# Menu countdowns and sold-out portions

For chefs and shift leaders managing how many portions can still be sold.
**Staff app: Settings → Stock → Menu countdowns.** These instructions describe
the current countdown board. If your app shows an older screen, check the
installed app version and available update with your manager before using it.

The service count is separate from ingredient and recipe costing. You can start
a countdown directly from a menu item without manually creating a stock item or
recipe link. Ingredient stock tracking continues independently; low ingredient
stock alone does not automatically set a service countdown.

## Set the portions you have

1. Confirm the working location. Open **Menu countdowns** and choose **All** to
   find an item that is not tracked yet.
2. Search the menu item or section. Choose **A–Z**, **Section**, or **Menu** to
   arrange the board for your counting round.
3. Select the item. Enter the whole number of saleable portions on its keypad,
   then select **Set**. The button includes the count and may show **Next** when
   another item follows.
4. Select **+ Par** instead when this number should also become the item's usual
   replenishment count. Check that this is a sensible par for service.
5. Check the item and the header's sync status. **All synced** confirms the
   device has no countdown changes still waiting to sync.

For example, setting Cake to **8** means eight portions left at this location.
It is an absolute count, not eight extra portions. Other locations have their
own counts. Do not reset a count from an old kitchen note while staff are
selling.

## Adjust, replenish, or stop

| Control                 | Effect                                                         |
| ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Signed quick adjustment | Adds or removes the displayed amount from the count            |
| Set a new number        | Replaces the portions-left count with the entered number       |
| Par                     | Sets this item back to its saved par                           |
| 86                      | Sets the service count to zero                                 |
| Reset to par            | Resets tracked items that have a saved par, after confirmation |
| Stop → Stop tracking    | Ends this service countdown; recipe tracking continues         |

A bulk reset skips items with no saved par and identifies them in the
confirmation. Physically check replenishment before resetting: a saved par is
not evidence that the kitchen has made those portions.

At zero or below, an active service countdown makes the item sold out. A
positive count can clear its automatic restriction, but a deliberate manual
**Sold Out** hold is separate. Check both the count and the menu's availability
before selling again. Ending a countdown does not end ingredient tracking.

## During service

Accepted order items reduce the tracked service portions. Pending selections are
not proof that a portion has been deducted. Check the committed count and order
state when several devices are working at once. Choose cancellation reasons that
reflect whether goods were consumed, wasted, or never used; do not use a void
merely to increase portions available for sale.

## Offline or rejected changes

The board can show **Offline**, an age for its last sync, or a number of changes
**syncing**. A local number is not proof that another device has received it.
Keep this device's work intact and restore its connection before relying on a
shared count. If it reports that a change could not be saved, read the message,
reopen the item, and compare the current count with the physical portions.

Do not sign out, reinstall, or reset the device to clear pending work. Use
[Connection and sync](/troubleshooting/connection-and-sync) and escalate with
location, item, device, intended count or adjustment, time, and the exact error.

For ingredient quantities and recipe consumption, see [Stock routines](/stock)
and [Link wine sizes to stock](/guides/wine-stock-links).