Registering for an event in your community is typically fairly simple, but the steps that are involved can vary from one event to another, depending on the registration process that has been configured for an event.

The Admins in your organization can create various "types" of events with different registration requirements, and with registration processes that have different levels of complexity.

NOTE: As a community user/member, the "type" of event (RSVP-only, Full Registration) might be inconsequential to you. However, as you register for various events in your community, keep in mind that events' registration processes can be as unique as the events themselves and, especially for the more complex registrations, this article is an excellent resource if you need guidance.

Calendar files issue

All events in your community site offer the ability to download a file with which you can then add the event to your preferred email/calendar application. The Download to Your Calendar button functionality is described in each of the "events" sections below.

An issue has been discovered with the handling of .ICS files in Microsoft's Outlook (new) email application. If you use this application and are experiencing issues with these files, see Calendar Event (.ICS) Files in Microsoft Outlook (new).

No Registration events

These events do not require registration. Admins create these events for the express purpose of including them on the event calendar in order to make community users aware of them. You can add the event to your preferred calendar application.

• Navigate to an event and click the Download to Your Calendar button.
• This downloads an .ICS file to your browser's "download" feature.
• Open the event to add it to your preferred calendar application and set up a reminder.

External Registration events

These events do require registration. An Admin has configured registration for these events to be handled by a third-party system. You can add the event to your preferred calendar application.

• Navigate to an event and click Register Now to be re-directed to the external registration system to complete your registration.
• Click the Download to Your Calendar button to download an .ICS file to your browser's "download" feature.
• Open the event to add it to your preferred calendar application and set up a reminder.

RSVP Only events

These events do not require "formal" registration or a registration fee, but they do require people to indicate their intention to attend by reserving a spot (RSVP). You can add the event to your preferred calendar application.

• Navigate to an event and click RSVP to reserve a spot for the event.
• Click the Download to Your Calendar button to download an .ICS file to your browser's "download" feature.
• Open the event to add it to your preferred calendar application and set up a reminder.

Simple Registration events

These events do require registration. The registration process is fairly simple; it requires only a few button clicks.

To register for a Simple Registration event:

1. Navigate to an event, type your name in the Registrant's Name box, and click Add to Cart.

NOTE: If this event allows registrants to register other users, you can click Clear and type someone else's name in the field and then select the person and click Add to Cart to add them to your registration.

The system automatically applies the appropriate registration price to you and others, based on your account membership. The number of registrants and the amount due display in the Cart section.

2. Click View / Checkout to proceed to your Cart page.

Your Cart lists you as a Registrant, as well as any others you've registered, and the amount due.

Depending on how the event's payment processing is configured, there might be two options. You can:

• complete your registration and "hold" your spot via the pay later option, or
• complete your registration and secure your spot via the pay now option.

Pay later

• Click Register Now and Pay Later.

You are registered for the event but your registration is marked as "unpaid."

You can download/print an invoice that you can include with your "offline" payment. The invoice has the "mail to" information for offline payments.

TIP: Consider check-processing times and be sure to send your payment well ahead of time for the event.

You can also access your event itinerary:

1. Navigate to the Upcoming Events page and click View Itinerary.

2. On the Itinerary page, click Download / Print Registration to save a "hard" copy for your records and/or to include with your payment.

Pay now online

• Click the button that lets you pay online with a credit card through the payment provider that has been established for your organization.

Your online payment immediately secures your "spot" for the event.

NOTE: An Admin in your community chooses one of three payment providers; so, if you choose this option, the process that follows is dependent on the chosen provider.

Full Registration events

These events do require registration. The registration process has several steps that are presented on individual tabs; these are described in this section.

To register for a Full Registration event:

1. Navigate to an event and click Register Now.

The event's registration page opens on the Registrants tab.

As you work through the tabs of the registration process:

• note that the event's configuration determines which tabs do/do not display.
• click Next in the lower left on each tab to proceed to the next step.

Registrants tab

This tab is where you initiate the registration process.

If the event has been configured to allow the registering of others, you can do so on this tab.

• Click the radio button to register yourself for the event.
• If the event is configured accordingly, you can also click the radio button to register:
  • other community members (via Find Existing Contact) and/or
  • people who aren't currently members of the community (via Add New Contact).

The page auto-refreshes and displays the additional fields.

The Find Existing Contact option functions as a search. In the Search Results section, use the checkboxes and click Add Selected. The selected registrants' names display in the List of Registrants section and can be managed there.

The Add New Contact option simultaneously:

• adds a user record for the "new contact" to your community-site database and
• registers the person for the event.

The system automatically applies the appropriate price (based on account membership) to your registration and that of any others you register.

Registration Choices tab

If the event has "add-ons" (e.g., meals, special sessions), they are listed on this tab in their designated categories.

• Each add-on's additional cost clearly displays for registrants.
• Click an add-on name to view information about it.
• Check an addon's box to include it in your registration.

