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Offline Tickets: Pre-Download for Door Scanning

Access pre-downloaded tickets in the Seaty mobile app: search by attendee, order or seat, and validate entries offline at venues with no internet.

Overview

The offline tickets screen lets you access downloaded ticket data without an internet connection. You can search by attendee name, order number, or seat to quickly locate tickets and check their validity status.

At its simplest, offline tickets answers one question: Who has a valid ticket for this event?

Who uses this: Event staff with scanning permissions.

Key capabilities:

  • View all downloaded tickets for an event
  • Search tickets by name, order number, or seat
  • Check validity status (valid, invalid, or cancelled)
  • View complete ticket details including section and category
  • Work without any internet connection

How It Works

At a glance: Download ticket data when online, then access it any time to search and verify tickets.

1. Access the ticket list

Open Scan Settings and tap Manage Offline Data. Select any event from the downloaded events list to view its complete ticket list.

Alternatively, after downloading offline data, tickets become available through the scan screen with context-aware access based on your selected event date.

2. Search for tickets

Use the search field to find tickets by attendee name, order number, or seat information. Results filter instantly as you type using the local database.

3. Check ticket validity

Each ticket displays a status badge (Valid, Invalid, or Cancelled) with a colour indicator. Tap any ticket to view complete details including attendee name, seat assignment, and category.

Think of it this way:

  • Offline tickets = Your local copy of the guest list
  • Search = Finding someone in that list instantly
  • Validity status = Whether they should be admitted

Ticket List Display

List Organisation

Tickets display in alphabetical order by attendee name:

  • Attendee name: Primary heading (or "Guest" if unnamed)
  • Status badge: Valid, Invalid, or Cancelled indicator
  • Order number: Reference for customer service
  • Seat information: Row/seat or GA ticket category
  • Section: Seating section for allocated seating (if applicable)

Visual Indicators

Valid Tickets

  • Green status indicator
  • "Valid" badge
  • Available for check-in

Invalid Tickets

  • Red status indicator
  • "Invalid" badge
  • Check details for reason

Cancelled Tickets

  • Red status indicator
  • "Cancelled" badge
  • Cannot be scanned for entry

Merchandise Vouchers

  • Voucher icon instead of ticket icon
  • Special handling for merchandise redemption
  • Same validation rules as tickets

Search Functionality

Search Capabilities

Search tickets by attendee name, order number, or seat information using the search field at the top of the ticket list.

  1. Enter search term in search field
  2. Results filter automatically as you type
  3. Clear search to show all tickets

Search Performance

  • Fast local queries: Results appear instantly from local database
  • Partial matching: Finds tickets containing search term
  • Case insensitive: Searches ignore capitalisation
  • No internet required: All searches use local data

Context Modes

Offline tickets adapt to your scanning context:

All Event Tickets

Shows: Every ticket downloaded for the event Use case: General ticket lookup, customer service Display: Complete event ticket list

Single Event Date

Shows: Tickets for one specific performance Use case: Scanning for particular date/time Display: Date, time, and ticket count for that performance

Whole Day Mode

Shows: All tickets for any performance on selected date Use case: Multiple performances in one day Display: Date and performance count

Ticket Details

Viewing Details

Tap any ticket to view complete information:

  • Validity status: Clear indicator with icon
  • Attendee name: Full name as recorded on order
  • Order number: Reference for customer queries
  • Seat assignment: Row, seat, or GA ticket type
  • Category: Ticket category and pricing tier
  • Section: Seating section for allocated seats
  • Event name: Which event this ticket is for

Offline Validation Notice

Ticket details screen shows important notice:

"This is offline data - validation only, no check-in recorded"

What this means:

  • Viewing details does not mark ticket as scanned
  • Use scan screen to record actual check-ins
  • Details screen is for lookup only
  • Check-ins sync when online

Invalid Ticket Warnings

For invalid tickets, details show:

Cancelled Tickets

"This ticket has been cancelled and is no longer valid for entry."

Other Invalid Reasons

"This ticket is marked as invalid and should not be accepted for entry."

Action: Do not admit customer, refer to event manager

Date and Time Validation

Automatic Date Checking

When viewing tickets in date-specific context:

  • Correct date: Tickets show as valid
  • Wrong date: Warning message displays
  • Day mode: Accepts any performance on that date
  • Date/time mode: Requires exact event date match

Date Mismatch Messages

Single Date/Time Mode:

"Ticket is for [actual date/time], but you are scanning for [selected date/time]."

