Important Note: This article discusses classic functionality. For information on the modern applicant experience, refer to the Applicant Experience Knowledgebase article.
When going to the 'dates' tab of the program builder, the drop-down menu for creating program date records, by default, will only display the application cycles for the current and future years in which there is not yet a program date record.
Clicking on the '(Click here to include all application cycles)' link below this drop-down menu will re-populate that drop-down menu with the application cycles for years in the past and permit the creation of the program date records for those years.
Retroactively putting in the start and end dates will automatically result in the accepted and committed applications for those application cycles being advanced to the proper application phase. However, it should be noted that they might not receive the 'phase stamp' of returnee if the end date is significantly in the past (more than 90 days). Also, advanced application searches based on application phase will not find applications based on these new start/end dates until the Reminders scheduled task has executed (usually a nightly task).
Creating Date Records for Inactive Application Cycles
The 'dates' tab of the program builder doesn't allow a program date record to be created for an inactive application cycle.However, there are two alternative methods for creating program date records for app cycles that aren't active yet:
1.) Activate the app cycle but with an application deadline in the past - create the program date records and then de-activate the app cycle and switch the application deadline back to normal.
While this can result in a temporary display of that app cycle in the programs with an application deadline in the past, it will permit the date records to be made without permitting applicants to apply.
2.) Use the Data Import/Export Utility's program date template to create the program date records through an import routine. When importing a program date record that doesn't yet exist for a program, the import tool will create it for the program.