand when to select the "Before and After" schedule option.

Understanding the "Before and After" election

Be aware of the differences in elections.

The "Between" election sets the Schedule to have a continuous "on" period in a single day; the "Before and After" election is the opposite of "Between." 

If you want the Schedule to be active during the transition of one day to another, the "Before and After" election configures an "off" time to be a continuous period of a single day.

Because the portal looks at the Schedule as a single 24-hour period, you cannot elect the Before time to be PM and the After time to be AM. The Schedule will be nullified if the Before time is PM and After is AM. Remember to consider the day as 24 hours.

Example

If your objective is to schedule a sensor or Rule to be off during the daytime hours but active overnight into the morning of the next day, you will select the "Before and After" schedule option.

Desired Schedule

Notification not active: 8 AM until 6 PM the same day

Notification Active: 6 PM until 8 AM the next day

Correct Schedule election: Before 8 AM and After 6 PM

You may see this configuration if a user wants to disable a Rule from sending notifications during the daytime hours.

For example, users of the Motion Detection sensor often want notifications to be sent when motion is detected during after hours of their building but do not need the Rules to send during regular operating business hours. The user would schedule the Rule for Before 8 AM and After 6 PM in this scenario.

Therefore, the Rule would not send during business hours while the business operates but would send after hours when no motion is expected.

Conclusion

It is essential to understand that the Schedule is implemented in a contiguous 24-hour period. Once this is clear, the "Before and After" schedule election can successfully be implemented for your purposes.