Configuring intervals and scheduling recurring services
This article explains how to set up recurring services with maintenance templates and how intervals by mileage and by time drive the next due date. Managing templates requires the maintenance:manage permission; the intervals on a plan are edited with maintenance:plan.
Start with a template
A maintenance template is a reusable definition of a recurring service. Create one template per type of work, then apply it to many vehicles as plans. Each template has these fields:
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Name | Required label, up to 250 characters (for example "Oil service"). |
| Description | Optional detail, up to 1000 characters. |
| Category | Inspection, Service, Repair, or Legal. |
| Default interval (km) | Default mileage between occurrences. |
| Default interval (months) | Default time between occurrences. |
| Estimated duration | Optional expected time in minutes. |
| Estimated cost | Optional expected cost. |
Two ways to schedule recurrence
Intervals can be expressed by distance, by time, or both, and you set at least one when you create a plan:
- Interval in kilometers — for example every 15,000 km.
- Interval in months — for example every 12 months.
When you create a plan from a template, any interval you leave blank is inherited from the template's default. This lets you standardize intervals once on the template and override them per vehicle only where needed.
How the next due date is recalculated
Intervals do more than document a schedule — they roll the plan forward automatically. When a service record linked to the plan is marked complete, the plan's next targets are recalculated:
- If a month interval is set, the next due date becomes the completion date plus that number of months.
- If a kilometer interval is set and a service mileage was recorded, the next due mileage becomes that mileage plus the interval.
The plan also stores the last performed date and mileage, so you always see when the service was last done.
Tip: Set both a month and a kilometer interval for vehicles whose usage varies. Time keeps low-mileage vehicles on schedule, while mileage keeps high-mileage vehicles from running past their service point.
Adjusting intervals later
To change how often a service recurs for one vehicle, edit that vehicle's plan and update the interval fields. To change the default for future plans, edit the template. Existing plans keep their own interval values and are not changed retroactively when you edit a template.
Note: Deleting a template that is already used by plans does not remove it; it is deactivated so existing plans and history remain valid. A template with no plans is removed outright.
Related
- Creating a maintenance plan for a vehicle
- Recording and completing a service
- What Wartungsplanung covers
- How maintenance plan reminders work
