Blockouts 

Blockouts are blocks of time in the Appointments module that are set ahead of time for specific purposes. The view below shows some blockouts on an empty day when no appointments have been scheduled yet:

Blockouts do not enforce any scheduling, but they just change the background color. You can also use outlines instead of solid blocks by changing that option in the Module Setup window.  Appointments are scheduled on top of blockouts. Also see the bottom of the Notes page which describes how to use dummy appointments as a quick way to post a note.  To setup blockouts, rightclick on an area on the main schedule.

Depending on whether you rightclicked on an existing blockout or not, some of the options in the popup menu might be disabled.

Edit Blockout

Set the start and stop time.  You are not locked in to using 30 minute increments.  The times in the dropdown lists are just there for your convenience.  You can also manually edit the time in the box by typing.  Just be sure to use the same format, including the AM or PM.  Pick the blockout type.  The types may be setup by selecting Edit Blockout Types from the main popup menu above.  A blockout can apply to any combination of Operatories.

Cut Blockout

This deletes the blockout, but also retains the details of the bockout in memory.  This can be followed multiple times by Paste Blockout.

Copy Blockout

Copies the details of the blockout to memory. This can be followed multiple times by Paste Blockout.

Paste Blockout

Only used if you have previously done either a Cut or Copy Blockout.  Each time you paste, a new blockout is created at the position where your mouse was.  It takes a little bit of practice to make the new blockout appear at the exact time that you intended.  But it's fast and efficient. 

Delete Blockout

Self explanatory.  You can also delete a blockout from within the Edit Blockout window.

Add Blockout

Brings up the Edit Blockout window for the new blockout to add.

Blockout Cut-Copy-Paste

Clear Day clears the day initially clicked on, whether daily or weekly view. 

The Copy and Paste work the same as in the Schedules window.  You set up one day the way you like it, and then you copy that day to other days.  This is a two step process.  First copy, then paste.  There is a clipboard which is similar in concept to the clipboard used in many other types of programs like word processors.  Even though you can only select a single date, you can then copy either a day or a week to the clipboard.  Once you have a date or date range on the clipboard, then you can move on to the second step of pasting that date onto other dates.

In the Paste box, you can either paste once, or paste repeatedly.  Before pasting, select the new date in the Appointments module that you want to paste to.  You can change the number in the repeat box to be fairly large.  For example, you could paste 500 days, or you could paste 100 weeks.  If you want to clear out multiple days, you do not have to repeatedly click the Clear Day button. You can instead go to a blank week, click Copy Week.  Select a different date, and perform a Repeat 20.  That would clear out 20 weeks as long as the Replace Existing box was checked.   If you do not check the Replace Existing box when pasting, then whatever you paste will be added to the existing schedule and will not cause any existing blockouts to be deleted.

Clear All Blockouts for Day

Self explanatory

Edit Blockout Types

This is a shortcut to the Definitions window, and it also takes you to the correct category.