.schedules

**SMS Schedules**: Defining SMS workflows with schedules, registration, and patient reports.

Schedules are defined in either the base_settings.json or the app_settings/schedules.json file and compiled in to the app_settings.json file with the compile-app-settings action in the cht-conf tool.

The schedules key contains an array of schedule objects, each representing the messages to send based on a registration.

`app_settings.json .schedules[]`

property	description	required
`name`	A unique string label that is used to identify the schedule. Spaces are allowed.	yes
`summary`	Short description of the of the schedule.	no
`description`	A narrative for the schedule.	no
`start_from`	The base date from which the `messages[].offset` is added to determine when to send individual messages. You could specify any property on the report that contains a date value. Starting from 4.5.0, an array of property names is also supported; in this case, the first defined field is used. The default is `reported_date`, which is when the report was submitted.	no
`start_mid_group`	Whether or not a schedule can start mid-group. If not present, the schedule will not start mid-group. In other terms, the default value is `false`	no
`messages`	Array of objects, each containing a message to send out and its properties.	yes
`messages[].translation_key`	The translation key of the message to send out. Available in 2.15+.	yes
`messages[].messages`	Array of message objects, each with `content` and `locale` properties. From 2.15 on use `translation_key` instead.	no
`messages[].group`	Integer identifier to group messages that belong together so that they can be cleared together as a group by future reports. For instance a series of messages announcing a visit, and following up for a missed visit could be grouped together and cleared by a single visit report.	yes
`messages[].offset`	Time interval from the `start_from` date for when the message should be sent. It is structured as a string with an integer value followed by a space and the time unit. For instance `8 weeks` or `2 days`. The units available are `seconds`, `minutes`, `hours`, `days`, `weeks`, `months`, `years`, and their singular forms as well. Note that although you can specify `seconds`, the accuracy of the sending time will be determined by delays in the processing the message on the server and on the gateway.	yes
`messages[].send_day`	String value of the day of the week on which the message should be sent. For instance, to send a message at the beginning of the week setting it to `"Monday"` will make sure the message goes out on the closest Monday after the `start_date` + `offset`.	no
`messages[].send_time`	Time of day that the message should be sent in 24 hour format.	no
`messages[].recipient`	Recipient of the message. It can be set to `reporting_unit` (sender of the form), `clinic` (clinic that the sender of the form is attached to), `parent` (parent of the sender of the form), or a specific phone number. See SMS Recipients	no

Code Sample

This sample shows a schedule with a single message, which will be sent on Monday 9am 4 weeks after the LMP date on the report that triggers this schedule:

  "schedules": [
    {
      "name": "ANC Visit Reminders",
      "summary": "",
      "description": "",
      "start_from": "lmp_date",
      "start_mid_group": true,
      "messages": [
        {
          "translation_key": "messages.schedule.registration.followup_anc_pnc",
          "group": 1,
          "offset": "4 weeks",
          "send_day": "monday",
          "send_time": "09:00",
          "recipient": "reporting_unit"
        }
      ]
    }
]

The following sample schedules a message for 270 days from lmp_date. If lmp_date doesn’t exist on report, it will schedule a message for 270 days from fields.lmp_date. If neither field exists, it will not create a schedule. Using an array for start_from is supported from CHT 4.5.0+.

  "schedules": [
    {
      "name": "Delivery Reminder",
      "summary": "",
      "description": "",
      "start_from": ["lmp_date", "fields.lmp_date"],
      "start_mid_group": true,
      "messages": [
        {
          "translation_key": "messages.schedule.deliery",
          "group": 1,
          "offset": "270 days",
          "recipient": "reporting_unit"
        }
      ]
    }
]