{"id":"692e3aaf4bc73507d7a4afe3","title":"Add Walk Slots","path":"how-to/committee/walks/add-walk-slots","contentMarkdown":"# Add Walk Slots\n\nWalk slots are empty placeholder walks that admins create in advance, ready for walk leaders to claim and fill in. They are the foundation of the **local walks workflow** - if your group manages its walks programme inside NGX-Ramblers rather than syncing from Ramblers Walks Manager, walk slots are how you build up your forward programme.\n\n## When This Feature Applies\n\nThis feature is **only available when your group's Walk Population is set to Local**. You can check this in **Admin > System Settings > Group / Area Configuration > Group Walk Population**.\n\nThere are two population modes:\n\n- **Local** - walks are created and managed entirely inside NGX-Ramblers. Admins create walk slots, walk leaders claim them, fill in details, and submit for approval. This is the mode where walk slots are used.\n- **Walks Manager** - walks are pulled in from Ramblers Walks Manager. The walks programme is managed there, and NGX-Ramblers displays them. Walk slots are not used in this mode and the buttons to create them will be disabled.\n\nIf your group is in Walks Manager mode and you switch to Local mode, you can start creating walk slots. If you do this, be aware that you are now managing the entire walks programme inside NGX-Ramblers - your existing Walks Manager data will not be carried across automatically.\n\n## Configure Your Regular Walk Day and Self-Service Access\n\nBefore creating slots, go to **Walks > Admin > Config > General** and check these settings:\n\n- **Regular Walk Day** - the day your group usually walks. This defaults to Sunday for existing groups, but can be changed to any day. It drives the default bulk slot day and the wording shown to members.\n- **Walk leader self-service - who can create their own walk** - controls whether members can create their own non-regular walk directly from the walks programme. Leave it as **No access** if only Walks Admins should create slots; choose a wider access level such as **Logged-in member** if leaders are allowed to create their own walk slots.\n\n![](https://ngx-ramblers.org.uk/api/aws/s3/site-content/80902087-6599-40be-94ae-d7d9edaf88a5.png)\n\n*Walks > Admin > Config > General, showing the Regular Walk Day and walk-creation access level settings.*\n\n## Where Walks Admins Create Slots\n\n1. Go to **Admin > Walks Admin**\n2. Click **Add Walk Slots**\n\nYou will see two options for creating slots. Walks Admins can use both options regardless of the self-service setting, as long as the group is using Local walk population.\n\n![](https://ngx-ramblers.org.uk/api/aws/s3/site-content/9ee355f3-9212-454b-8376-7f7eec539064.png)\n\n*The Add Walk Slots screen in bulk mode, with Walk day, end date, and start time controls.*\n\n## Creating Regular Slots in Bulk\n\nThis is the most common coordinator workflow. Use it when you want to create a run of empty slots on your group's usual walk day, or temporarily switch the dropdown to another day for a separate batch.\n\n1. Select **Create slots in bulk**\n2. Choose the **Walk day**\n3. Choose **Add available slots until**\n4. Choose the **Start time**\n5. Click **Add slots**\n6. Review the confirmation message, then confirm to create the slots\n\nThe system automatically:\n\n- Generates a slot for each matching weekday between now and the selected end date\n- Skips Christmas Day (25 December)\n- Skips dates where a walk slot already exists, so you can run bulk creation repeatedly without creating duplicates\n\nAn email notification can optionally be sent to the group informing them that new slots are ready to be filled.\n\n## Creating a Non-Standard Single Slot\n\nUse this option for one-off walks that do not fit the regular pattern, such as evening walks, midweek walks, away days, or extra weekend walks.\n\n![](https://ngx-ramblers.org.uk/api/aws/s3/site-content/75c818c1-055a-4703-8f3d-8405adef697c.png)\n\n*Create non-standard slot lets a Walks Admin create a single slot on any date, with its own start time.*\n\n1. Select **Create non-standard slot**\n2. Pick the date\n3. Choose the start time\n4. Click **Add slot**\n5. Review the confirmation message, then confirm to create the slot\n\nThe system checks whether a slot already exists for that date before creating a new one.\n\n## Letting Walk Leaders Create Their Own Walks\n\nIssue [#269](https://github.com/nbarrett/ngx-ramblers/issues/269) added a self-service route for groups that want walk leaders to create their own non-regular walk slots.\n\nWhen **Walk leader self-service - who can create their own walk** is set to an access level the logged-in member meets, that member sees an extra option in the walks programme view menu.