Template Cycles is an optional add-on to Repeating Jobs v2. Template Cycles enable you to use several job templates in a repeating job when using Repeating Jobs v2 to perform a series of different jobs in a defined sequence that repeats.

This is useful when there are several different jobs that must be performed to meet the requirements of a maintenance program for an Asset.

Here are some examples of how you might use Template Cycles in Repeating Jobs v2.

Your Assets are water storage tanks.
Each water storage tank must be inspected monthly and cleaned and chemically treated every 3 months. You use 2 job templates in this Template Cycle. One template, called 'Tank Inspection', is used to inspect and report on the condition of the water tank. The other template, called 'Tank Clean', is used to clean and treat the water tank. You set up a Template Cycle that uses the templates in this order: 1. Tank Inspection, 2. Tank Inspection, 3. Tank Clean.
Your Assets are sports fields.
Each sports field needs to be mowed every three weeks. In between each mow, weeds must be sprayed and the grass fertilized on alternate weeks. You use 3 job templates in this Template Cycle. Template 1 is 'Mow', template 2 is 'Fertilize', and template 3 is 'Weed Spray'. We’ll use this example to demonstrate how to set up a Template Cycle and apply it to a Repeating Job v2.

If you want to learn more about Repeating Jobs v2 or Template Cycles, or have either of these added to your account, please email support@vworkapp.com. We’ll get in touch to talk through your requirements. Alternatively, you can learn more about Repeating Jobs v2 in the article, How to set up Repeating Jobs v2 (with Assets).

Create a Template Cycle

Before you can create a Repeating Job v2 that includes several templates you must create a Template Cycle. The Template Cycle groups all the templates you want to use in the Repeating Job v2 in the order you want them applied.

Tips for adding Templates to a Template Cycle

Before you can create a Template Cycle you must have created the Templates that you want to include in it.
You can use up to 3 job templates in the Template Cycle.
You can use the same template more than once in a Template Cycle. This enables you to create a repeating job where the same job is performed more than once in the cycle.
Templates must be added to the Template Cycle in the order you want jobs to be completed.

Add Templates to a Template Cycle

To create a Template Cycle:

Go to Settings > Templates > Template Cycles.
Click to open the page where you can create the Template Cycle.
Click in the Name field and type a name for the Template Cycle. This is how you will identify the Template Cycle when you add it to the Repeating Job v2.

In this example, we have called the Template Cycle Sports Ground Maintenance.
Click in the Select a Template field to display a drop-down list of all your Templates then click to select the first Template that you want to add to the Template Cycle.

Note: You must add the templates in the order you want them to be used in the cycle. You can add the same template more than once if you want the same job repeated.

In this example, we have selected the template Mow standard.
Click to add the next template to the Template Cycle. Keep adding until you have selected all the job Templates you want to include in this Template Cycle group. You may add the same Template more than once.

In this example, we have added 3 templates to the Template Cycle group: Mow standard, Weed spray, and Fertilize standard.
Click to save the Template Cycle.
You will see the new Template Cycle added to the Template Cycle list.

Create a repeating job using Repeating Jobs v2 that includes a Template Cycle

Once you have created the Template Cycle, you can use the Template Cycle instead of a job template in the Repeating Job v2.

We will demonstrate how to set up a repeating job for maintaining several sports grounds using the Template Cycle called Sports Ground Maintenance that we created in the previous topic.

To use a Template Cycle in a repeating job:

Go to Jobs > Repeating Jobs v2.
Click to open the Repeating Jobs v2 page.
Complete the Mandatory Fields for the Repeating Job v2 but instead of selecting a standard Job Template in the Using Template field, select the Template Cycle that you want to apply to this Repeating Job.

In this example, we select the Sports Ground Maintenance Template Cycle. The Template Cycles are listed at the bottom of the list of Templates. Notice that the word Cycle precedes the name of the Template Cycle to differentiate it from a standard Job Template.
Add the Rules that you want to apply to this Repeating Job as you would for any Repeating Job.

In this example, we have added the rule to create a new job in the Repeating Job every Monday. This will ensure each Monday a job based on one of the templates in the Template Cycle is scheduled. The job template that is used will depend upon the stage the Template Cycle is at in the cycle. (The first job will match the first job in the cycle and then follow the rotation set in the cycle.)
Attach the Assets to the Repeating Job.

In this example, we have attached 3 Sports Field Assets.

Configure the Repeating Jobs Assets using Template Cycles

In addition to the standard Repeating Jobs Asset configuration options, when Template Cycles is used there is an additional Asset Configuration option called the Duration Multiplier.

What is the Duration Multiplier?

The Duration Multiplier lets you change the Planned Duration (time it is estimated to complete a job) for individual assets in a Repeating Jobs schedule that uses a Template Cycle.

When you add a Duration Multiplier to an Asset in the Asset configuration, you increase the Planned Duration for every template in the Template Cycle by the multiple of the value entered. This is useful when you know the time to complete jobs for some Assets will take longer than what is allowed in the job templates because the Asset is bigger or more complicated to work on.

All Assets are configured with a Duration Multiplier of 1 by default. This ensures that the Planned Duration saved in all job templates used in the Template Cycle is applied when jobs are created for the Assets.

How is the Duration Multiplier different from the Duration?

The Duration sets a standard Planned Duration for all jobs in the Template Cycle. This works when every job in the Template Cycle is expected to take the same amount of time to complete. However, if each template has a different Planned Duration the 'Duration' field is not the best tool to use. This is where the 'Duration Multiplier' is useful.

The Duration Multiplier multiples the Planned Duration in the job template by the value of the 'Duration Multiplier'. So, if the Planned Duration for the first template is 30 minutes, but the second template has a Planned Duration of 60 minutes then a Duration Multiplier of 2 will increase the Planned Duration of the first template to 60 minutes (30 minutes x 2 = 60 minutes) and the second template to 120 minutes (60 minutes x 2 = 120 minutes).

Configure the Assets to include a Duration Multiplier

To configure the Assets:

Click in each field and configure the Assets as you want them.

In this example, we have added a Planned Start Time of 8:30 am, applied an Offset to two Assets, and assigned a worker. We will also apply a Duration Multiplier. This is explained in the next step.
In the Duration Multiplier field either leave the value unchanged if you don’t want to change the Planned Duration for each job used in the Template Cycle, or enter a whole number to increase the Planned Duration for each Job in the Template Cycle as it applies to that Asset only.

In this example, we know that Mountain View Soccer and Rugby is substantially larger than the other Assets attached to this Repeating Job. The estimated Planned Duration to complete jobs for this Asset will be double the time saved in the Job Templates. We have increased the Duration Multiplier to 2 for Mountain View Soccer and Rugby.
Click to save the repeating job when you are done configuring it.

Use Template Cycles in Repeating Jobs v2

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