# Schedule and status

> Use Draft, Active and Inactive to test and switch rules, and Active dates to schedule discounts.

Source: https://backtrackhq.com/docs/building-rules/schedule-and-status/

A rule's status decides who it affects. Draft rules affect only you, active
rules affect every shopper, and inactive rules affect no one. Discount rules
can also have active dates, so they start and end on their own.

## Status

The **Status** card on the right of the rule form has three choices.

### Draft

"A draft rule is for testing without affecting checkout for your
customers." To see a draft rule in action, enter the email
`draft@draft.com` at checkout. The card shows this hint when Draft is
selected.

### Activate

"An active rule is applied on your store checkout for all of your
customers." Active rules count toward your plan's rule limit.

### Deactivate

"A deactivated rule will not affect checkout for your customers, so you can
deactivate a rule without deleting it." The rule list shows it as
**Inactive**.

(Screenshot: The Status card with Draft selected and the draft@draft.com hint)

> **Note:** Drafts do not count toward your rule limit. Only active rules
> do. See [Rule limit reached](https://backtrackhq.com/docs/help/rule-limit-reached/).

## Test a rule safely

1. **Set the status to Draft and click Save rule.**

   (Screenshot: The Status card with Draft selected and the draft@draft.com hint)

2. **Go to checkout on your store and enter `draft@draft.com` as the
   email.**

   The draft rule now runs for this checkout only. Check that it does what
   you expect.

   (Screenshot: Checkout with draft@draft.com in the email field)

3. **Set the status to Activate and save.**

   Now the rule runs for every shopper.

   (Screenshot: The Status card with Activate selected)

## Change many rules at once

On the **Rules** page, select rules with the checkboxes. Then use
**Activate**, **Deactivate** or **Set as draft**.

## Active dates (discounts)

Discount rules have an **Active dates** card: "Set when this discount
should become active and optionally when it should end."

### Start date and Start time

When the discount goes live. The card says "This discount will go live at
...".

### Set end date

Tick it to pick an **End date** and **End time**. The discount then stops on
its own.

Times use your store's timezone. The card shows it, along with the current
store time.

### Scheduled, Active and Expired badges

The card shows a badge based on the dates and the current store time:

- **Scheduled**: the start date is still in the future. Once the status is
  Active, the discount goes live by itself on the start date.
- **Active**: the store time is inside the date range. The discount applies
  only if the rule's status is also Active.
- **Expired**: the end date has passed. The discount won't apply, even if
  the status is Active. Change or remove the end date to run it again.

The **Rules** list adds "(Scheduled)" or "(Expired)" next to the status.

> **Caution:** The end date wins over the status. An Active discount with a
> past end date does not apply at checkout.

(Screenshot: The Active dates card with a Scheduled badge)

> **Note:** Manage a discount's status in AndOr. Status changes made in the
> Shopify admin won't be reflected in the app.