\n\n![](https://ngx-ramblers.org.uk/api/aws/s3/site-content/4bbf43b8-9352-4136-98f7-033bd561e17f.png)\n\n*The walks programme view menu with Add non-Sunday walk visible for a logged-in member who has self-service access.*\n\nThe menu label follows your regular walk day. If Sunday is your configured regular day, it says **Add non-Sunday walk**; if Wednesday is your regular day, it says **Add non-Wednesday walk**.\n\nChoosing the option opens the walk editor with:\n\n- The logged-in member already set as the walk leader\n- The date and start time available for the leader to choose\n- The normal walk editor fields ready to complete\n- The usual approval workflow still applying before the walk is published\n\nThis route is useful when your committee wants to keep regular programme slots coordinated, but allow members to add extra walks without asking a Walks Admin first.\n\n## What a Walk Slot Looks Like Through Its Lifecycle\n\nA walk programme moves through several states, and you can see all of these on the walks list as you browse forward in time:\n\n### 1. Approved walks\n\nWalks closest to today are usually fully populated and approved. They show the full walk details - title, leader, description, distance, location, route map, and contact information:\n\n![](https://ngx-ramblers.org.uk/api/aws/s3/site-content/7fdeb643-9f81-43e4-bb2d-991bdf490467.png)\n\n*The walks programme showing fully populated, approved walks near the current date.*\n\n### 2. Awaiting walk details\n\nA few weeks out you may find walks where a leader has claimed the slot but has not yet filled in all the walk details. These show the leader's name but no description, distance, or route information yet:\n\n![](https://ngx-ramblers.org.uk/api/aws/s3/site-content/9381d422-d618-47c5-b61f-c1a09581aa0a.png)\n\n*A walk that has a leader assigned but the full walk details have not yet been provided.*\n\n### 3. Awaiting leader\n\nFurther into the future, you will find empty slots created by the Add Walk Slots feature. These are marked **Awaiting walk leader** and are waiting for someone to claim them:\n\n![](https://ngx-ramblers.org.uk/api/aws/s3/site-content/c9b263d4-9520-459c-b352-2321534edd53.png)\n\n*Empty walk slots awaiting a leader. These were created by the Add Walk Slots feature and are waiting for someone to volunteer.*\n\n## How Walk Leaders Claim a Slot\n\nOnce slots exist, walk leaders can claim them:\n\n1. The walk leader views the walks list and finds an **Awaiting walk leader** slot\n2. They click the slot to open it\n3. They click **Lead this Walk**\n4. The system automatically sets them as the walk leader and changes the status to **Awaiting Walk Details**\n5. They fill in the walk details and save the walk\n6. When ready, they submit it for approval\n\n## The Walk Lifecycle\n\nEach walk moves through these states:\n\n1. **Awaiting Leader** - empty slot waiting for someone to claim it\n2. **Awaiting Walk Details** - leader has claimed the slot and is filling in the details\n3. **Awaiting Approval** - walk details are complete, waiting for a coordinator to approve\n4. **Approved** - published on the walks programme and visible to everyone, and also ready for export to Ramblers Walks Manager if your group uses that workflow\n5. **Deleted** - removed from the programme\n\nA coordinator can also free a slot at any time, either keeping the walk details so a new leader takes it over, or wiping it back to a blank slot.\n\n## Tips for Walks Coordinators\n\n- Set **Regular Walk Day** before generating slots in bulk\n- Use bulk creation at the start of each season to give walk leaders plenty of advance visibility\n- Re-run bulk creation periodically - it only adds missing slots, so it is safe to use as a top-up\n- Use the non-standard single-slot feature for evening walks, midweek walks, away days, and extra dates\n- Enable self-service only for the access level your committee is comfortable with\n- The Add Walk Slots feature is the recommended approach for any group running walks on a regular cadence\n\n## Related Guides\n\n- [Walk Leader Contact Settings](https://ngx-ramblers.org.uk/how-to/committee/walks/leader-contact) - configure how visitors get in touch with walk leaders\n- [Walk Editor](https://ngx-ramblers.org.uk/how-to/committee/walks/walk-editor) - fill in and submit a claimed slot\n- [Ramblers Walk Export](https://ngx-ramblers.org.uk/how-to/committee/walks/export) - export walks to upload to Ramblers Walks Manager\n- [Ramblers Walk Import From CSV](https://ngx-ramblers.org.uk/how-to/committee/walks/csv-import) - bulk import walks from a spreadsheet\n- [Meetup Settings](https://ngx-ramblers.org.uk/how-to/committee/walks/meetup-settings) - publish walks to a Meetup group","contentHtml":"

