# How To Build A Schedule (Manually From Scratch)

## Objective

Create a manual schedule draft for a selected date range, then add shifts and activities in the planner.

## Environment

- You have permission to manage **Scheduling**.
- You know the schedule dates and timezone. Create the relevant shift and activity types first if you intend to use them in the draft.

## Resolution

1. Open **Workforce Operations** → **Scheduling**, then select **New Schedule**.
2. Select **Build Schedule** and then **Next**. This path creates a schedule without linking a forecast.
3. In **Schedule Configuration**, enter a **Schedule Name**.
4. Set the **Start Date**, **End Date**, and **Schedule Timezone**. The timezone is used for schedule intervals and adherence reporting.
5. Select **Build Schedule**. ZenOps creates a draft and opens its planner. Add shifts and activities for the agents and dates you need, then save your changes.
6. Review the draft before publishing. To inspect it by date or by work type, see [How To Review An Existing Schedule](/help/articles/review-an-existing-schedule/).

If you want the system to plan shifts from expected demand, use [How To Generate A Schedule (From A Forecast)](/help/articles/generate-a-schedule-from-a-forecast/) instead.

> Canonical page: https://zenops.cx/help/articles/create-a-schedule/
> Audience: For planners and managers
> Summary: Create a manual schedule draft without linking a forecast.

## Notes on this article

### Note: A manual draft starts without shifts

After step 5 in resolution. Build Schedule creates the draft and opens the planner. Add shifts and activities, save your work, and review it before publishing.

## Visual references

- The schedule planner opens after the draft is created. Use its view controls to inspect the schedule before adding shifts.: [ZenOps WFM activities schedule for October 2026 with generic Agent 01 through Agent 16 labels and staffing and volume totals.](https://zenops.cx/help/assets/schedule-view-anonymized.png)