8.3.3. Sample Time-Based Expressions

A small sample of how time-based expressions can be used:

Example 8.1. True if now is any time in the year 2005

<rule id="rule1">
   <date_expression id="date_expr1" start="2005-001" operation="in_range">
    <duration years="1"/>
   </date_expression>
</rule>

Example 8.2. Equivalent expression

<rule id="rule2">
   <date_expression id="date_expr2" operation="date_spec">
    <date_spec years="2005"/>
   </date_expression>
</rule>

Example 8.3. 9am-5pm Monday-Friday

<rule id="rule3">
   <date_expression id="date_expr3" operation="date_spec">
    <date_spec hours="9-16" days="1-5"/>
   </date_expression>
</rule>

Please note that the 16 matches up to 16:59:59, as the numeric value (hour) still matches!

Example 8.4. 9am-6pm Monday through Friday or anytime Saturday

<rule id="rule4" boolean-op="or">
   <date_expression id="date_expr4-1" operation="date_spec">
    <date_spec hours="9-16" days="1-5"/>
   </date_expression>
   <date_expression id="date_expr4-2" operation="date_spec">
    <date_spec days="6"/>
   </date_expression>
</rule>

Example 8.5. 9am-5pm or 9pm-12am Monday through Friday

<rule id="rule5" boolean-op="and">
   <rule id="rule5-nested1" boolean-op="or">
    <date_expression id="date_expr5-1" operation="date_spec">
     <date_spec hours="9-16"/>
    </date_expression>
    <date_expression id="date_expr5-2" operation="date_spec">
     <date_spec hours="21-23"/>
    </date_expression>
   </rule>
   <date_expression id="date_expr5-3" operation="date_spec">
    <date_spec days="1-5"/>
   </date_expression>
  </rule>

Example 8.6. Mondays in March 2005

<rule id="rule6" boolean-op="and">
   <date_expression id="date_expr6-1" operation="date_spec">
    <date_spec weekdays="1"/>
   </date_expression>
   <date_expression id="date_expr6-2" operation="in_range"
     start="2005-03-01" end="2005-04-01"/>
  </rule>

Note

Because no time is specified with the above dates, 00:00:00 is implied. This means that the range includes all of 2005-03-01 but none of 2005-04-01. You may wish to write end="2005-03-31T23:59:59" to avoid confusion.

Example 8.7. A full moon on Friday the 13th

<rule id="rule7" boolean-op="and">
   <date_expression id="date_expr7" operation="date_spec">
    <date_spec weekdays="5" monthdays="13" moon="4"/>
   </date_expression>
</rule>