> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.heystandard.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Past schedules

> Upload a prior schedule so the system can match patterns your team is used to

This step is optional. If you have a schedule from a previous year, upload it and the system uses it to learn patterns your team is used to.

## What to upload

Drop a file in the upload area or click to browse. Supported formats:

* CSV
* Excel (`.xlsx` or `.xls`)
* PDF

The file can be in whatever format your team already uses. The system parses what it can.

## What we do with it

Past schedules help the system detect patterns: how blocks tend to be distributed, common rotation orders, fairness norms your team has historically followed.

Past schedules **inform** the system. They don't override the [rules](/make-your-first-schedule/2-rules) you set in the previous step. Rules are what constrain the assignments.

## No past schedule?

Skip this step. The schedule still generates from the rules and people you've defined.