Layout Editor

The fastest way to create a diagram is to use Automatic Layout Mode. To enable automatic layout, you first have to set the default layouts for each meeting space. For example, set how banquet style is laid in the ballroom to fill the space to maximum capacity. We'll show you a count of the number of seats, tables, and booths so you can confirm that what you believe is the maximum capacity actually fits in the space. If you change a setting, for example the size of a table —you'll see if it affects the capacity before you click save. This also updates your capacity chart, which is a great time saver.

Before you use the Layout Editor, ensure you have completed the recommended steps in Resources and Seating Preferences.

Lets say you just converted a suite into a boardroom. Using Layout Editor, place banquet chairs with arms and change the focal point of the room to face the LCD screen on the right side wall. Your capacity chart will automatically update with number of seats in the new layout. When designing a room plan for a customer, this is the layout that will apply using Automatic Layout mode. Then, you'll use design mode to customize any specifics for their event. Overall, you'll save time, avoid errors, and improve the experience for your users.

If you skip the Layout Editor, you'll still be able to set the room how you would like using Design Mode. Although, it may take a little longer to achieve the same outcome.

If we created your meeting spaces for you during your installation, we added the most popular styles to get you up and running. If your property uses Exhibit style or Theater Chevron, follow the steps below to add them.

If you use Website Edition, room thumbnails and default room setups will update to reflect your changes.

You must be an administrator to access the Layout Editor.

To enable a seating style

1. From the Settings menu click Layout Editor.
2. Select the room.
3. Select the seating style you want to work with in the top left section of the page.
• The most common step is to select Use Seating Wizard and click Update Room to automatically fill the room. This uses the parameters you set in the Seating Preferences Editor. You'll need to set the standard layouts before Staggered or Chevron.
• If you need something different than what the wizard provides, select Manually drawn setup and then Create to custom-design the setup for Automatic Layout mode.
• Select Does not apply to make that seating style unavailable for that room in Automatic Layout mode. For example, if the room has a built in boardroom table, the only style you need is conference, so select Does not apply for all other options.
4. Click Update Room when prompted. In the upper right page header, check the number of seats, tables, and booths match your maximum capacity.
5. If you need to make changes, select the appropriate option in the left navigation pane.
   • Table and Chair Size / Type
     • For example, select the 5.5ft table and wooden chairs
   • Chair Arrangement (Banquet)
     • For example, select Crescent to set chairs facing one side of the room
   • Chairs Per Table
   • Direction (which way the chairs should be facing)
   • Aisle Options
   • Distance (between rows, tables, and chairs)
   • Booth Size (Exhibit only)
6. Click Save .
   • If your changes affected the maximum number of seats, your capacity chart will automatically update.

You'll need to enter setup capacities for reception style directly in the Capacity Editor.

To view an audit trail of changes made to your default layouts, open the room in the Layout Editor and then click Show Layout History . For example, you notice the capacity for classroom style in Conference Suite A recently changed. View the history to see a log of who did what.

While capacities can be updated in both the Layout Editor and the Capacity Editor, our recommendation is that maximum capacities are always set in the Layout Editor. This proves that, using the table and chair sizes at your property, this is the true capacity. If you make updates directly in the Capacity Editor, it does not override the Layout Editor.

Clicking Reset Room returns the room to the last saved defaults.

Theater in the Round

Theater in the Round has these settings: Angle, Elliptical Factor, Radius, Min Seats per Group, and Offset.

• The default for Angle is 180 degrees and you can set it with values between 0 and 360 degrees.
• The Elliptical Factor defaults to 1 and can be set from 0.1 to 2. This affects the "roundness" of your setup. Numbers less than 1 make the ellipse (oval) wider and numbers greater than 1 make it taller.

  

• The default for Radius is 1 foot, which is the smallest value. The largest is 100 feet. The radius is the distance from the center to the first chair.
• Minimum seats per group are the smallest grouping of seats that you want to set, with a default of 3.
• The Auto Center Offset is set to 0 feet for the middle of the room. To change this value, clear the Auto Center Offset selection and enter a value in Offset. This moves the center point of your setup towards the middle of the room. You may need to increase the offset to set a circle of chairs (by increasing the angle).

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