Can't Change the Original Show Order?
This is one of the most common points of confusion.
If your configured side will not let you drag/edit right after optimization, you are in the decision state between configured and optimized order.
- Click Save Updates to accept the optimized order
- Click Reset to discard it
After either choice, the configured side becomes editable again.
Common wording from support chats:
- "Why can't I change my original show order?"
- "How can I see the order after optimization?"
- "Do I need to save or reset first?"
Two Sides, One Decision
Your show page has two sides:
- Configured Order — the show as you've arranged it
- Optimized Order — the show as ShowSort has arranged it after running the optimizer
The optimized side only appears once it differs from your configured side. When that happens, ShowSort temporarily locks your configured order in place and shows you two buttons in the header:
- Save Updates (green floppy-disk icon) — copies the optimized order over to your configured side. From now on, that's your working order.
- Reset (red refresh icon) — throws the optimized result away and keeps your configured order untouched.
Why the Configured Side Is Locked
While the optimizer has produced a different arrangement, ShowSort holds your configured side steady so the comparison stays meaningful. You can't accidentally drag things around mid-decision. Once you click Save Updates or Reset, normal editing comes back.
What a Typical Pass Looks Like
- Set up your constraints (locks, intermissions, groups).
- Click Start Optimizing and let it run.
- Compare both sides. Look at the Quick Changes count — is the optimized side better?
- Click Save Updates to keep the improvement, or Reset to start over.
- Adjust constraints if needed, and run optimization again.
You can repeat this loop as many times as you like — your show purchase includes unlimited optimization runs.
When to Stop Iterating
Once the Quick Changes count is acceptable and the order makes sense for your show flow, head to Reports and start exporting your program and performer schedules. There's no "final lock" step — you've just stopped clicking Optimize.