It is possible to let the program change the color on a dining table if it is allocated to a reservation within a certain time limit. The status always applies to free dining tables but can also apply to dining tables that are to be cleaned and dining tables that are not available. The status is only for changing color on a dining table, it does not change the underlying status of the dining table.
You can also let the program show a colored border around the dining table button if the table is allocated to a reservation within a certain time limit. This border is shown regardless of the status of the table. This way you can see whether an occupied table has a reservation coming up.
Note: If the dining table has an alert, the alert border is shown instead of the allocated border.
You need to activate the Allocated status if you want to show the table as allocated. You can have a fixed time limit for when it starts to show or a time limit that depends on the dining duration for the period that is active.
Note: For each dining area you specify how many minutes in advance of a reservation on a dining table you start seating the reserved guests. This time limit is set in the Advance Seating of Reserved Guests (Min.) field. If this time limit has been reached but you want to seat other guests at the table, you need to cancel the dining table allocation.
To activate the Allocated status for dining tables in a dining area
- Click the
icon, enter Service Flows, and select the relevant link. - Select the service flow that is active for the dining area in question.
- Assuming that Allocation/Reserv. Tracking is turned on (if not, the allocation/reservation feature is not active in the system), select the desired option in the Show Table as Allocated field.
- In the Allocated Status Timing field, you can enter a fixed number of minutes. If the dining table has a reservation that starts within this number of minutes, the Allocated status will be shown for the table.
Note: If you do not enter a value in the Allocated Status Timing field, the program uses the default dining duration (Default Duration (Min.)) as a time limit for showing the Allocated status.
Example: The default dining duration for breakfast in a dining area is 30 minutes. The Allocated status is shown at 08:30 for a dining table with a reservation that starts at 9:00. The default dining duration for dinner is 60 minutes. The Allocated status is shown at 19:00 for a dining table with a reservation that starts at 20:00.
In another dining area, the default dining duration for breakfast in a dining area is 45 minutes. The Allocated status is shown at 08:15 for a dining table with a reservation that starts at 9.00. The default dining duration for dinner is 75 minutes. The Allocated status is shown at 18:45 for a dining table with a reservation that starts at 20:00.
If dinner starts at 18:00 with default dining duration 90 minutes and the period before has default dining duration 30 minutes, a dining table with a reservation at 18.00 will be shown as allocated at 17:30. A dining table with reservation at 18.30 will be shown as allocated at 18.00.
To activate the Allocated Border for dining tables in a dining area
- Click the icon, enter Service Flows , and select the relevant link.
- Select the service flow that is active for the dining area in question.
- Assuming that Allocation/Reserv. Tracking is turned on (if not, the allocation/reservation feature is not active in the system), select the option Yes in the Show Allocated Table w/Border field.
- In the Allocated Border Skin field, select a skin that has the desired Border Color and Border Width. The default skin available is #DT-ALLOC-BORDER.
- In the Allocated Status Timing field, you can enter a fixed number of minutes. If the dining table has a reservation that starts within this number of minutes, the Allocated border will be shown for the table.