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Live View: Testing & Previewing Your Activities

Learn how to use Live View to test and preview your activities, explore filters, and understand the complete customer registration flow before going live.

Written by Dana Browne

📝 Overview

Live View is a powerful testing tool that lets you see exactly what your customers will experience when they visit your scheduling page. You can walk through the entire registration flow, test filters and search functionality, and even share your Live View URL with customers as an alternative registration method. This guide covers how to access Live View, explore its features, and understand the customer experience from start to finish.


🚀 Getting Started with Live View

Click the arrow to learn how to access Live View and preview your activities

You can click the Live View button at any time to enter the Live View experience.

From there, you can go through the registration flow just as a customer would. This is a great way to test what the process looks like for your customers.

💡Since you are already logged in to your admin account, you will not be prompted to create a Sawyer account during testing. If you want to see the account creation step, paste the Live View URL into an incognito or private browser window.

Sharing Live View with Customers

You can also share the URL of your Live View directly with customers as an alternative way for them to register. This is a seamless way to provide access without requiring them to search for your listing elsewhere.


📊 All Activities Tab

The All Activities tab is a widget feature that creates an additional tab showing all upcoming activities in one place. It includes Drop-ins, Semesters, Camps/Events, and Online classes together, making it easier for customers to see all your offerings and find the perfect activity without switching between tabs.

Click the arrow to learn more about All Activities tab

Display Views

You can set up the default view to display either calendar or list view, and customers can toggle between them. The All Activities tab can display in two ways:

  • Calendar View

    Shows activities in a calendar format, making it easy to scan by date.

  • List View

    Shows activities in a scrollable list format for quick browsing.

Mixed Activity Types

If you offer activities that are both Semesters and Drop-ins, you'll see both listed on the activity card in Live View.

Grouping Repeating Activities

You can group repeating activities in the All Activities tab to show each scheduled activity once, sorted chronologically.

How to Enable Grouping:

  1. Navigate to the profile button in the top right and click Settings

  2. Scroll down to Widget Settings and toggle on the grouping setting

How Grouping Displays:

When grouping is OFF:

  • You see the date in the header for each instance

  • Repeating activities may appear multiple times

When grouping is ON:

  • You see "In progress" in the header

  • Each activity appears once, sorted chronologically

💡 Note: To get access to the All Activities tab feature, email [email protected] and the customer success team will activate it for your Live View.


⚙️ Widget Filters

Enhanced filtering capabilities have been added to the widget, enabling customers to discover the right activities with greater ease and precision. For embedded widgets, these new filters provide a more personalized search experience, helping your customers find activities tailored to their families' needs.

Click here to learn more about widget filters

The filters are compatible with both calendar and list views across all scheduled activity types, including Semesters, Camps/Events, All Activities, and Online programs.

Quick Start: Using the Filters

To help your customers find the right activities, they can:

  1. Use the main filter bar at the top for quick searches by Age/Grade, Time, or Date

  2. Click "More Filters" to access additional search options like Location, Activity, Category, Day, and Instructor

  3. Select multiple options within each filter to expand results

  4. Switch between List and Calendar views — their filters will stay active

  5. Clear filters anytime if they want to start over or see all activities


Available Filter Options

At the top of the widget, customers will find quick-access filters for Age/Grade, Time, and Date, with additional options available under More Filters. The More Filters section includes Location, Activity, Category, Day, Instructor, and Booking Type.

Age/Grade Filter

The Age/Grade filter allows flexible selection based on your business's needs:

  • Customers can choose to filter by either Age or Grade (but not both simultaneously)

  • Multiple ages or multiple grades can be selected to broaden the search results

Time Filter

Time-based filtering provides hourly precision to help customers find activities that fit their schedules:

  • Time ranges operate from 5am to 10pm based on your business's local time zone

  • Filtering works in 1-hour increments for easy selection

  • Please note: If an instance's time has been edited, filtering by the new time will not display that edited instance. The edited instance will only appear when filtering by the original time.

Date Filter

Customers can filter activities by date using two different approaches:

Month View: Select from January through December to see all activities within a chosen month.

Specific Date: Filter by individual dates for more targeted searches. Note that the Specific Date filter works best with list view, as it may not provide optimal results in calendar view.

💡 When a day of the week has been edited for an instance, that edited instance will appear if filtering by the new day of the week, but not when filtering by the original day. Clearing date filters will not automatically redirect customers back to the current date on the calendar.

More Filters

Location

Location filtering helps customers find activities at specific venues:

  • All active (non-archived) locations are displayed in the list

  • Customers can select multiple locations to expand their search

  • A search function is available within the location filter for quick lookup

  • Locations without complete information display default text such as "No Address Provided"

Important note: If a location has been edited on an instance, that edited instance will not display when filtering by the new location. The instance will only appear when filtering by the original location.

Activity

The Activity filter lets customers narrow results to specific programs:

  • All active (non-archived) activities are available for selection

  • Multiple activities can be selected simultaneously

  • A search function is available within the activity filter

Category

The Category filter broadens search options across your entire activity catalog:

  • The displayed categories include all available categories in your system, not just those specific to the current widget's embedded activities

  • Multiple categories can be selected to find related programs

Day

The Day filter allows customers to focus on specific weekdays:

  • All seven days of the week are available for selection

  • Customers can choose multiple days to see activities across their preferred schedule

Instructor

The Instructor filter enables customers to find activities led by specific staff members:

  • All active and non-archived instructors are displayed in the list

  • Multiple instructors can be selected

💡 If an instructor has been changed on an instance, that edited instance will not display when filtering by the new instructor. The instance will only appear when filtering by the original instructor.

