---
title: "Managing the Unassigned Shift Queue & Custom Categories"
url: "https://help.ontraccr.com/en/article/managing-the-unassigned-shift-queue-custom-categories"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2025-06-26T17:21:36.797Z"
---

# Managing the Unassigned Shift Queue & Custom Categories

## **📦 Managing the Unassigned Shift Queue & Custom Categories**  
 

### 📘 Article Purpose

This article explains how the **Unassigned Shift Queue** works in Ontraccr’s Field Schedule, how to create shifts without assigning users, and how to organize those shifts using **custom categories**.

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## **📥 What Is the Unassigned Shift Queue?**

The **Unassigned Shift Queue** is a holding area for shifts that:

-   **Have no assigned users**
-   Were created from a **form**, a **board**, or **manually** without selecting users

It appears as a **collapsible left-hand panel** on the Field Schedule.

📌 You can drag & drop unassigned shifts directly from this panel onto a user’s schedule.

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## **🔓 How to View the Unassigned Shift Queue**

1.  Open the **Field Schedule**
2.  Look to the **far left** of the page
3.  Click the **arrow icon** to expand the panel
4.  View all **unassigned shifts** for the visible date range

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## **🛠️ How to Add an Unassigned Shift**

You can create a shift without assigning it to anyone:

### Manual Method

-   Create a new shift via the **Add button** or **click-and-drag**
-   Leave the **Assigned Users** and **Teams** sections blank
-   Save the shift → it appears in the unassigned queue

### Form Method

-   Use a dispatch form without specifying users
-   The shift will auto-populate into the unassigned section

🧠 Use unassigned shifts when you know what needs to be done and when, but not who should do it yet.

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## **🧩 Custom Categories for Unassigned Shifts**

To better organize unassigned shifts, you can create **custom categories** with color-coding.

### How to Create Categories:

1.  Go to **Settings > Customization > Schedule**
2.  Click on **Schedule Categories**
3.  Click **Add**

You’ll be prompted to:

-   **Name the category** (e.g., “Service Jobs”, “Do Not Reschedule”)
-   **Choose a color** from the palette or input a **hex code**
-   Click **Save**

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### **Common Category Examples:**

-   🟥 **High Priority**
-   🟦 **Service Division**
-   🟩 **Construction Division**
-   🟧 **Do Not Reschedule**
-   🟪 **Low Priority**

Once saved, these categories will:

-   Be visible in the unassigned shift panel
-   Be selectable when creating or editing any shift

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## **✏️ Editing & Organizing Categories**

-   To **edit** a category: click the **pencil icon**
    -   You can rename it or change the color
-   To **reorder categories**: drag them around **within the settings page** (not the schedule itself)

📌 This affects the order in which categories appear in the unassigned queue.

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## **🔁 Categories Work Across All Views**

No matter what Field Schedule view you’re using (Day, Week, User Week, etc.), the unassigned shift queue (and its categories) will:

-   Always be visible for the current **date range**
-   Show all **unassigned shifts** grouped by category