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How to Use Counters

Ventrata offers the counters functionality for attractions that use turnstiles.

Updated over 2 weeks ago

πŸ” Required Role Permissions: Counters, Products, Locations

Ventrata offers a number of features for limiting availability within a tour or an attraction, be it with resources or tour times. For attractions that use turnstiles, or other means of constant validation, Ventrata has implemented counters.
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Counters allow entry to your attraction with more flexibility using the capacity setting at your venue in two different ways:

  • With Entry Turnstiles (No Exit Turnstiles)

  • With Entry and Exit Turnstiles
    ​


Create a Counter

  1. In the Ventrata dashboard, go to Products > Counters.

    Products - Counters

    Products - Counters
    ​

  2. Select the correct destination in which the counter is located .

  3. Press the + New Counter button.

    + New Counter

    New Counter

  4. Enter a name for the counter.

    Name

    Counter Name



    πŸ“— TIP

    Normally, you only need to associate a single counter with your destination, therefore you can name it after the destination or your attraction.


  5. In the 'PAX Limit' field, enter the maximum number of people your venue can host at a time or keep blank for unlimited PAX.

    PAX Count & PAX Limit

    PAX Count & Limit



    πŸ“— TIP
    The 'PAX Count' field shows the number of scanned entries or how many visitors are currently at the attraction. The counter starts at 0 and it increments as tickets are scanned for entry.
    ​


  6. Disable the 'Auto Expire' checkbox if your attraction is equipped with exit turnstiles to prevent the automatic decrease of visitors after the entry duration period has elapsed.
    ​


    πŸ“’ NOTE

    Enable 'Auto Expire' when an attraction does not have exit turnstiles and needs a reliable method to reset the counters.


  7. If 'Auto Expire' is enabled, enter the duration of the attraction in minutes, hours or days. Once the entry duration elapsed, the counters decrement since the entry scan.

    Auto Expire & Entry Duration

    Entry Duration


    πŸ“’ NOTE
    If a 'Counter Duration' is set on the product detail, see Add Counter to Product, this value takes over the 'Entry Duration' set on the counter.
    ​


  8. Press the Create Counter button.

    Create Counter

    Create Counter


Add Counter to Product

πŸ“— TIP

You can assign the same counter to multiple products.

  1. In your Ventrata dashboard, go to Product > Products.

    Products - Products

    Products - Products

  2. Select the product with which the counter is associated.

  3. Press the pen and paper icon to edit the product detail.

    Edit Product

    Edit Product

  4. Scroll down the form or simply search for 'counter' and select the 'Scans Counter' from the list of counters.

  5. Enter the 'Counter Entry Duration' in minutes, hours or days.

    Scans Counter & Counter Entry Duration

    Add Counter & Entry Duration

  6. Press the Update Product button.

Update Product

Update Product
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πŸ“— TIP

Scanning tickets with handheld devices is described in more detail in our Scan article.


Enable Entry Counter

  1. In your Ventrata dashboard, go to Ticket Terminals > Locations.

    Terminals - Locations

    Ticket Terminals - Locations
    ​

  2. Make sure the correct destination is selected.

    Destination

    Destination
    ​

  3. Select an existing location or create a new location for your entry counter.
    ​



    πŸ“— TIP
    If you need guidance on how to create a location, read our article on Locations.
    ​



    πŸ“— TIP

    It is good practice to name the location after its purpose, such as 'Entry Turnstile'.
    ​


  4. Scroll down the form and set the following:

    Entry Counter

    Counter Actions

    • Scan Action = Entry

    • Scan Counter = select counter, see Create a Counter

    • Scan Counter Action = Entry

  5. Press the Update Location button.

    Update Location

    Update Location


Enable Exit Counter

πŸ“’ NOTE

These steps pertain only to attractions which are equipped with exit turnstiles. If your attraction does not have exit turnstiles, please skip this guide.

  1. In your Ventrata dashboard, go to Ticket Terminals > Locations.

    Terminals - Locations

    Ticket Terminals - Locations

  2. Make sure the correct destination is selected.

    Destination

    Destination

  3. Select an existing location or create a new location.
    ​
    πŸ“— TIP
    If you need guidance on how to create a location, read our article on Locations.
    ​



    πŸ“— TIP
    It is good practice to name the location after its purpose, such as 'Exit Turnstile'.
    ​


  4. Scroll down the form and set the following:
    ​

    Exit Counter

    Counter Actions

    • Scan Action = Exit

    • Scan Counter = select counter, see Create a Counter

    • Scan Counter Action = Exit

  5. Press the Update Location button.

    Update Location

    Update Location
    ​

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