The Matrix screen is used to manage blocks and periods. This should typically be reviewed once per year.
The matrix grid displays a visual representation of the current block and period configuration. Times of day are shown on the x-axis and days of week on the y-axis. The periods in the matrix are structured, labelled and coloured according to the data in the Blocks and Periods panels.
Times are shown to the nearest whole hour and the grid adjusts automatically to accommodate the earliest start time and latest end-time.
You can access the Matrix screen by clicking the Open Matrix button.
Use the Matrix screen to:
Set the day week patterns
The Day Week Patterns panel is used to set the week pattern for each day of the week.
Week patterns are selected from those that have been configured in Sessions reference data. All days may share a common week pattern, or each day may be assigned a specific pattern. The most common configuration is for Mondays to use a different week pattern to the other days of the week to cater for Bank Holidays.
This information is primarily required in order to generate events from the Block Matrix data. Otherwise, it is only used within the Block Matrix module to calculate the number of hours in the year or in a group, based on the duration of each of its periods and the day on which each period falls.
You can select a different week pattern from the relevant Week Pattern drop-down.
Add a block
The blocks panel displays the blocks available for use in the matrix.
Note: Until you add a period to a block, it is not displayed in the matrix.
To add a block:
-
Click the Add Block button on the Block Matrix ribbon.
A new record is added to the Blocks panel.
- Enter the relevant details in the fields.
The fields in the Blocks panel are described in the following table.
| This field | Holds this information... |
|---|---|
| Description | A description of the block. |
| Colour | The colour of the block. Enter the hexadecimal colour code or select a colour from the palette in the drop-down. |
| Total hours | The total hours of the block. This is calculated from the duration of each period of the block, multiplied by the number of active weeks for the days on which those periods fall. |
- Click Save.
Remove a block
To remove a block:
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Select the relevant block in the Blocks panel.
-
Click the Delete Block button on the Block Matrix ribbon.
A confirmation message is displayed.
- Click Yes.
- Click Save.
Add or edit a period
The Periods panel shows all of the periods for the currently selected block.
To add a period:
-
Select the relevant block in the Blocks panel.
-
Click the Add Period button on the Block Matrix ribbon.
A new record that defaults to Monday 09:00-10:00 is added to the Periods panel.
-
Edit the fields as necessary.
The changes are replicated immediately in the matrix grid.
- Click Save.
Remove a period
To remove a period:
-
Select the relevant period in the Periods panel.
-
Click the Delete Period button on the Block Matrix ribbon.
A confirmation message is displayed.
- Click Yes.
- Click Save.