====== Time slices of contracts ======

{{tag>contract slice time}}

On many projects, we encounter a source of data about users, employees or org. structures that use so-called time slices. Slice is essentially a snapshot of a contract in a given period of time. To simplify working with time slices, an agenda of the contract's time slices was created.

**The basic idea** is that time slices are stored in a self-contained agenda. This agenda only contains time slices for identity contracts. If a given slice is currently valid, its values will be **copied into the linked identity contract**. **Every day**, a scheduled task is performed, which calculates which slice is valid. Such a slice becomes currently used as a contract (its values are copied into the contract).

<note important>In one day, only **one slice** can exist for one contract. Every slice must contain all data of the contract. Slice is a **snapshot** of the contract! </note>

**More information** about contract time slices can be found [[..:..:..:documentation:identities:dev:contractual-relationship-slice|in the developer guide]] .

==== Protection of the validity of the contract ====
{{tag>contract slice protection}}

Sometimes there may be a situation where one of the time slices **ends** the contract, and at the same time, there is a next time slice that **restarts** this contract. If there is no gap between termination and restart, then the contract will not be terminated (no accounts will be deleted). If the dates do not follow, then (by default) the contract will be **terminated** and all connected **accounts will be removed** from the target systems.

However, in some situations (projects), it is required to use the **protection period** for which the contract will **not be terminated**, provided that there is the next slice in the contract, which restarts the contract. Furthermore, it must be ensured that the gap between the termination and the beginning of the contract is shorter than or equal to the protection interval.