OrderRulesOrderRules

Multiple Open Windows

2 min read

Accepting Orders in Multiple Time Blocks

Some businesses need to accept orders during separate windows in a single day. For example, a restaurant might take breakfast orders from 7 AM to 10 AM and dinner orders from 4 PM to 8 PM, with a gap in between.

How to Set Up Split Schedules

OrderRules supports multiple open windows per day through the Calendar feature combined with your weekly schedule.

Option 1: Use Your Primary Window in the Schedule

  1. Go to Schedule and set your main open window for the day (for example, 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM)
  2. Click Save

Then use the Calendar to add a second window:

  1. Go to Calendar
  2. Click Add Special Date
  3. Select the day (or set it as a recurring pattern)
  4. Choose Custom Hours
  5. Set the second window (for example, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
  6. Click Save

Option 2: Set the Widest Window

If your gaps are short, you can set one continuous window that covers both periods:

Open: 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM

This approach is simpler but does not enforce the midday closure. Use this when you are okay accepting a few orders during the gap.

Example: Morning and Afternoon Service

Morning window:   7:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Afternoon window: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Closed:           11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

During the closed gap, checkout is blocked and customers see your custom closed message with the next opening time.

Customer Experience

When your store is between windows, customers see:

  • A banner indicating the store is currently closed
  • The next opening time (for example, "Opens again at 3:00 PM today")
  • Your custom closed message

Tips

  • Keep your schedule simple when possible -- customers appreciate predictable hours
  • Use custom closed messages to explain your schedule: "We accept morning orders until 11 AM and reopen at 3 PM for afternoon orders"
  • Test your setup by visiting your storefront during the closed gap to confirm the banner displays correctly
Setting Up Daily SchedulesHoliday & Blackout Calendar