> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dishink.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Temporary Tables

> Walk-in and pop-up seating that auto-archives once paid — how staff and managers create, manage, and clean them up.

Temporary tables are the answer to "a group just walked in and we need a bill fast" — and to pop-up events where you need seating that vanishes when the night is over.

## Overview

A **temporary table** behaves exactly like a permanent one — it has a name, section, capacity, sessions, bills, KDS tickets — with one crucial difference:

> Once its bill is paid and the session closes, the temporary table **automatically archives** from the floor plan.

You never have to clean up. The card disappears, history stays.

## Who can create them

| Role    | Can create | Can uncheck "Temporary"?          |
| ------- | ---------- | --------------------------------- |
| Manager | Yes        | Yes — they can create either kind |
| Cashier | Yes        | No — locked on                    |
| Waiter  | Yes        | No — locked on                    |

<Note>
  This rule is enforced in the UI. When a non-manager opens the Add Table modal, the **Temporary table** checkbox is checked and greyed out, with the label: *"Staff-created tables are always temporary."*
</Note>

## Create a temporary table

1. From the **Floor Plan**, tap **Add Table**.
2. Enter a name — e.g. `Walk-in 1`, `Group of 6`, `Bar Stool`, or leave it as the auto-suggested `Walk-in #N`.
3. Set capacity and section as normal. Many restaurants use a dedicated `Walk-in` section.
4. Ensure **Temporary table** is checked. (For staff it's already locked on.)
5. Tap **Add Table**.

<Frame caption="Creating a temporary table for a walk-in group">
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/dishink/images/tables/temporary-tables.png" alt="Temporary table" />
</Frame>

The card appears immediately on the floor plan with a small **Temp** badge in the corner.

## Identifying temporary tables on the floor

Temporary tables display a **Temp** badge on their card. Otherwise they look and behave like any other table:

* They can be opened, ordered on, split, transferred, and merged.
* KDS tickets show their name.
* Waiter assignments work normally.

## What happens when they close

The moment **both** of these are true, the table auto-archives:

1. The session is **closed** (via Close Table or Pay & Close).
2. The bill is **fully settled** (payment total ≥ bill total).

The card disappears from the floor plan on the next refresh. Historical data is preserved:

* The bill remains in Transaction History / Shift.
* ZRA Smart Invoice submissions keep the original table name.
* Shift reports include revenue and item counts.

<Warning>
  If a bill is closed **without payment** (Manager PIN required — see [Table Statuses](/tables/table-statuses)), the table still archives, but the closure appears in the manager audit log with the reason.
</Warning>

## Bringing back an archived temporary table

You can't un-archive from the floor plan. If you need it back:

* Just **create a new one** with the same name. The old bill is preserved separately in history.
* Or, ask a manager to **create it as permanent** if you find you're using the same walk-in slot every night.

## Editing a temporary table

Staff can rename, resection, or re-capacity a temporary table they created via the Edit Table modal — the same fields work.

Staff can also **delete** their own temporary tables without a Manager PIN. This is useful if a group leaves before ordering.

## Tips & best practices

<Tip>
  Create a **`Walk-in`** section. Set your walk-in preference on the Floor Plan to **Separate** so those tables cluster at the bottom of the grid and don't clutter your permanent layout.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  Give temporary tables **descriptive names** during busy service: `Bar - group of 4`, `Patio spillover`, `Birthday party`. Kitchen staff appreciate the context on KDS tickets.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  Managers: if a temporary table has been sitting **Ordering** for over an hour without KDS activity, it's probably a group that walked away without paying. Force-close it (Manager PIN) and follow up.
</Tip>

## Common mistakes

* **Making walk-ins permanent.** They pile up. Use temporary.
* **Forgetting to close a paid temporary table.** It won't auto-archive until you tap **Close** or **Pay & Close**. See [Closing Tables](/waiter/closing-tables).
* **Renaming a temporary table across sessions.** Confusing. Close the current session first.
* **Deleting a temporary table with an unpaid bill.** Blocked. Close the bill or force-close (Manager PIN).

## Related pages

* [Creating Tables](/tables/creating-tables)
* [Floor Plan](/tables/floor-plan)
* [Table Statuses](/tables/table-statuses)
* [Closing Tables](/waiter/closing-tables)