Creating sessions in bulk

You create sessions in bulk using the session entry tool in Showtime Manager. This is a fast way to create all the sessions you need for a film, creating a rough draft for the schedule. 

Note: If you are working from a holdover sheet, you can automatically generate sessions based on bookings and policies. See Creating sessions from a holdover sheet for instructions.

Steps

1. In Film Manager or Cinema Manager, go to Showtime Manager.
2. Navigate to the week you want to programme. 
3. Optional (Film Manager): Click the Draft button in the toolbar to create draft sessions.
4. In the sidebar, click Session Entry.
5. If your circuit uses holdover sheets, select the Booking to create sessions for. This automatically fills out the Film, Film Format, and some other properties.
6. Set the Screen that will play the session. 
7. Select the Film to play. 

8. Set the properties for the new sessions.

   Important: Check the Trailer Duration and Cleanup Duration carefully. The session entry tool does not use the default durations for the screen you selected.

   Tip: If you want to create sessions that are mostly the same but with a few differences, it's quickest to create them in bulk first and then go back and update the individual session properties.

9. Choose the Business Days when the sessions will play. This applies to the business week you are currently viewing. 
10. There are two options for scheduling sessions:
    • Specific Times: Enter the Start Times for each session, separated by spaces. For example: 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00
    • Time Range: Enter the Earliest Start Time and Latest Start Time. The session entry tool will generate as many sessions as possible in the allotted time. 
11. Enter any additional Attributes required, such as the subtitle language.
12. Select the Price Card to apply to these sessions, or use Auto apply price cards. 
13. Click Add To Schedule.

14. Review the schedule created by session entry and fine-tune as needed. Make sure that:

    • The schedule meets the requirements on your holdover sheet (if you have one).
    • All sessions will play during your standard opening hours. 
    • There are no overlapping session times.
    • No sessions are programmed outside the booking period for the film. 

    Tip: If there are overlapping sessions, select them and click Auto space selected sessions to space them evenly.

15. Check the price cards and other properties for each session, and update if required.
16. Repeat to programme your other films, then click Save.

Note: If you want to regenerate sessions for the same film and time period, delete the existing sessions before you run session entry again. Otherwise the tool will create duplicate or overlapping sessions.

See also:

• Showtime Manager overview
• Creating sessions in Showtime Manager
• Create an assisted schedule from a film forecast
• Copying sessions in Showtime Manager
• Creating and publishing draft sessions in Film Manager
• Viewing and updating session properties in Showtime Manager