> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Find parking spots and available spaces > Use map view, table view, search, and columns to find cars, reserved spots, and open spaces quickly. ## What you will accomplish You will find the right spot, car, or open space on [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) using map view, table view, and search—without walking the building first. ## When to use this guide Use this guide when you need to find a car, check whether a spot is open, or review several parking spaces before moving a vehicle. **Why searching here saves time** The map and table pull from the same live data. Searching first helps you confirm a spot is open, see who it is reserved for, and avoid moving the wrong vehicle. Parking Spots page showing search, occupancy summary, Filters and settings, and the Actions button *Start with the search bar and occupancy summary at the top of [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots). Use **Actions** when you need **Audit** or **Report**.* Parking Spots table view showing spot names, reserved cars, currently parked vehicles, and status columns *Table view is helpful when you need to scan many spots, sort columns, or check reserved and currently parked cars.* Parking Spots Filters and Settings panel open showing Map and Table view buttons and display options *Open **Filters & Settings** to switch between Map and Table view, show or hide map details, and read quick counts before you change a spot.* ## Read the quick counts on the map In **Map** view, use the legend on the parking map. It shows how many spaces are **Available**, **Reserved**, and **Occupied** for the spots on your floor plan. Parking map legend showing Available, Reserved, and Occupied counts above the facility floor plan with occupied and reserved spots *The legend updates when staff assign cars or save reservations. Check it before you promise a spot to a customer.* **Why this helps** Glance at the counts before you move a car. If **Available** is zero in a busy row, you know to search another area instead of opening spots one by one. ## Before you start * The parking spots should already be set up in [Settings > Floor Plan](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/floor-plan). * Know what you are trying to find: a spot name, customer name, car, license plate, VIN, or open space. * If you are about to move a vehicle, confirm the physical location before saving any changes. ## Use Map view when you need a visual answer Map view is best when your question is about the physical layout. Use it for questions like: * "Where is A3 in the building?" * "Which spot is next to this car?" * "Is there an open space near the front row?" * "Which lift level is occupied?" * "Which cars are in the outdoor zone without a numbered spot?" ### Lift spots on the map Lift spots look like one box on the map but can list more than one level (for example ground and upper). Click the lift spot to see which level is **Present**, **Reserved**, or open before you move a car. **Expected result:** You know which level to use before you open **Move Vehicle** or assign a car. Go to [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots). The page usually opens in **Map** view. Each box on the map is a parking spot or lift. The label, such as **A1** or **LIFT-1**, helps you match the app to the real facility. Click the search field near the top of the page. Type a spot name, customer name, license plate, VIN, make, or model. If suggestions appear, click the correct match. If you press **Enter**, the map jumps to the first matching spot. Clicking a spot opens the spot details. Use this when you are ready to assign, move, or review the car in that space. Parking Spots map with search results highlighting a vehicle match *Search works in Map view too. The map can jump directly to the spot or vehicle you typed.* ### Expected result You can point to the correct place on the map before moving a car or changing a record. ## Use full screen on a busy map When many spots are on screen, the map can feel crowded on a laptop. Go to [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) and confirm you are in **Map** view. On the map toolbar, click the **Full screen** button (square arrows icon). **Expected result:** The map expands to use more of your screen. Search and spot labels stay available. Click **Exit full screen** (same button) or press **Escape** to return to the normal page layout. Parking Spots map in full screen mode showing the facility floor plan and spot labels *Full screen helps porters and valets read spot names on a large map during busy intake days.* **The map refreshes on its own** While [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) is open, the map updates about every 30 seconds when teammates move cars. You do not need to refresh the whole page to see a colleague's latest assignment—though you can still press **F5** if something looks stuck. ## Use Table view when you need to compare spots Table view is best when you want rows and columns. Use it for questions like: * "Which spots are available right now?" * "Which spaces are reserved for a customer?" * "Which spots are tagged Front Row or Lift?" * "Which car is currently parked in this spot?" On [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots), click **Filters & settings** near the top of the page (next to the search bar). In the view switcher, click **Table**. The page changes from the map to a list of parking spots. Start with **Name**, **Location**, **Reserved Car**, **Reserved Customer**, and **Currently Parked**. **Location** shows the zone name (such as **Indoor Bay** or **Outdoor Lot**) when the spot belongs to a zone on your floor plan. **Currently Parked** tells you whether a car is physically there (**Present**), only scheduled (**Reserved**), or open (**Available**). This is the column to scan when you need an open space. The **Status** column shows **Active** or **Inactive**—whether staff should use the spot at all. It does **not** show whether a car is parked there. **Why this matters:** Sorting **Status** will not group open spots together. Use **Currently Parked** instead. Click a column heading, such as **Name** or **Currently Parked**, to change the order of the rows. Open **Filters & Settings**, then use **Columns** to show only the fields you need. A shorter table is easier to read. On the right side of each row, click the **three-dot** menu (**⋯**). From there you can **Reserve Spot** or **Edit Reservation** without opening the map. **Expected result:** A small menu drops down with actions for that spot only. Parking Spots table showing the row actions menu open on an available spot with Reserve Spot listed *The **⋯** menu on each row is the fastest way to reserve a spot when you already know which row is open.