# Publishing Workflow

Source: https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/scheduling/publishing-workflow

> A suggested workflow for publishing your schedules cleanly for staff.

Scheduling add-on - This feature requires the Scheduling add-on, which is available on Astalty Premium. See How to enable Scheduling.

## Overview

Before publishing a roster, review the selected period so workers receive a schedule that is ready to follow. Check that:

- There are no clashes
- All the availability requests have been approved
- Any varying availability has been updated
- All of the shifts have been assigned
- the remaining shifts are ready to publish

## Choose a Publishing Period

Choose a weekly or fortnightly publishing period that gives your team enough notice and time to resolve changes.

## Preparation and Changes to Scheduled Shifts

Prepare and make any necessary changes to your scheduled shifts. Ideally, this should begin with enough time/days prior to the day you wish to publish so you have time to make your adjustments. Some of these steps may include:

- **Review and action** **[Unavailability Requests](https://app.astalty.com.au/scheduling/availability-requests)** for that period.
  - Filter **Pending** and set the **date range** to the schedule period.
  - **Action** outstanding requests.
  - **Unassign** any impacted supports that cannot be covered by the original worker (these will then show up in the [Unassigned Shifts](https://app.astalty.com.au/scheduling/unassigned-shifts)).

![The Unavailability Requests page with numbered highlights: 1 the Unavailability Requests menu item, 2 the Status is Pending filter, 3 the Date filter, and 4 a pending Leave request.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/availability-requests-2.png)

- **Review and action** **[Unassigned Shifts](https://app.astalty.com.au/scheduling/unassigned-shifts)** for that period. 
  - Set the date range for that period.
  - Click into each unassigned support, scroll down to **assign** the Support Worker.

![The Unassigned Shifts page with numbered highlights: 1 the Unassigned Shifts menu item, 2 the Date filter set to a one-week range, and 3 the list of unassigned shifts.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/unassigned-shifts-3.png)

![The Support Workers list on a support, with the worker rows highlighted and an arrow pointing to the Assign button at the end of each row.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/assigned-support-worker-1.png)

- **Review the** **[Shift Clashes Report](https://app.astalty.com.au/scheduling/shift-clashes-report)**. 
  - Check there are no clashes for the period.
  - If there are clashes, make adjustments to those supports where necessary. 

- Review [**Schedule Alerts**](https://app.astalty.com.au/scheduling/schedule-alerts) if your organisation uses award alerts. These alerts are advisory and do not prevent publishing.

![The Shift Clashes page with numbered highlights: 1 the Shift Clashes Report menu item, 2 the Date filter, and 3 the list of clashes, with a row's menu open showing View Schedule, View This Support, View Clashing Group Support and Clear clash.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/shift-clashes-report-2.png)

## Ready to Publish

- **Publish all shifts** for that publishing period
  - Open the **[Schedule](https://app.astalty.com.au/scheduling/schedule)**.
  - Set your View Mode to either Week or Fortnight, depending on your publishing period
  - Select the week or fortnight you need to publish.
  - Select **Publish**.

![The Schedule with numbered highlights: 1 Schedule in the menu, 2 the Week and Fortnight view modes, 3 the date range, and 4 the Publish button showing the number of shifts to publish.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/publish-shifts-1.png)

Astalty previews the shifts in the selected period, grouped by assigned worker with unassigned shifts listed separately. Review the preview before selecting **Publish**.

If the period contains shift clashes, Astalty links to the Shift Clashes Report and asks you to confirm before continuing. Publishing immediately notifies assigned Support Workers and adds the shifts to their schedules. Unassigned shifts remain unpublished to workers until someone is assigned.

![The bottom of the publish preview, listing each worker's shifts by date and time with a clashing shift highlighted, a warning that there are 4 shift clashes with a View Shift Clashes Report link, a warning that publishing will immediately notify all assigned Support Workers, and an arrow pointing to the Publish button.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/publish-shifts-2.png)