> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.eat-now.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Booking portal settings

> Choose required contact details, allowed booking changes and messages shown to customers.

Open **Settings → Portal → General**. These settings apply to the selected
restaurant. Click **Save** to apply changes.

## Contact details and customer records

* **Mandatory email / phone**: requires the detail when booking online.
* **Mandatory email / phone internally**: applies to staff-created reservations.
  You can require email online while allowing phone bookings without an email.
* **Automatic customer matching**: reuses a record found through phone or email.
  It helps keep visit history together; it does not merge all existing
  duplicates.
* **Allow anonymous customer**: lets staff enter a reservation without a
  customer record.
* **Allow reservation deletion internally**: enables this workflow in the app;
  the staff member still needs the relevant permission.
* **Show total paid**: displays the total-paid field when editing an existing
  reservation. Entering a total does not charge a bank card.

For notifications, the customer needs contact details for the chosen channel and
[guest notifications](/notifications/guests) must be configured.

## Allow customers to modify bookings

Enable **Allow reservation modification**, then set:

* the **threshold in hours before the booking**: 2 hours closes changes at 18:00
  for a 20:00 booking;
* the **maximum group size**, if you want only smaller parties to use this
  workflow.

A threshold of 0 allows changes up to the booking time. Other availability and
booking constraints still apply; this switch does not open every slot.

## Messages and party-size buttons

The **custom message** communicates general information on the portal. Fill in
the languages your customers use and choose preset or custom colors.

The **maximum covers message** explains what to do when a group exceeds the size
offered online, such as contacting the restaurant. It does not increase the
shift limit.

The **number of group size buttons** sets how many sizes appear before the “+”
button. It is not the maximum party size: configure that in
[shifts](/shifts/booking-rules).

## Share the portal

This page also contains the main link, social links, QR code and embed codes.
See [Share and embed the portal](/portal/publishing).