Schedule Types

Choose the right automation rule for your use case. Each type has a priority score — when schedules overlap, the highest-priority decision wins.

1

Close at date/time

Best for application deadlines and fixed registration cutoff dates.

How to set it up:
  1. Click Add Schedule and choose Close at date/time.
  2. Pick the exact date and time you want the form to close.
  3. Save. The form will close at that moment (within the 5-minute trigger window).

Example: "Registration closes Friday, June 30 at 11:59 PM."

Priority: 40 · Free tier: Yes
2

Open at date/time

Automatically open forms for launch windows or release schedules.

How to set it up:
  1. Click Add Schedule and choose Open at date/time.
  2. Pick the exact date and time you want the form to open.
  3. Save. The form will begin accepting responses at that moment.

Example: "Registration opens Monday, July 3 at 9:00 AM."

Priority: 30 · Free tier: Yes
3

Max responses

Close when total response count reaches a limit. Good for limited seats or first-come-first-served.

How to set it up:
  1. Click Add Schedule and choose Close after N responses.
  2. Enter the maximum number of responses you want to allow.
  3. Save. FormScheduler counts every submission and closes the form once the limit is hit.

Example: "Close after 50 responses."

Note: The counter starts from zero when you install the add-on. Pre-existing responses submitted before installation are not counted.
Priority: 50 · Free tier: Yes
4

Recurring windows

Create repeated availability windows — daily, weekly, hourly, monthly, yearly, or one-time.

How to set it up:
  1. Click Add Schedule and choose Recurring window.
  2. Pick a frequency (Daily, Weekly, Hourly, Monthly, Yearly, or One-time).
  3. Set start time and end time for each window.
  4. Choose the correct timezone. This is critical — schedules evaluate in this timezone.
  5. (Optional) Set a per-occurrence cap to limit responses for each individual window.
  6. Save.

Daily: Open 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM every day.

Weekly: Open 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM on selected days.

Hourly: Open for 30 minutes every hour.

Monthly: Open on the 1st of every month.

Yearly: Open every year on the same date.

One-time: A single window on a specific date.

Priority: 35 (open) / 50 (closed outside window) · Free tier: Yes
5

Calendar window mode

Read events from the managed calendar to dynamically open/close forms. Perfect for irregular or complex schedules.

How to set it up:
  1. Click Add Schedule and choose Calendar window.
  2. Click Create / open managed calendar. This creates a dedicated calendar called FormScheduler Schedules.
  3. In Google Calendar, make sure FormScheduler Schedules is checked in the left sidebar.
  4. Add events to that calendar. The form opens at each event's start time and closes at its end time.
  5. (Optional) Add a title prefix filter so only matching events control the form.
  6. (Optional) Set a default cap per event, or override per-event by typing [20] in the event title.
  7. Save.
Critical: select the right calendar

Events must be added to the FormScheduler Schedules calendar — not your personal calendar. After clicking "Create / open managed calendar," look for it in the left sidebar of Google Calendar. The event color matching the calendar color is your visual confirmation.

Pro tip: Use an event title prefix if you want some events on the calendar to be ignored. For example, set the prefix to Form A and only events starting with "Form A" will control this form.
Priority: 35 (open) / 50 (closed outside event) · Free tier: Yes
6

Global cap

Apply an absolute top-level cap that overrides lower-priority open signals. Once the total response count hits this number, the form stays closed regardless of other schedules.

How to set it up:
  1. Click Add Schedule and choose Global response cap.
  2. Enter the total lifetime limit you want to enforce.
  3. Save. This rule takes precedence over all open signals.

Example: "Never accept more than 500 total responses, no matter what other schedules say."

Priority: 60 (highest) · Free tier: Yes

Priority behavior

When multiple schedules overlap, higher-priority close decisions win over open decisions. Here is the full priority ladder (highest to lowest):

  1. Global cap (60) — absolute lifetime limit.
  2. Max responses (50) — per-schedule response limit.
  3. Recurring / Calendar closed (50) — form is outside an active window.
  4. Close at date/time (40) — hard deadline reached.
  5. Recurring / Calendar active (35) — form is inside an active window.
  6. Open at date/time (30) — hard open time reached.
  7. Recurring ended / No calendar (25) — schedule has no active window.
  8. No-op (0) — nothing needs to change.