Why should I use a Plan and not a Pattern as they look similar?

Patterns have been found to cause problems in the system in the past, so the decision was taken that they should not be used to ensure system stability. 

Patterns can be created for each week of the rota period, saved and changed to a plan that is added "as allocated"

The following steps demonstrate how to create a new "as allocated" plan.

1. Open up the Team Rota that you are creating the plan for. 
   
   
2. Allocate the support to the staff. 
   
   
3. Once you have allocated all of the support, select 'Save Pattern' from the links at the bottom of the rota. 
   
   
   
   
4. When you click 'Save pattern' the shifts all now have a checkbox on them. Click on the checkbox beneath the staff members contracted/actual hours information to select all the shifts currently on screen, then give this pattern a name. Save the pattern by clicking 'Okay'.
   
   
   Please note - the pattern will not save if you use a name that is already in use in the team.
   
   
5. You can now close the rota and go back to the Evolve home screen.
   
   
6. Go to the team you created the pattern for.
   
   
7. Click on the pattern you have just created.
   
   
   
   
8. Click Edit
   
   
   
   
9. In Type, from the drop-down select 'Plan'
   
   
   
   
10. Click Save. You now have an allocated Plan instead of a Pattern.
    
    
    

Adding the Allocated Plan to the rota

1. Go to the week of the Rota you are creating and select 'Add Plan' from the links at the bottom of the rota. 
   
   
   
   
2. This will open up a dialogue box 

1. Select the plan you wish to add to the rota
2. Select the week you would like to add the Rota to
3. Remove the check from the box beside "Add Plan as Unallocated". It's very important you remove this, otherwise all the support will be added to the rota as Unallocated.
   
   

3. Click "Next". The Plan has now been applied to the Rota.