Understanding Time Conflicts

When making appointments diarybook ensures that the times chosen do not conflict with other items on the account. If conflicts occur these are shown to the user creating the appointment, and if possible, allows the user to override and accept the conflict(s).

Types of conflicts

So what can an appointment conflict with? Conflicts are very much depend on for which service provider (diarybook user) the appointment is being made, which user is making the appointment and what resources it is using.

The following can conflict with an appointment:

• Other appointments that exist for the same service provider
• Other appointments that exist using the same resources
• A blocked time for the user or account
• The resources permission level
• The resources normal available hours
• The service provider’s normal working hours
• Waiting room occupancy

Accepting conflicts

When a user is presented with the conflicts they sometimes have the option of accepting the conflict and creating the appointment. Whether they are given the option or not depends on a number of factors discussed here.

For clarity the following terms will be used

Other appointments - same service provider

This is when the appointment being made for a service provider conflicts with other appointments for the same service provider.

The user can accept the conflict(s)…

• When the user also created the blocking appointment
• When the service provider is the user creating the appointment
• When the user has been granted Can Double Book Others permission
• When the user is an administrator

Other appointments - same resource(s)

This is when the appointment being made using specific resources (rooms or equipment) is conflicting with one or more existing appointments with those same resources.

The user can accept the conflict(s)…

• When the user also created the blocking appointment
• When the service provider is the user creating the appointment
• When the user has been granted Can Double Book Resources permission

Blocked times

This is when the appointment being made is conflicting with one or more blocked times.

The user can accept the conflict(s)…

• When the blocked time is specifically for the service provider and the service provider is the user creating the appointment

Resource Permission

This is when the appointment being made is trying to book a resource that has been restricted to specific users that does not include the user making the appointment.

Resource Work Hours

This is when the appointment being made is trying to book a resource whose availability has been restricted to specific days and hours.

Service provider’s Work Hours

This is when the appointment being made is for a time outside the service provider’s normal hours of work.

The user can accept the conflict(s)…

• When the service provider is the user creating the appointment
• When the user has been granted Can Double Book Others permission

Waiting room occupancy

This is when the appointment being made is using a waiting room that has restricted occupancy.