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title: "Restricting Order Start Times and Durations"
canonical: "https://docs.rubiconwater.com/space/PNC/2631172097/Restricting%20Order%20Start%20Times%20and%20Durations"
format: markdown
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> Macro (toc)

# Restricting Order Start Times

## Default Start Time

The Default Start Time is configured with the following attribute. 

| **Attribute** | **Description** | **Available Scope** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Default Start Time for Order | Default times of day when a new order starts or when you modify an order to add a new flow. Comma separated list of times.<br>The next start time is defaulted in when a user creates an order but it isn’t enforced unless you ALSO set the **Enforce Start Time** attribute to *Yes*. | system, planning group, area, group |

> ℹ️ **Note**
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ For NeuroFlo Next Gen apps there is a system default of 7am the following day. You can modify this default if you choose.

## Enforce Start Time

| **Attribute** | **Description** | **Available Scope** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Enforce Start Time | Order start time must be a start time set in the **Default Start Time for Order** attribute | system, planning group, area, group |

> ℹ️ **Note**
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ This attribute defaults to *No* but when you initially upgrade to a version with this feature it may be set to *Yes *to provide compatibility with your existing configuration if you currently enforce order start times.

## Order Duration Interval

| **Attribute** | **Description** | **Available Scope** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Order Duration Interval | Defines a block of time starting from the order start time. This is the minimum duration of an order. An order can span multiple blocks but must change, and finish at block boundaries.<br>The attribute value should be an *integer number of minutes* to set the size of a block in minutes. If the time is greater than 60 minutes then it must be in multiples of one hour. So you can set a interval length of 15 minutes, but not of 90 minutes.<br>> ℹ️ **Example**
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ For example, if this value is set to 480 minutes (8 hours) and the default start time is 6 am, orders can start, change and finish at 6 am, 2 pm, or 10 pm.<br>> ℹ️ **Note**
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ Although the attribute value is in minutes, the description (label) can be in whatever units you prefer. | system, area, group, outlet |

### Order Duration Interval Side Effects

If you set an Order Duration Interval then orders must be a whole multiple of that interval. In DMS or in the Irrigator Portal, it is not possible to enter order durations in minutes. Take care that your Order Duration Interval does not restrict users to inconvenient durations.

> ℹ️ **Example**
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ For example, if your Order Duration Interval is 45 minutes then users in DMS and the Irrigator Portal could not enter a duration of less than 3 hours because 1 and 2 hours are not whole multiples of 45 minutes.

This is not an issue in CustomerConnect, NetworkConnect, or SiteConnect. Users will be able to enter durations in minutes if necessary.

# Enforcing a gap between orders at shared outlets

An outlet is shared if there is more than one property linked to the outlet (the link is called an "authorisation"). In this case, the **Shared Indicator** attribute for the outlet will be set to the number of linked properties.

For example, the outlet may be a pump with valves that direct water into different channels. You can enforce a gap between consecutive orders at shared outlets by setting the **Shared Order Gap** attribute to a number of minutes between 0 and 60.

> ℹ️ **Example**
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ You might do this to allow time to manually switch the valves on the outlet.

You can set the attribute directly on the outlet, or at a higher level - such as the system level if you want it to be a system-wide default. If customers try to place an order that conflicts with the gap, they will see an error message that tells them that they have tried to place an overlapping order.

The attribute value defaults to 0 minutes at the System level.

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