Filter Behavior and Results

Filters work seamlessly across your widget's interface:

  • Applied filters update results in both List and Calendar Views simultaneously — Changes are reflected instantly regardless of which view your customers are using

  • Filters persist when switching tabs — Customers can navigate between different activity types while keeping their selected filters active

  • Empty state handling — When no activities match the selected filters, customers see a clear message with the option to clear filters and start a new search


🧑‍💼 Customer Registration Flow in Live View

When you use Live View in a private or incognito browser window, you can see the full customer experience, including account creation. This section walks you through each step.

Customer Registration Flow

Click the arrow to understand the complete registration experience

Click the arrow for Step 1: Browse & Select Activity

Customers first browse your activities in Live View using the tabs, All Activities view, or filters described above. When they find an activity they want, they click More Info to proceed.

Click the arrow for Step 2: Create Account & Sign In

When a new customer decides to register for a scheduled activity, they are prompted to create a Sawyer Account directly in your widget.

During account creation, customers can opt-in to:

  • Updates from your business

  • Emails from Sawyer

Account Verification:

After creating their account, customers receive a verification email with the subject line: 'Verify your account now'

Customers can verify immediately or do it later on their Sign in & Security page in their Sawyer Account.

Customers will see their current verification status next to their email. If unverified, they'll see an option to 'Verify your email address' which triggers a new verification email.

Click the arrow for Step 3: Add Participants

Once logged in, customers are asked to enter the names of people attending.

  • For children's activities: Customers must enter Full Name and Birthday for each child

  • For adult activities: Customers enter participant names

  • Information saved: All participant details are saved to the customer's profile for future registrations

Click the arrow for Step 4: Review Cart & Add Promo Code

After selecting participants and clicking Add to Cart, customers are directed to their cart.

In the cart, customers can:

  • Review the selected activity and participants

  • Enter a Coupon Code or Promo Code if they have one

  • Proceed to checkout

Click the arrow for Step 5: Complete Checkout Form

When customers click Checkout, they're directed to a form with:

  • Standard checkout questions

  • Any additional Form Fields you've created

  • Sections for billing and participant information

Click the arrow for Step 6: Payment & Order Confirmation

Customers enter their credit card details and click Place Order.

Upon successful payment:

  • A confirmation email is sent to the customer

  • A confirmation email is sent to any user on your account set to receive email communication

Customer Account Management

Click here for more information on Customer Accounts

Once a customer's profile is created, they can manage their account anytime they're logged in. They'll see their name at the top right of the widget.

By clicking on their name, customers can:

  • Manage Account — Access and update:

    • Calendar (view upcoming activities)

    • Profile information

    • Account information (update credit card, email address)

    • Order history

    • Memberships & class pack spots available

  • View class pack spots & membership spots — See remaining balance for any active memberships or class packs


❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Find answers to common questions or additional details that may not be covered in the main instructions.

Can I share my Live View URL directly with customers?

Click the arrow to see the answer

Yes! You can copy the Live View URL from your browser's address bar and share it directly with customers. They can use this link to browse and register for activities without needing to find you elsewhere. It's a convenient alternative to sharing a marketplace link.

Why don't I see the account creation screen when I test Live View?

Click the arrow to see the answer

Since you're already logged into your admin account, the system recognizes you and skips the account creation step. To see the full new customer experience including account creation, open the Live View URL in an incognito or private browser window where you're not logged in.

How do customers verify their email after creating an account?

Click the arrow to see the answer

Customers receive a verification email immediately after creating their account with the subject line "Verify your account now." They can click the link in that email to verify, or they can verify later by logging into their Sawyer Account and visiting the Sign in & Security page.

What information is saved to a customer's profile?

Click the arrow to see the answer

When a customer completes their first registration, the following information is saved: their contact information (name, email, phone), all participant names and birthdays (if applicable), address, and billing information. This information auto-fills on future registrations, making it faster for repeat customers to book.

Do filters work the same way in calendar and list views?

Click the arrow to see the answer

Yes, filters work consistently across both views. When a customer applies filters (age, time, date, location, etc.), the results update in both calendar and list views. Customers can also switch between views while keeping their filters active.

What happens if I edit an activity instance after a customer has filtered it?

Click the arrow to see the answer

If you edit specific details of a class instance (like time, day, location, or instructor), that edited instance will appear under the new filter criteria but not under the original filter criteria. For example, if you change a Monday class to Wednesday, it will show when filtering for Wednesday but not Monday. This is important to note when testing filters in Live View.

Can customers use the All Activities tab on their phone?

Click the arrow to see the answer

Yes! The All Activities tab works on both desktop and mobile. Customers can switch between calendar and list views on any device, and filters function the same way on all screen sizes.

How do I know if the All Activities tab is enabled for my account?

Click the arrow to see the answer

The All Activities tab will appear as a tab option in your Live View if it's enabled. If you don't see it and want to use this feature, email [email protected] and the customer success team will activate it for you.

Can customers select multiple filters at once?

Click the arrow to see the answer

Yes! Customers can select multiple options within most filters (age, location, activity, category, day, instructor) to broaden their search results. For example, they can select both "6 years old" and "7 years old" to see activities for both age groups. Filters work together to narrow or expand results based on customer needs.

What should customers do if filters return no results?

Click the arrow to see the answer

If no activities match the selected filters, customers see an empty state message with an option to clear filters. They can click to clear all filters and start a new search, or adjust one or more filters to broaden results.

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