## Configure Heats Panel Help

This guide covers all features for assigning participants to heats, managing ordering, and bulk-updating bibs with filters, search, drag-and-drop, and utilities.

##### Introduction

The Configure Heats panel lets you: (1) filter/search available participants and assign them to a selected heat; (2) review current heat assignments; (3) reorder, sort, shuffle, reverse selections; (4) assign bib numbers in bulk; (5) move/copy or promote to another heat; and (6) remove assignments.

##

- Event Selection: Use the Event dropdown at the top to choose the event you're configuring. Until an event is selected, assignments and heat options are hidden.
- Grid/Row View: Switch between card view and table view for participants. Filter by Category, Gender, Club, and Year. Search by name, bib, or club.
- Heat Assignment: Select participants, choose a heat, and assign them. Duplicate prevention ensures no participant appears twice in the same heat.
- Current Assignments: View all participants in heats for the selected event. Filter, search, and use drag-and-drop to reorder.
- Bulk Operations: Reverse, shuffle, sort selected participants. Assign bib numbers in bulk to selected participants.
- Move/Copy/Promote: Transfer participants between heats, duplicate assignments, or promote based on results.
- Quick Actions: Remove participants from heats, edit participant details, and manage assignments efficiently.
- Keyboard Shortcuts: Use shortcuts for faster navigation and selection operations.

##

Why is a participant missing from "Available Participants"?
  They might already be assigned to a heat for this event (check the Current Assignments table) or not added to the event yet. The available list shows only participants in the event who are not currently in any heat.
What's the difference between Move, Copy, and Promote?
  Move reassigns rows to the target heat; Copy duplicates rows in the target heat; Promote uses your configured heat flow/results to advance participants automatically.
How are duplicate entries prevented?
  When assigning, the system checks if a participant with the same bib already exists in the target heat and skips duplicates. If two participant records share the same bib, only one can exist in a given heat.
Where do heat names and lists come from?
  From your event's heat configuration (`event_heat_settings`). If you don't see options, set them up first.
Can I reorder across heats?
  You can drag to reorder within the table as displayed. To move across heats, use Move/Copy/Promote. Saved order applies to the rows in the table after changes.
Why did some selected items get deselected when I filtered?
  For safety, items hidden by active filters/search are deselected to avoid unintended operations on invisible rows. Clear filters to select them again.
Do "Remove Selected" and the row X delete the participant?
  No. They unassign the row from the heat by deleting from `event_participants`. The participant remains in the event.
Why don't I see any heats?
  Heats are loaded from your event's heat settings. Configure `event_heat_settings` for the event, then return to this page.
How do keyboard shortcuts work?
  Use `Ctrl/Cmd + A` to select all visible, `Esc` to clear selection, `Ctrl/Cmd + F` to focus search, and `V` to toggle Grid/Row view.
How do I assign bib numbers in bulk?
  Select rows in the assignments table first, then open the Assign Bib modal to pick a bib series, optional start number, and whether to overwrite existing bibs.

##

- Assign button does nothing: Make sure you selected a heat and at least one participant. Check for any on-page error messages or network errors.
- No heats in the dropdown: Configure heats for the event first.
- Participant won't assign: If the same bib already exists in the target heat, it's skipped to prevent duplicates.
- Drag-and-drop not saving: Ensure the table is not filtered down to zero rows; try a small reorder and watch the console for a "Saved order" message.
- Bulk actions don't run: Confirm you've selected visible rows (master checkbox respects filters). The confirmation dialog must be accepted.
- Move/Copy/Promote blocked: Pick a target heat and ensure you've selected rows for Move/Copy. Promote typically doesn't need selection.
- Filter not working: Clear all filters and try again. Some filters may conflict with each other.
- Still need help? Contact your system administrator or super admin for further assistance.

##### Best Practices

- Use filters to quickly find specific participants before making assignments.
- Configure heats properly before starting participant assignments.
- Use drag-and-drop for fine-tuning participant order within heats.
- Save progress frequently, especially after bulk operations.
- Check assignments carefully before finalizing heat configurations.