Entering Schedules
This article explains how to enter schedules in Model Reef input fields.
You will learn:
What a schedule is in the context of the timing engine.
How to define recurring and one off schedules.
How schedules interact with accrual, payment timing and seasonality.
Schedules define when something happens, not how much it is worth. They are a key part of the Timing modal and some preset formulas.
What a schedule represents
A schedule describes the timing pattern for events such as:
Payroll on specific days of the month.
Rent paid monthly or quarterly on set dates.
One off items like a large project payment.
Irregular events such as staged milestone payments.
Schedules overlay timing on top of a base amount or formula.
Entering simple recurring schedules
In many timing configurations you can choose simple recurring options, for example:
Every month on the same day.
Every quarter at the start or end of quarter.
Once a year on a specified month.
To enter these:
Open the Timing modal for the variable.
Select a recurring frequency (for example monthly).
Choose the specific schedule rule (for example 15th of each month).
Confirm and preview the resulting pattern.
The engine applies this schedule across the model horizon, respecting the start and end dates.
Entering one off or irregular schedules
For one off or irregular events you can:
Enter explicit dates or periods for each event.
Assign amounts or percentages per event if the interface supports it.
Examples:
A single capex payment in a specific month.
Three milestone receipts over the life of a project.
The pattern you enter tells the engine in which periods accrual or cash should occur.
Interaction with accrual and delays
Schedules can be applied to:
Accrual timing, controlling when revenue or expenses hit P&L.
Payment timing, controlling when cash moves relative to accrual.
Depending on configuration:
A schedule might define the accrual periods and a delay then shifts cash.
Or a schedule might directly define when cash events occur, with accrual assumed to match.
The Timing modal will indicate which layer you are configuring and provide a preview.
Schedules and seasonality
Schedules can be used alongside seasonality:
The schedule defines when events are allowed to occur.
Seasonality multipliers adjust the magnitude of those events across the year.
For example, you might have a monthly schedule but apply higher multipliers in peak months and lower ones in off peak periods.
Validating schedules
After entering a schedule:
Use the preview in the Timing modal to check the pattern.
Confirm that P&L lines and cash movements appear in the expected periods.
Adjust the schedule rules if the pattern does not match the real world behaviour you intend.
Well defined schedules make your model's timing assumptions explicit and easier to maintain.
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