Time Machine
The Time Machine is one of InSched's most powerful audit features. It lets you view exactly how the schedule appeared at any point in the past and step through the changes that were made over time.
Accessing the Time Machine
Select View > Time Machine from the menu.
How It Works
When you open the Time Machine, the schedule initially shows its current state ("Now"). You can then travel back in time to see the schedule as it appeared at any previous moment.
Every change made in InSched is recorded with a timestamp, operator, and station. The Time Machine uses this audit trail to reconstruct the schedule at any point in time.
Quick Time Jumps
The Time Machine provides quick-jump buttons for common time intervals:
| Button | Effect |
|---|---|
| Now | Return to the current schedule |
| 1 Hour | Jump back one hour |
| 12 Hours | Jump back 12 hours |
| 1 Day | Jump back one day |
| 1 Week | Jump back one week |
| 1 Month | Jump back one month |
Custom Date/Time
Use the date and time pickers to select any specific moment in the past.
The Audit Grid
The Time Machine displays a grid of all audit checkpoints (transaction records). Each row shows:
- Timestamp - When the change was made
- Operator - Who made the change (initials)
- Station - Which computer the change was made from
Click on any row in the audit grid to view the schedule as it appeared at that specific point in time.
Show Detail
Click the Show Detail button to expand a detail panel that shows a formatted report of exactly what changed at the selected audit checkpoint. This includes:
- Which events were added, modified, or deleted
- What fields were changed
- The before and after values
Practical Uses
Investigating Scheduling Questions
"Did someone accidentally remove an appointment from the schedule, or was it never created?"
Open the Time Machine and step back through the changes to see exactly when and how the appointment was modified or removed.
Understanding What Changed
"What did the schedule look like yesterday morning?"
Use the 1 Day button or enter yesterday's date and the morning time to see the exact state of the schedule.
Resolving Disputes
"The patient says they were told their appointment was at 2:00, but it's showing at 3:00."
Step through the audit trail to see if and when the time was changed, and by whom.
Training and Quality
Review the changes made during a shift to identify training opportunities or workflow issues.
View Schedule As In The Past
A simpler alternative to the Time Machine is available at View > View Schedule As In The Past. This provides quick-jump buttons (1 Hour, 12 Hours, 1 Day, 1 Week, 1 Month) and custom date/time pickers to view the schedule at a specific past moment, without the detailed audit grid.