Time Frames

Time frames are the periods you want your phone system to follow — business hours, after hours, holidays. A time frame by itself does nothing: it must be given an action, either in Inventory (for the domain) or in Answering Rules (for a user).

Creating a Time Frame for the Domain

1. Log in to the Portal for Managers and select Time Frames.
2. You'll see time frames created by users as well as your domain name. Click your domain name.
3. Click Add Time Frame (upper right).
4. Name it — e.g. Business Hours, After Hours, Holidays. The name can't be changed later without deleting the time frame.
5. Choose when it applies — five options:
   • Always — always in effect; serves as the catch-all when nothing else applies. Click Save.
   • Days of the Week — a weekly schedule (business hours, after hours). Pick the days, set the hours per day, and use the drop-down arrow for weekly or custom recurrence.
   • Specific Dates — a date range such as an office closure. Enter each date/time, add it, and set recurrence if needed. Click Save.
   • Holidays — search the built-in national/international holiday list, pick your holidays and hours (whole day or business hours only), set Recurrence to Yearly on selected holiday, click Next, set observation rules (e.g. when a holiday falls on a weekend), then Save.
   • Custom — combines days of the week, specific dates and holidays in one frame. Name it, select Custom and Save, then add the component schedules.

Enabling a Time Frame for the Domain

Associate the time frame with a phone number in Inventory (or with an auto attendant):

1. Click Inventory at the top of the screen.
2. Click the phone number to associate; a dialog opens.
3. Switch Enable Time Frames to Yes.
4. Use the drop-down arrow to add a rule, select the time frame and click the green +. Repeat for each additional time frame.
5. For each time frame, pick a Treatment — user, call queue, voicemail, auto attendant, PSTN number, or fax server — then the specific destination. Click Save.

Time Frames with Auto Attendant Greetings

If one auto attendant offers the same options around the clock but you want different greetings by time frame:

1. Select Auto Attendants, open the attendant, and select Intro Greetings.
2. Select Add Greeting, create it via Text-To-Speech, Upload or Record, and pick the time frame during which it plays.
3. Add any further greetings the same way and click Save.
4. In Inventory, select the phone number, keep Enable Time Frames set to No, choose Treatment Auto Attendant, enter the attendant's extension, and click Save.