How to Find the Next Free Slot in the Schedule

You have two ways to search for an open slot in the schedule using the Schedule Day View (US) or Diary Day View (UK):

• Today's Schedule/Diary Openings - Identifies open slots for today only.
• Schedule/Diary Openings - Identifies open slots based on more specific criteria, for today or future dates.
  This option is designed to work with block booking templates, although they are not required. For more information, see How to Create a Block Booking Template.

Today's Schedule/Diary Openings

To search for an open slot in today's schedule:

1. From the Location tab, click Schedule (US) or Diary (UK).
2. Under Actions, select Today's Schedule Openings or Today's Diary Openings. The Matching Openings are displayed for the selected day.
3. Enter a Duration, Appointment Type, and Chair to filter the options.
4. Select a time slot. You are prompted to select a patient and schedule an appointment. 

Schedule/Diary Openings

To search for openings using more specific criteria:

1. From the Location tab, click Schedule (US) or Diary (UK).
2. Under Actions, select Schedule Openings or Diary Openings. The Schedule Openings or Diary Openings search feature is displayed.
3. Select the Appointment Length to define the opening length or duration required for the appointment to be booked.
   Note: This value defaults to the current location’s base time unit, but can be adjusted in 5 minute increments depending on the required duration.
4. Use the Dates fields to select a search range, with 30 days being the maximum range. 
5. Click the Locations field to add or change locations to include in the search. 
   Note: The base time units for the selected locations must fit the selected time units for Appointment Length. 
6. For Chairs, you can accept All Chairs, or select specific chairs to search.
   Note: Only active chairs from the selected locations are included in the search.
7. For Days of the Week, you can accept All Days, or select specific days as requested.
   Note: You can only select days on which the selected locations are open.
8. For Time of Day, you can accept AM/PM, or select one or the other to narrow the search.
9. For Appointment Types, you can accept All Types, or click to select one or more types to refine the search.
   
   Note: This filter works with applied Block Booking templates that overlay designated portions of the schedule for certain types of appointments. For more information, see How to Create a Block Booking Template. 
10. To include time slots that are not associated with blocked time, select the Include Open Slots checkbox. Results will show the type as OPEN SLOT. If this option is not selected, the search will include only the selected types defined by block booking templates.
    Note: Practices that do not use block booking templates, or that do not assign those templates to their entire schedule, should leave this option checked for searches.
11. Click Search. A list of available slots is displayed.
    Note: Results reflect calculated openings based on applied block booking templates, even if Show Block Booking Guidance is currently disabled for your Schedule Day View (Location > Schedule > Manage Schedule View (Cog) > Show Block Booking Guidance) or Diary Day View (Location > Diary >Manage Diary View (Cog) > Show Block Booking Guidance).
12. Select a time slot. You are prompted to select a patient and schedule an appointment. 
    Note: When searching across multiple locations, if the selected opening is for a location you are not currently viewing, you must open that location’s Schedule Day View or Diary Day View to visually confirm the booking.

For more information, see How to Schedule an Appointment, and the Sensei Cloud: Scheduling Appointments Recorded Class.