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

# Setting up kitchen stations

> Create and manage kitchen stations in oFatoura to route menu items to the right printer and give each kitchen team a focused ticket view.

Kitchen stations (also called kitchen places) tell oFatoura where to print each kitchen order ticket and which team is responsible for preparing it. Before your staff can see tickets on the kitchen display or your printer can receive orders, you need at least one active station with a printer assigned.

<Note>
  Kitchen stations are configured per branch. If you run multiple branches, set them up separately in each branch's settings.
</Note>

## Permissions

Staff need the following to work with kitchen stations:

* **View stations** — "Show Kitchen Place" permission
* **Create a new station** — "Create Kitchen Place" permission
* **Edit a station** — "Update Kitchen Place" permission
* **Delete a station** — "Delete Kitchen Place" permission

Contact your administrator if you do not see the Kitchen Settings page.

## Where to find kitchen stations

In the web admin, go to **Kitchen Places** in the left sidebar, then open **Kitchen Settings**. You will see a list of all stations for the current branch.

***

## Adding a kitchen station

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the add station form">
    On the Kitchen Settings page, click **Add kitchen**. A form panel or dialog will appear.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in the station details">
    Complete the required fields:

    | Field        | Required | Notes                                                       |
    | ------------ | -------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
    | Kitchen name | Yes      | Must be unique within this branch                           |
    | Description  | No       | A short note to help staff identify the station             |
    | Printer      | Yes      | Choose from the printers already configured for this branch |
    | Active       | Yes      | Toggle on to make the station live immediately              |
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save the station">
    Click **Save** (or the equivalent confirm button). The new station appears in the list and is immediately available for item routing and ticket views.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  You must select a printer before saving. Without a printer assignment, oFatoura cannot deliver tickets to that kitchen. Make sure the printer is set up first under [Printer Configuration and Devices](/settings/printers-and-devices).
</Warning>

***

## Editing a station

<Steps>
  <Step title="Locate the station">
    Find the station in the Kitchen Settings list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the edit form">
    Click the edit icon or **Edit** button next to the station name.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update the fields">
    You can change the name, description, printer assignment, and active/inactive status. The **Default** flag is read-only — it is managed by the system and cannot be changed manually.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save your changes">
    Click **Save**. Changes take effect immediately for new tickets.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  If you need to temporarily stop a station from receiving tickets — for example during maintenance — toggle it to **Inactive** rather than deleting it. Items already assigned to that station retain their routing for when you reactivate it.
</Tip>

***

## Activating and deactivating a station

You can toggle a station between **Active** and **Inactive** at any time from the edit form. Inactive stations do not appear in the per-kitchen ticket view and will not receive new KOT print jobs.

***

## Deleting a station

<Steps>
  <Step title="Confirm it is not the default station">
    The system designates one station as the default for the branch. The default station cannot be deleted. If the station shows a **Default** badge, you cannot delete it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Delete the station">
    For non-default stations, click the delete icon or **Delete** button. Confirm when prompted.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Deleting a station removes it permanently. Any menu items routed to that station will no longer have a kitchen assignment until you reassign them. Review item routing after deleting a station — see [Assigning Menu Items to Kitchens](/kitchen/routing-items).
</Warning>

***

## Station fields reference

| Field             | Description                                                                                      |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Kitchen name      | A unique name for this station within the branch (e.g., "Hot Kitchen", "Cold Station", "Bakery") |
| Description       | Optional free-text note visible to admins in the station list                                    |
| Printer           | The printer that receives KOTs for items routed to this station — required                       |
| Active / Inactive | Controls whether the station appears in ticket views and receives print jobs                     |
| Default           | Read-only flag set by the system; the default station cannot be deleted                          |

***

## Related

* [Assigning Menu Items to Kitchens](/kitchen/routing-items) — route specific items to this station
* [Viewing Kitchen Tickets](/kitchen/web-kot-views) — see tickets in the all-kitchens and per-kitchen views
* [KOT Settings, Cancel Reasons, and Marking Items 86](/kitchen/kot-settings-and-86) — configure ticket behaviour
* [Printer Configuration and Devices](/settings/printers-and-devices) — set up the printers you assign to stations