> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.simpletix.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Using the Seating Chart Designer > Build a reserved seating chart in SimpleTix: assign categories, add General Admission areas, rows, tables, and booths, label seats, set the focal point, and publish. SimpleTix seating charts are built in a seating chart designer (powered by Seats.io) inside the Manager Portal. The designer opens in three places: * **New reserved seating event:** after you add your categories and prices on the **Set up tickets** step of event creation. * **Existing venue chart:** go to the venues list and click **Edit Seating** next to the venue. See [Editing a Seating Chart Associated with a Venue](https://help.simpletix.com/docs/venues/managing-venues-in-simpletix.md#editing-a-seating-chart-associated-with-a-venue) before you change a chart that's in use. * **Venue without a chart:** in the venues list, click **Add Seating Chart** next to the venue, then choose **Create New** to start a blank chart or **Use Existing** to copy another venue's chart. If you have a floor plan image, you can start with the reference-chart scan described in [Setting Up Reserved Seating Events](https://help.simpletix.com/docs/events/reserved-seating/rs-setup.md#creating-a-new-reserved-seating-event), then use the steps below to label and fix what it creates. For help building or reviewing a chart, contact [SimpleTix Support](mailto:support@simpletix.com). ## Categories come from your pricing Categories (for example **Orchestra**, **Balcony**, or **Sponsor Table**) and their prices are set on the **Set up tickets** step of event creation, not in the designer. In the designer, the category list is read-only: you assign seats, rows, tables, and areas to the categories you already created. If a category is missing, add it on the **Set up tickets** step. ## Build the chart **1. Add a stage and labels (optional)** Draw the stage and add text labels such as "Stage" or "Bar" so buyers can find their way. These aren't sold. **2. Add General Admission areas** For a dance floor, lawn, or standing area, draw a General Admission area. Select the area, assign it a category (its price), give it a label buyers will see at checkout (for example, "Dance Floor"), and set its capacity: how many tickets the area can sell. **3. Add rows of seats** Draw one row or a block of rows. Select the rows and assign them to a category. **4. Label rows and seats** With the rows selected, turn on row labeling and choose a scheme (for example A, B, C or 1, 2, 3). Then set seat labeling, for example odd numbers on one side of the aisle and even numbers on the other. Labels appear on tickets, so check them before you publish. If labels are locked, click **Edit** to change them. **5. Add tables or booths** Add tables for dinners and galas and booths for vendor spaces. For whole-table sales and table pricing, see [Selling Tables and Booths](https://help.simpletix.com/docs/events/reserved-seating/tables-and-booths.md). **6. Set the focal point** Place the focal point at the stage or front of the room. It's required: SimpleTix won't save the chart without it. Buyers don't see it, but the **Find Best Seats Available** option uses it to pick seats. **7. Publish, then save** Click **Publish** in the designer. Then continue with the SimpleTix button below the chart: **Next** or **Create My Event** when you're creating an event, or **Save** when you're editing a venue chart. The button stays disabled until the chart is published. When you add a chart from the venues list with **Add Seating Chart**, the designer has no **Publish** button. Click **Save** after your changes and SimpleTix publishes the chart. Above the designer, SimpleTix shows the reminders **Focal point required** and **Chart should be published before save**. If saving fails with "Focal point is required...", set the focal point, publish the chart again, then save. **8. Preview** Open the event's public page, pick a time, and check the chart: categories, labels, and General Admission capacity. If the event in the Manager shows "We detected some layout issues in your Seats.io seating chart", fix the listed items before you go live. The checks cover unlabeled seats or objects, duplicate labels, seats or objects without a category, a missing focal point, and categories that mix object types. ## Accessible seating and display * To mark wheelchair-accessible seats, and to control seat labels and what appears on e-tickets, see [Customizing the Seating Chart & eTicket Display](https://help.simpletix.com/docs/events/reserved-seating/customizing-seating-chart-and-eticket-display.md). * Use clear, unique labels (for example, Roman numerals for boxes) so staff and buyers aren't confused at the door. ## After tickets are sold A venue's chart is shared by the events that use that venue. If the venue has sold tickets, **Edit Seating** first shows an **Important Notice** that changing the chart or categories can unlink sold tickets and cause double bookings. Click **I acknowledge the risks and wish to proceed** only if you mean to edit. If the venue has upcoming times, the designer then shows: "There are N future event times at this venue. We strongly recommend not adding or deleting any seats as this may cause issues." * **Different layout for a new event:** clone the chart instead of editing it. See [Cloning a Seating Chart](https://help.simpletix.com/docs/venues/managing-venues-in-simpletix.md#cloning-a-seating-chart). * **What you can change after sales:** see [Changing an Active Event](https://help.simpletix.com/docs/events/reserved-seating/rs-setup.md#changing-an-active-event). * **Seats you can't sell** (sponsor holds, house seats, broken seats): use **Mark Seats On Hold** or **Box Office Only** rather than deleting seats. See [Managing Reserved Seating](https://help.simpletix.com/docs/events/reserved-seating/maximizing-reserved-seating-efficiency.md). > [!WARNING] > > Don't add, delete, or recategorize seats on a chart with sold tickets without contacting [SimpleTix Support](mailto:support@simpletix.com) first. It can cause double-bookings or disconnect sold tickets from the chart. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.