* ### Expected result You can quickly compare spots without opening each one. Parking Spots table showing Currently Parked column with Present, Reserved, and Available values plus Reserved Customer names *Scan the Currently Parked column, not Status, to find Available, Reserved, and Present spots quickly.* Parking Spots table highlighting Currently Parked badges for Present and Reserved cars and Active status badges in the Status column *Currently Parked shows occupancy (Present, Reserved, or Available). Status only shows whether the spot is Active or Inactive for daily use.* ## Sort and scan by occupancy or tags When the facility is full, scanning every row is slow. Use Table view tools to narrow what you see. On [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots), click **Filters & Settings** near the top of the page, then choose **Table**. In **Filters & Settings**, open **Columns** and turn on **Currently Parked**, **Reserved Car**, **Reserved Customer**, and **Tags** if they are hidden. **Expected result:** Each row shows whether a car is **Present**, **Reserved**, or **Available** in **Currently Parked**. Click the **Currently Parked** column heading to group similar rows. Scan for **Available** when you need an open spot. **Why this matters:** You find open spaces faster than clicking each spot on the map one by one. If your floor plan uses tags such as **premium** or **lift**, type those words in the search box. **Why this matters:** Customers who pay for climate-controlled or lift storage expect the right row—not the first open spot your team sees. ## Search for a car, customer, or spot The search box at the top of [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) works in both **Map** and **Table** view. The placeholder text says: **Search by spot, plate, make, or model…** Click inside the search field near the top of the page. **Expected result:** The cursor is ready for typing. On the map, matching spots may highlight as you type. Enter a spot name, plate, make, model, or customer-related text. You do not need the full name—partial matches often work. Press **Enter** to jump the map to the first match, or click a suggestion if one appears. **Expected result:** The map centers on the spot, or the table shows only matching rows. Delete the text in the search box, or open **filters & settings** and use **Clear filters** when search is active. **Expected result:** All spots return to the map or table. You can search for: * A spot name, such as **A1** or **Lift 1**. * A customer name, such as **Sam Rivera**. * A car make or model, such as **Porsche** or **DB9**. * A license plate. * A tag, such as **premium** or **lift** (when your floor plan uses tags). **Search before creating a new spot** If you cannot find a spot, search by several names your team might use. For example, try **A1**, **A-1**, and **Front Row** before asking someone to create a new spot. ## Understand the column labels The map legend and the **Currently Parked** column use the same short words: **Available** — no car is physically in that spot, and no scheduled assignment is showing in **Currently Parked**. **Present** — a car is physically parked there now. The map legend may say **Occupied** instead; it means the same thing. **Reserved** — the spot is held or scheduled for a customer or car, but the vehicle may not be physically there yet. Check **Reserved Car** and **Reserved Customer** for who holds the space. **Active** (in the **Status** column only) — staff can use this spot for normal parking. **Inactive** (in the **Status** column only) — the spot is blocked or out of service. Do not park cars here until an admin marks it active again in [Settings > Floor Plan](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/floor-plan). **Skip inactive spots when searching for open space** If **Status** shows **Inactive**, treat the row as unavailable even when **Currently Parked** looks open. An admin should turn the spot back to **Active** after the bay is safe to use. **Two different columns** Do not sort **Status** when you want open spots. **Status** is only **Active** or **Inactive**. Occupancy lives in **Currently Parked**, **Reserved Car**, and **Reserved Customer**. **How badges look in Table view** In **Currently Parked**, **Present** and **Reserved** appear as colored badges. **Available** shows as plain text in that column. Use those badges—not **Status**—when you need an open spot fast. ## Common mistakes to avoid * Do not treat **Reserved** as the same thing as **Present**. Reserved means planned. Present means physically there. * Do not move a car record just because a row looks available. Confirm the real spot before saving. * Do not hide columns you need for the task. If you are checking reservations, keep **Reserved Car** and **Reserved Customer** visible. * Do not rely on memory when the facility is busy. Search the page and confirm the spot first. ## Troubleshooting **I do not see Filters & settings** The filter button sits to the right of the search bar at the top of [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots). On a narrow phone screen it may show only a filter icon—tap that icon to open the same panel. **I do not see the spot I expected** Clear the search box and check whether you are in the correct view. If the spot still does not appear, it may need to be created or reactivated in [Settings > Floor Plan](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/floor-plan). **The table is too wide** Use **Filters & Settings**, then **Columns**, to hide fields you do not need. You can also scroll the table sideways if your screen is narrow. **The map and table do not match what I see in the building** The app is only correct if staff update it when cars move. Confirm the car's real location, then follow [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot) to correct the record. ## What to do next After you find the right spot: * Use [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot) if the car is physically moving there now. * Use [Work with zones on the map](/docs/parking-spots/work-with-zones-on-the-map) if the car is in a flexible area without an exact spot number. * Use [Reserve a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/reserve-a-parking-spot) if you need to hold the space for a car or customer. * Use [Review the parking report](/docs/parking-spots/review-the-parking-report) if you need history for a date range. ## Related topics - [Reserve a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/reserve-a-parking-spot.md) - [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot.md) - [Parking Spots overview](/docs/parking-spots/overview.md) - [Set up parking spots and zones](/docs/parking-spots/set-up-parking-spots-and-zones.md) - [Assign parking during a Schedule event](/docs/parking-spots/assign-parking-during-a-schedule-event.md) This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.