Add Walk Slots

\n

Walk slots are empty placeholder walks that admins create in advance, ready for walk leaders to claim and fill in. They are the foundation of the local walks workflow - if your group manages its walks programme inside NGX-Ramblers rather than syncing from Ramblers Walks Manager, walk slots are how you build up your forward programme.

\n

When This Feature Applies

\n

This feature is only available when your group's Walk Population is set to Local. You can check this in Admin > System Settings > Group / Area Configuration > Group Walk Population.

\n

There are two population modes:

\n\n

If your group is in Walks Manager mode and you switch to Local mode, you can start creating walk slots. If you do this, be aware that you are now managing the entire walks programme inside NGX-Ramblers - your existing Walks Manager data will not be carried across automatically.

\n

Configure Your Regular Walk Day and Self-Service Access

\n

Before creating slots, go to Walks > Admin > Config > General and check these settings:

\n\n

\"\"

\n

Walks > Admin > Config > General, showing the Regular Walk Day and walk-creation access level settings.

\n

Where Walks Admins Create Slots

\n
    \n
  1. Go to Admin > Walks Admin
    2. \n
  2. Click Add Walk Slots
    3. \n
\n

You will see two options for creating slots. Walks Admins can use both options regardless of the self-service setting, as long as the group is using Local walk population.

\n

\"\"

\n

The Add Walk Slots screen in bulk mode, with Walk day, end date, and start time controls.

\n

Creating Regular Slots in Bulk

\n

This is the most common coordinator workflow. Use it when you want to create a run of empty slots on your group's usual walk day, or temporarily switch the dropdown to another day for a separate batch.

\n
    \n
  1. Select Create slots in bulk
    2. \n
  2. Choose the Walk day
    3. \n
  3. Choose Add available slots until
    4. \n
  4. Choose the Start time
    5. \n
  5. Click Add slots
    6. \n
  6. Review the confirmation message, then confirm to create the slots
    7. \n
\n

The system automatically:

\n\n

An email notification can optionally be sent to the group informing them that new slots are ready to be filled.

\n

Creating a Non-Standard Single Slot

\n

Use this option for one-off walks that do not fit the regular pattern, such as evening walks, midweek walks, away days, or extra weekend walks.

\n

\"\"

\n

Create non-standard slot lets a Walks Admin create a single slot on any date, with its own start time.

\n
    \n
  1. Select Create non-standard slot
    2. \n
  2. Pick the date
    3. \n
  3. Choose the start time
    4. \n
  4. Click Add slot
    5. \n
  5. Review the confirmation message, then confirm to create the slot
    6. \n
\n

The system checks whether a slot already exists for that date before creating a new one.

\n

Letting Walk Leaders Create Their Own Walks

\n

Issue #269 added a self-service route for groups that want walk leaders to create their own non-regular walk slots.

\n

When Walk leader self-service - who can create their own walk is set to an access level the logged-in member meets, that member sees an extra option in the walks programme view menu.

\n

\"\"

\n

The walks programme view menu with Add non-Sunday walk visible for a logged-in member who has self-service access.

\n

The menu label follows your regular walk day. If Sunday is your configured regular day, it says Add non-Sunday walk; if Wednesday is your regular day, it says Add non-Wednesday walk.

\n

Choosing the option opens the walk editor with:

\n\n

This route is useful when your committee wants to keep regular programme slots coordinated, but allow members to add extra walks without asking a Walks Admin first.

\n

What a Walk Slot Looks Like Through Its Lifecycle

\n

A walk programme moves through several states, and you can see all of these on the walks list as you browse forward in time:

\n

1. Approved walks

\n

Walks closest to today are usually fully populated and approved. They show the full walk details - title, leader, description, distance, location, route map, and contact information:

\n

\"\"

\n

The walks programme showing fully populated, approved walks near the current date.

\n

2. Awaiting walk details

\n

A few weeks out you may find walks where a leader has claimed the slot but has not yet filled in all the walk details. These show the leader's name but no description, distance, or route information yet:

\n

\"\"

\n

A walk that has a leader assigned but the full walk details have not yet been provided.

\n

3. Awaiting leader

\n

Further into the future, you will find empty slots created by the Add Walk Slots feature. These are marked Awaiting walk leader and are waiting for someone to claim them:

\n

\"\"

\n

Empty walk slots awaiting a leader. These were created by the Add Walk Slots feature and are waiting for someone to volunteer.

\n

How Walk Leaders Claim a Slot

\n

Once slots exist, walk leaders can claim them:

\n
    \n
  1. The walk leader views the walks list and finds an Awaiting walk leader slot
    2. \n
  2. They click the slot to open it
    3. \n
  3. They click Lead this Walk
    4. \n
  4. The system automatically sets them as the walk leader and changes the status to Awaiting Walk Details
    5. \n
  5. They fill in the walk details and save the walk
    6. \n
  6. When ready, they submit it for approval
    7. \n
\n

The Walk Lifecycle

\n

Each walk moves through these states:

\n
    \n
  1. Awaiting Leader - empty slot waiting for someone to claim it
    2. \n
  2. Awaiting Walk Details - leader has claimed the slot and is filling in the details
    3. \n
  3. Awaiting Approval - walk details are complete, waiting for a coordinator to approve
    4. \n
  4. Approved - published on the walks programme and visible to everyone, and also ready for export to Ramblers Walks Manager if your group uses that workflow
    5. \n
  5. Deleted - removed from the programme
    6. \n
\n

A coordinator can also free a slot at any time, either keeping the walk details so a new leader takes it over, or wiping it back to a blank slot.

\n

Tips for Walks Coordinators

\n\n

Related Guides

\n\n"}