Whole Day Mode:

"Ticket is for [actual date/time], but you are scanning for a different date of this event. You are scanning for any tickets on [selected date]."

Performance

Large ticket lists are handled efficiently by the app's local database, providing fast search and display even with thousands of tickets.

Offline Limitations

What You Can Do

  • View all downloaded tickets: Complete access to ticket data
  • Search tickets: Fast local database search
  • Check validity: See valid/invalid/cancelled status
  • View details: Complete ticket information
  • Identify attendees: Match names to seats

What Requires Internet

  • Initial download: Downloading ticket data requires connection
  • Refreshing data: Updating to see new sales or cancellations
  • Recording check-ins: Scanning tickets online for real-time validation
  • Syncing offline scans: Uploading scan results requires manual sync via pull-to-refresh

Use Cases

Box Office Queries

Scenario: Customer claims their ticket isn't working Solution: Search by order number, verify ticket details, check validity status

Seating Assistance

Scenario: Customer needs help finding their seat Solution: Search by name, show seat assignment, direct to section

VIP Guest Check

Scenario: Verify VIP guest has correct ticket category Solution: Search by name, check category shows VIP or premium tier

Duplicate Ticket Investigation

Scenario: Two customers claim same seat Solution: Search by seat name, check both order numbers, verify which is valid

Best Practices

Before Events

  • Download data early: Ensure all tickets are available
  • Test search functionality: Verify search works correctly
  • Familiarise with layout: Know where to find information quickly
  • Check ticket counts: Confirm expected number of tickets downloaded

During Events

  • Use search efficiently: Type partial names for faster results
  • Note validation errors: Report date mismatches to event manager
  • Don't rely solely on offline: Use as backup to online scanning
  • Keep app open: Avoid closing and reopening during busy periods

Customer Service

  • Clear communication: Explain offline mode limitations to customers
  • Show ticket details: Let customers see their ticket information
  • Verify carefully: Double-check names and order numbers
  • Escalate when needed: Refer complex issues to event manager

Troubleshooting

Missing Tickets

Ticket sold after download

  • Re-download event data to include new tickets
  • Check download timestamp on management screen
  • Requires internet connection

Wrong event date selected

  • Verify correct event date in context header
  • Check scanning mode (day vs date/time)
  • Return to scan settings to adjust

Search Not Working

No results for known attendee

  • Check spelling of name
  • Try partial name match
  • Search by order number instead
  • Verify ticket was sold before download

Search too slow

  • Large ticket lists may have slight delay
  • Close and reopen app if unresponsive
  • Clear expired data to improve performance
  • Contact support if persistent

Display Issues

Tickets show as invalid unexpectedly

  • Check if tickets were cancelled online
  • Verify customer's ticket is for correct event
  • Compare against online data if possible
  • Re-download for most current status

Mobile vs Web

Mobile App Features

  • Complete offline access: View and search without internet
  • Local database: Fast queries and instant results
  • Context-aware display: Adapts to scanning mode
  • Portable: Access anywhere on venue grounds

Web Dashboard

Web dashboard has no offline ticket viewing:

  • Always online: Requires internet connection
  • Real-time data: Shows current ticket status
  • Advanced filtering: More sophisticated search options
  • Bulk operations: Process multiple tickets at once

Common Questions

Searching

Can I search by partial name? Yes. Type any part of the attendee's name and matching tickets appear instantly. The search also matches partial order numbers and seat names.

Why does search find tickets I wasn't expecting? Search matches any part of the name, order number, or seat information. Try being more specific or search by order number for exact matches.

Ticket Status

What does "Invalid" mean? The ticket cannot be used for entry. This could be due to a refund, transfer, or the organiser marking it invalid. Check with the event manager for specific reasons.

Can I see why a ticket was cancelled? The offline data only shows that a ticket is cancelled, not the reason. Check the web dashboard for full order history and cancellation details.

Data Freshness

How do I know if my offline data is current? The offline data management screen shows when each event was last downloaded. Re-download before the event to ensure you have the latest ticket sales and cancellations.

What happens if a ticket was sold after I downloaded? That ticket will not appear in your offline list. You need to re-download while online to see new sales.

Scanning Context

What is "Whole Day Mode"? When scanning for a day with multiple performances, whole day mode accepts tickets for any performance on that date. Use date/time mode if you need to check specific performance times.

Why does my ticket show a date mismatch warning? The ticket is valid but for a different date or time than your current scanning context. Verify the customer is at the correct performance.

Need help? Contact support@seaty.co.uk