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Scheduling Dispatch Processing

Document Dispatch schedules control when the Document Dispatch – Process Queue Entries job queue may process entries for a specific dispatch profile. This makes it possible to process different business scenarios independently, for example invoices every day and reminders only on Fridays.

Important

A dispatch schedule does not replace the recurring Document Dispatch – Process Queue Entries job queue entry. Configure that job queue entry to run frequently enough to reach the required processing windows. The schedule is evaluated when the job queue runs.

How Dispatch Schedules Work

  • You can create one schedule for each dispatch profile.
  • A schedule applies to automatic processing by the Document Dispatch job queue.
  • The schedule is evaluated only for dispatch entries that use Delayed processing and are sent through the job queue. Entries that use Direct processing are sent directly and are not affected by the schedule.
  • During an allowed processing window, the same job queue run processes all eligible entries of the dispatch profile.
  • Dispatch profiles without a schedule are processed without schedule restrictions.
  • If Apply Schedule is turned off, the schedule does not restrict processing.
  • The Dispatch Time on the dispatch profile remains effective. Processing starts only when both the dispatch schedule and the Dispatch Time allow it.

Creating Delayed Dispatch Entries

The dispatch entry must have the Queue Type Delayed before a schedule can control its processing.

To create delayed entries when dispatching from the Document Dispatch FactBox:

  1. Open the Document Dispatch Administrator role center.
  2. Select Setup > Module Setup.
  3. Open the FactBox Setup section.
  4. Turn on Send Delayed.
  5. Create the dispatch from the Document Dispatch FactBox as usual.

Instead of sending the document immediately, Document Dispatch now creates a delayed entry that remains in the queue until the job queue and the schedule allow processing. The Send Delayed setting applies to all dispatch profiles used from the FactBox. Dispatch profiles with the Download output type are not affected because they cannot be processed as delayed dispatches.

To use an automatic sending process instead, open Dispatch Profiles, select the required profile, and turn on Enable Automatic Sending. When the configured business process is triggered, for example by posting a source document, Document Dispatch creates the dispatch entry for delayed job queue processing. No additional FactBox setting is required for this process.

Open the Document Dispatch Queue and verify that the resulting entry has the Queue Type Delayed. An entry with the Queue Type Direct bypasses the schedule.

Creating a Dispatch Schedule

  1. Open the Document Dispatch Administrator role center.
  2. Select Dispatch Schedules. You can also search for Document Dispatch Schedules.
  3. Select New.
  4. In Dispatch Profile, select the profile whose automatic processing you want to control.
  5. Enter an optional Schedule Description.
  6. Turn on Apply Schedule.
  7. Select a Schedule Type and configure its settings.

Recurring Interval

Use Recurring Interval to require a minimum period between processing windows.

In Minimum Processing Interval, enter a standard Business Central date formula, for example:

Value Result
1D One day between processing windows
2W Two weeks between processing windows
1M One month between processing windows

The interval supports days, weeks, months, and years. Hours and minutes are not supported. If the field is empty, no interval restriction is applied.

When the schedule has never opened a processing window, processing is allowed immediately, subject to the Dispatch Time of the profile.

Weekday and Time

Use Weekday and Time to allow one processing window on selected weekdays:

  1. In Earliest Processing Time, enter the time from which processing is allowed. Leave the value at 00:00:00 to allow processing from the start of the day.
  2. Turn on each required Process on ... weekday.

After a processing window has opened, another window cannot open for the same profile on the same calendar date. If no weekday is selected, the profile is not processed automatically while the schedule is applied.

Example: Invoices Daily and Reminders on Fridays

Keep the Document Dispatch – Process Queue Entries job queue entry running at its normal short interval, such as every minute, and create these schedules:

Dispatch Profile Schedule Type Settings
Invoice Recurring Interval Minimum Processing Interval = 1D
Reminder Weekday and Time Process on Fridays = on; all other days = off; set the required Earliest Processing Time

The job queue can then process invoice entries daily, while reminder entries remain in the queue until the next allowed Friday processing window.

Monitoring a Schedule

The schedule list and card show the current status. Depending on the configuration, the status indicates that processing is allowed, the date and time from which it is allowed, that the schedule is inactive, or that no processing days are selected.

Last Processing Window shows when the schedule most recently allowed the job queue to process entries for the profile. It records that the processing window was opened; it does not confirm that an entry was sent successfully.

To allow the schedule to open a new window sooner, select Reset Processing Window. For a recurring interval, this removes the previous interval reference and allows the next job queue run, subject to the Dispatch Time. For a weekday schedule, processing becomes possible again when the configured weekday, processing time, and Dispatch Time permit it.

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