Define Punch Card Operational Ranges

The platform allows you to control at a very granular level, when, and for how long, Members can see, respond to, and use Punch Cards. The platform supports the following operational ranges that control these different aspects of the Punch Card usage life cycle:

  • Effectivity Period: This time range applies to the Punch Card, and controls when, and for long, the Punch Card is visible to Members on your website or app. The default setting is Always, but you can instead define a fixed time range, or a recurring time range.

  • Response Period: This time range applies to the Punch Card, and controls when, and for long, the Member is able to respond to the Punch Card, which then creates the Punch Card Response. The default setting is Same as Effectivity Period, but you can optionally define a fixed time range, or a relative period (relative to the Punch Card’s publish date).

  • Usage Period: This time range applies to the Punch Card Response, and controls when, and for how long, the Member is able to use the Punch Card Response. The default setting is Same as Effectivity Period, but you can optionally define a fixed time range, a relative period (relative to the Punch Card Response date), or "always" (meaning the Punch Card Response never expires).

Effectivity Period

To set the Effectivity Period for a Punch Card:

  1. Select Campaigns from the top navigation bar, then select Punch Cards > Punch Cards from the side navigation menu. The Punch Cards screen is displayed.

  2. Search for and select the desired Punch Card (see Search for a Punch Card for more information on the available search options). The Punch Card Details screen is displayed, with the Definition tab selected by default.

  3. In the top-right corner of the header area, click the Edit icon. The Edit Punch Card Type pop-up window is displayed.

  1. Next to Effectivity, select either:

    • Always: This Punch Card doesn't expire.

    • Scheduled: Enter a start date and end date, and select a time zone. Optionally, check Recurring to use a recurring schedule. Select the desired schedule from the Recurring Schedule drop-down menu, or define a new recurring schedule (see below for details on that process).

  1. Click Save.

Response Period

The Response Period controls when a Member can respond to the Punch Card. The Response Period can either be a fixed date range (e.g., “July 1, 2025 - July 15, 2025”) or a relative date range (e.g., “three weeks after the Punch Card’s publish date”).

If you don't want to define a Response Period, select Same from the Select Period Type drop-down menu in the Effectivity Periods section. If this option is selected, the platform will use the Effectivity Period (see above) as the Response Period.

Fixed Response Period

To define a fixed Response Period:

  1. On the Definition tab of the Punch Card Details screen, scroll down to the Effectivity Periods section.

  1. Beneath Response Period, from the Select Period Type drop-down menu, select Fixed.

  2. Click into the first date field, and select the start date and time for the Response Period.

  3. Click into the second date field, and select the end date and time for the Response Period.

  4. Optionally, check Recurring to use a recurring schedule. Select the desired schedule from the Recurring Schedule drop-down menu, or define a new recurring schedule (see below for details on defining a new recurring schedule).

  5. Using the Time Zone drop-down menu, you can change the time zone for the Response Period to the one applicable to your business. In addition, if Members have a preferred location set within their Profile, the time zone for that location can be used; check Preferred Location Time Zone to enable this feature.

  6. Click Save.

Relative Response Period

To define a relative Response Period:

  1. On the Definition tab of the Punch Card Details screen, scroll down to the Effectivity Periods section.

  2. Beneath Response Period, from the Select Period Type drop-down menu, select Relative. The platform will calculate the Response Period relative to the date when you publish the Punch Card.

  3. If Members have a preferred location set within their Profile, the time zone for that location can be used; check Preferred Location Time Zone to enable this feature. Otherwise, the program setting’s time zone will be used.

  4. Select the interval and a unit of time for the beginning of the time range. For example, 1 hour.

  5. Select the interval and a unit of time for the end of the time range. For example, 2 weeks.

  6. Click Save.

Usage Period

The Usage Period controls when a Member can use the Punch Card. The Usage Period can either be a fixed date range (e.g., “July 1, 2025 - July 15, 2025”) or a relative date range (e.g., “three weeks after the Member responds to the Punch Card”).

If you don't want to define a distinct Usage Period, from the Select Period Type drop-down menu, select either:

  • Same: If this option is selected, the platform will use the Effectivity Period (see above) as the Usage Period.

  • Always: If this option is selected, the Usage Period will not have an expiration date.

Fixed Usage Period

To define a fixed Usage Period:

  1. On the Definition tab of the Punch Card Details screen, scroll down to the Effectivity Periods section.

  2. Beneath Usage Period, from the Select Period Type drop-down menu, select Fixed.

  3. Click into the first date field, and select the start date and time for the Usage Period.

  4. Click into the second date field, and select the end date and time for the Usage Period.

  5. Optionally, check Recurring to use a recurring schedule. Select the desired schedule from the Recurring Schedule drop-down menu, or define a new recurring schedule (see below for details on defining a new recurring schedule).

  6. Using the Time Zone drop-down menu, you can change the time zone for the Usage Period to the one applicable to your business. In addition, if Members have a preferred location set within their Profile, the time zone for that location can be used; check Preferred Location Time Zone to enable this feature.

  7. Click Save.

Relative Usage Period

To define a relative Usage Period:

  1. On the Definition tab of the Punch Card Details screen, scroll down to the Effectivity Periods section.

  2. Beneath Usage Period, from the Select Period Type drop-down menu, select Relative. The platform will calculate the Usage Period relative to the date when the Member responds to the Punch Card.

  3. If Members have a preferred location set within their Profile, the time zone for that location can be used; check Preferred Location Time Zone to enable this feature. Otherwise, the program setting’s time zone will be used.

  4. Select the interval and a unit of time for the beginning of the time range. For example, 1 hour.

  5. Select the interval and a unit of time for the end of the time range. For example, 2 weeks.

  6. Click Save.

Recurring Schedule

To define a new recurring schedule:

  1. From the Recurring Schedule drop down menu, select Enter Schedule. The Repeat pop-up window is displayed.

  2. From the Count drop-down menu, select a recurrence frequency of either Weekly or Monthly.

  3. In the text field, enter the interval. Enter 1 if you want the schedule to run every week, or every month.

  4. For a Weekly frequency, select one or more days of the week. For example, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

  5. For a Monthly frequency, choose one of the following options:

    • Day of month: Select one or more days of the month. For example, the 15th and the 30th.

    • Day of week: Select one or more days of the week, for each of the four weeks within a month. For example, the second Wednesday of the month.

  1. Click Confirm. The system adds the new schedule to the Recurring Schedule drop-down menu.