IMPORTANT: If you are registering other users, any selections that you make for yourself on this tab are also automatically included in the registrations of those other registrants — and their final registration fee will include any associated costs.

The cost of your registration, plus any selected add-ons, displays at the bottom.

NOTE: If you register other users, after the registration is complete, if those registrants want to make changes to the selected add-ons, they have to cancel their current registration and re-register for the event, at which time they can select their preferred add-ons.

If the registration is incomplete, it has to be completed and can then be self-managed by navigating to the event's Details page and clicking View Itinerary.

Sessions tab

If the event has sessions (e.g., lectures, workshops), they are listed on this tab in their designated categories.

• Click a session title to view information about it, and to access the Download to Your Calendar button in order to download an .ICS file to add the event to your preferred calendar application.
• Check a session's box to include it in your registration.

IMPORTANT: If you are registering other users, any selections that you make for yourself on this tab are also automatically included in the registrations of those other registrants.

Session availability notes

Eligibility for Full Registration event sessions can be limited by Security Group and, therefore, might not necessarily be available to all registrants.

• If a session displays to you during the registration process, then you are eligible for that session and can include it in your registration.
• If you are registering others who are eligible for a session that you select, that session will be automatically included in those registrants' registrations and will display on their itineraries.

NOTE: If you are registering other users, after the registration is complete, those registrants can then self-manage (i.e., uncheck boxes to remove) the selected sessions by navigating to the event's Details page and clicking View Itinerary.

If the registration is incomplete, it has to be completed and can then be self-managed as described above.

However...

• If you are registering others who are not eligible for a session that you select, that session will not be included in those registrants' registrations and not display on their itineraries.

Details tab

If the event creator has enabled the "additional details" feature for the event, one or more fields might display on this tab.

NOTE: If you are registering other users, there will be a succession of Details tabs; one for each of those other registrants.

• In the "badge" field, specify how you want your name to display on your event badge.
• In the "disability" field, specify any special considerations (e.g., a physical disability, a food allergy) for which you require accommodation.
• Other custom fields might also display, some of which might be required. Optional fields can be completed at your own discretion.

Itinerary tab

This tab provides line-item listings of:

• your registration fee and additional costs (if any) for your selected event add-ons in the Payment Summary section and
• the dates and times of your selected sessions, with linked titles, in the Session Summary section.

Itinerary notes

This tab displays your itinerary information only.

IMPORTANT: If you are registering other users, review the following information and, as necessary, share it with those other registrants.

• The same Itinerary information applies to your other registrants.
• Each other registrant can view their individual itinerary by navigating to the event's Details page and clicking View Itinerary.
• The registration fee is unique to each registrant and could vary among registrants due to memberships, pricing structures, and/or other Administrator-managed considerations for the event.

This difference might be apparent when you reach the All Done tab, which lists each registrant, the selected Registration Choices, the selected Sessions, and the cost of the individual's registration.

TIP: If the event is free, the process takes you directly to the All Done tab when you click Next.

Payment Options tab

TIP: If the event is free, the process bypasses this tab and takes you directly to the All Done tab.

This tab:

• displays, in the Pricing Summary section, the total amount of your registration for the event, which includes the cost of your selections (sessions and add-ons), and indicates that:
  • the amount shown is for your registration only and
  • you can make changes by clicking your linked name.
• provides, in the Payment Options section, one or two options (depending on the event's payment configuration) with which you can:
  • complete your registration (and those of your other registrants, if any) to secure your spot for the event, and either:
    • pay later or
    • pay now.

Pay later

• Click Register Now and Pay Later.

You (and your other registrants, if any) are registered for the event but your registration is marked as "unpaid."

You can download/print an invoice that you can include with your "offline" payment. The invoice has the "mail to" information for offline payments.

TIP: If you are using this option, consider payment-processing times (for the likes of check payments) and be sure to make your payment well ahead of time.

You can also access your event itinerary:

1. Navigate to the Upcoming Events page and click View Itinerary.

2. On the Itinerary page, click Download / Print Registration to save a "hard" copy for your records and/or to include with your payment.

Pay now online

• Click the button that lets you pay online with a credit card through the payment provider that has been established for your organization.

Your online payment immediately secures your "spot" for the event.

NOTE: An Admin in your community chooses one of three payment providers; so, if you choose this option, the process that follows is dependent on the chosen provider.

Confirm tab

This tab is very often skipped and would simply display a confirmation that the registration is complete; there aren't any user actions or buttons. It typically displays the same information as the All Done tab.

All Done tab

This tab displays a summary of your registration.

For your registration and other registrants, review and verify the selected:

• add-ons (the Event Choices),
• sessions,
• per-registration amounts, and
• total amount due.

Retrieve an invoice

You can click the Print Registration Details button to open the "invoice" window in which you can:

• save a copy for your records and/or
• print a copy to include with your payment.