---
title: "Creating a Time-Based Irrigation Program"
canonical: "https://farmconnect.docs.rubiconwater.com/space/FCD/2063761542/Creating%20a%20Time-Based%20Irrigation%20Program"
format: markdown
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> Macro (toc)
The stages of creating a time-based program are:
1. Create the program.
2. Add the program steps.
3. Check the sequence of steps.
4. Synchronize the program to send the correct presets to the field devices.
> ℹ️ **Example**
> ℹ️
> ℹ️ In this simple example program we will do the following:
> ℹ️
> ℹ️ - Irrigate BAY 1 for 60 minutes.
> ℹ️ - Irrigate BAY 2 for 60 minutes after we have irrigated BAY 1.
## Create the Program
**Step 1**
Right-click the **Irrigations** button from the Main Menu and choose *Irrigation Programs* from the drop-down menu.
**Step 2**
Choose the **Create New Time-Based Program** button from the Irrigation Programs menu.
**Step 3**
Fill out the following program details:
| **Detail** | **Description** |
| --- | --- |
| Program Name | Give your program a meaningful name. This will make it easier to re-use the program later. |
| Program Type | This will be prepopulated as *Time Based* |
| Program start time | The time and date when you want the first action to be executed. |
**Step 4**
Click **Save Program Changes** to continue.
Our example program looks like this:
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## Add Program Steps
Now we need to add steps to the program. Each step will include an *action* or *group of actions*. In this program we will only need one step.
**Step 1**
Our first step will irrigate BAY 1 for 60 minutes:
- For the **Program Action Group** select the *Irrigate Bay 1* action OR select Bay 1 on the map. Enter the irrigation duration (or accept the default duration).
Click **Create Program Step**. This will save the program step and add it to the step list.
**Step 2**
Our next step will irrigate BAY 2 for 60 minutes:
- For the **Program Action Group** select the *Irrigate Bay 2* action OR select Bay 2 on the map. Enter the irrigation duration (or accept the default duration).
- Make sure that the **after **field shows our first step. This means that the second step will run after the first step.
- Click **Create Program Step**. This will save the program step and add it to the step list.
Our program step list looks like this:
*Saved program step details*
You can make changes to the step details directly in the step. For example, you could change the duration of the irrigation.
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## Check the Program
**Step 1**
Check the program step list and make any adjustments to the durations or the step sequence.
**Step 2**
Check the program Gantt chart which is a graphical representation of the program sequence with a separate timeline for each bay.
Our finished program looks like this:
## Synchronize the Program
To use the program you must synchronize it. This writes the presets to the field devices. Click the **Synchronize Program** button in the program menu to begin the synchronization process. You’ll see the steps being uploaded and a success message is displayed when synchronization is complete. See [https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/FCD/pages/2066645114](https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/FCD/pages/2066645114) for more details.
This will create a copy of the program with the start and finish date appended to the program name. You can make changes to this program within limits while it is pending or in progress. See [https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/FCD/pages/2066612230](https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/FCD/pages/2066612230) for details.
## Demonstration Video: Create a New Time-Based Irrigation Program
## Demonstration Video: Create a New Time-Based Irrigation Program Based on Saved Program
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