Set Virtual Time

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Overview

You can set the virtual time to simulate events that will occur in the future in your Aria implementation. Virtual time can be used for testing purposes. Your currently set virtual time is displayed at the top of the screen.

Some information to keep in mind:

Virtual time is available only in the Stage Current and Stage Future environments.
Virtual time cannot be set to today’s date and time.
Virtual time cannot be set to a date in the past.
Batch processes and reports that are scheduled to run daily will run based on the virtual time specified. If you set a virtual time later than the scheduled run time of a batch process or report, those tasks will not run until the next scheduled run time.
Once advanced, virtual time cannot be reversed.
Monitor the batch logs to ensure that all daily processes have completed before advancing virtual time again.
Any other systems that are integrated with Aria must be able to handle events that will take place in the future.

Setting Virtual Time

Getting Here: Click Configuration > Client Settings > Virtual Time

From the Increment Type drop-down:

Select One Hour to advance the virtual time by one hour.
Select One Day to advance the virtual time by one day.
Select One Month to advance the virtual time by one month.
Select Custom to advance the virtual time by 2 or more hours.

An Increment Amount in Hours field displays. Enter the number of hours to advance the virtual time.

Note: The number of hours can only be a whole number. For example, you can advance virtual time by 3 or 4 hours, but not 3.5 hours.

Click Save.

The virtual time is set.

For example, consider the following scenarios, assuming the current date is 1/1/2015 in each case:

Advance time by 1 day: The new date will be 1/2/2015 and batches will execute for 1/2/2015.
Advance time by 48 hours: The new date will be 1/3/2015 and batches will execute for 1/3/2015. There will be no batch logs for the intervening day.
Advance time by 1 month: The new date will be 2/1/2015 and batches will execute for 2/1/2015 only. There will be no batch logs for the intervening days.

For running or scheduling reports, you must use exact calendar dates and refrain from using relative time filters (e.g. "7 days prior" or "beginning of current quarter").

Additionally, any third-party applications that are integrated with Aria must also be able to receive dates in the future.

An alternative to virtual time is to use retroactive start dates when creating accounts in Aria. Your Professional Services team can help you evaluate which testing method works best for you.