Not blocking (Information mode): Busy times are displayed but are not used to block out your availability. This means that if busy time and your availability overlap, your availability will prevail and invitees will still see you as available even though you are busy at that time. Note that the "Busy time blocks my availability" checkbox is not checked, busy time color is semi-transparent and there is "not blocking" text in the tool tip:
Blocking mode: Busy times are displayed and are also used to block out your availability. This means that if busy time and your availability overlap, your busy time will prevail and invitees will not see you as available even if you have marked availability at that time. Note that the "Busy time blocks my availability" checkbox is checked, busy time color is solid and there is "blocking" text in the tool tip:
Which mode is used by default?
For inbound, the default mode is Blocking mode. For outbound, the default mode is Not blocking mode. You can always change it by checking or unchecking the box "Busy time blocks my availability" on your inbound settings page or the invite page for outbound meetings.
How to change blocking mode in Outbound?
Click New Invitation from your home page and then Select calendars. You will see the check box at the top.
How to change blocking mode in Inbound?
Go to the availability section in your Inbound settings page and you will see the check box.
Which mode should you use?
If you use your calendar to track events that are not only meetings, we recommend using Not blocking (information) mode. For example, some people have birthday reminders, deadlines, tasks, etc which are entered as meetings and can be treated as busy time, when in fact, they are only reminders and you are available to meet at that time. If you use your calendar to track other events and still want to use Blocking mode you can go into your calendar and for each of these events, change their availability from busy to available. This will tell ScheduleOnce that these events should not be treated as busy time and will allow you to keep track of the events but not have them block your availability.
If you use your calendar strictly for meetings and/or mark non-meeting events as available, then we definitely recommend using Blocking mode. This will allow you to reap the full benefits of ScheduleOnce and let ScheduleOnce do the work for you, so you need not worry about double booking.
It is also important to mention that if you want to work in Appointment mode your calendar must be connected in Blocking mode. Since scheduling in Appointment mode is automatic, calendar connection in Blocking mode is a must in order to block the timeslot associated with a booked appointment and prevent double booking.