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

# Sessions

> Manage ER:LC sessions with analytics, polls, schedules, and customizable embeds

The Sessions module manages your ER:LC sessions end-to-end: start polls, analytics, channel locks, area-of-play enforcement, and fully customizable embeds.

<Frame caption="Sessions analytics">
  <img className="block" src="https://mintcdn.com/melonly/4kmOXvRKQPWIT-xA/images/Dashboard/Sessions/analytics.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=4kmOXvRKQPWIT-xA&q=85&s=eb09e01ecedc942446e38ac70dcd68f0" alt="" style={{ borderRadius: '0.75rem' }} width="1899" height="926" data-path="images/Dashboard/Sessions/analytics.png" />
</Frame>

## Set up sessions

<Warning>
  Sessions require the [ER:LC API integration](/Dashboard/erlc) to be set up first.
</Warning>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Sessions page" icon="chart-bar">
    Open your server in the dashboard and click **Sessions** in the sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable the module" icon="toggle-on">
    Click **Enable the Sessions Module** to unlock configuration.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure" icon="gear">
    The Sessions tab now has an **Overview** (analytics, controls, history) and **Settings** (full configuration).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Overview

### Analytics

Live player counts, total playtime, and activity graphs.

<Frame caption="Analytics dashboard">
  <img className="block" src="https://mintcdn.com/melonly/4kmOXvRKQPWIT-xA/images/Dashboard/Sessions/analytics.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=4kmOXvRKQPWIT-xA&q=85&s=eb09e01ecedc942446e38ac70dcd68f0" alt="" style={{ borderRadius: '0.75rem' }} width="1899" height="926" data-path="images/Dashboard/Sessions/analytics.png" />
</Frame>

### Session management

Start sessions, create polls, schedule sessions, and review history from one page.

### Scheduled sessions

Scheduled sessions appear here automatically with date, time, and the staff member who scheduled them.

<Frame caption="Scheduled sessions">
  <img className="block" src="https://mintcdn.com/melonly/T_0a7h8oXXivH5qp/images/Dashboard/Sessions/schedule-session/schedulesession.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=T_0a7h8oXXivH5qp&q=85&s=17a500ae82a5d382e9e4acc82160c969" alt="" style={{ borderRadius: '0.75rem' }} width="1658" height="228" data-path="images/Dashboard/Sessions/schedule-session/schedulesession.png" />
</Frame>

### History

Past sessions for review and optimization.

<Frame caption="Session history">
  <img className="block" src="https://mintcdn.com/melonly/4kmOXvRKQPWIT-xA/images/Dashboard/Sessions/history.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=4kmOXvRKQPWIT-xA&q=85&s=d78c107fdf3296a9e074e5fe4efa5885" alt="" style={{ borderRadius: '0.75rem' }} width="1918" height="989" data-path="images/Dashboard/Sessions/history.png" />
</Frame>

## Settings

Open the **Settings** tab on the Sessions page to configure each section.

<Frame caption="Sessions settings">
  <img className="block" src="https://mintcdn.com/melonly/4kmOXvRKQPWIT-xA/images/Dashboard/Sessions/navigate2.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=4kmOXvRKQPWIT-xA&q=85&s=47eb2e0e88d708f3e94017541cbc8be4" alt="" style={{ borderRadius: '0.75rem' }} width="1918" height="989" data-path="images/Dashboard/Sessions/navigate2.png" />
</Frame>

### Basic

| Setting | Description |
| - | - |
| Sessions Channel | Channel for session messages. Requires a linked Discord server |
| Auto Kick While Server Is Down | Kicks non-moderators while no session is active. Requires the ER:LC integration |
| End Staff Shifts on Session Shutdown | Ends every active staff shift when the session is shut down |

### Startup

| Setting | Description |
| - | - |
| Mention Roles | Roles pinged on session start. Supports `@here` and `@everyone` |
| Customize session startup message | Fully customizable embed. Requires [Melonly Plus](https://melonly.xyz/plus) |

### Session poll

| Setting | Description |
| - | - |
| Default Min Votes | Votes needed to prompt staff to start a session. Minimum of 1. Can be overridden on each poll |
| Mention Roles | Roles pinged in the poll |
| Mention Voters in Startup Message | Mentions every user who voted in the session startup message |
| Customize session poll message | Fully customizable poll embed. Requires [Melonly Plus](https://melonly.xyz/plus) |

### Schedule session

Customize the embed posted as soon as someone schedules a session, using **Customize scheduled session message**. This requires [Melonly Plus](https://melonly.xyz/plus).

<Frame caption="Schedule session embed">
  <img className="block" src="https://mintcdn.com/melonly/T_0a7h8oXXivH5qp/images/Dashboard/Sessions/schedule-session/ScheduleSessionDCmessage.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=T_0a7h8oXXivH5qp&q=85&s=4b35e1d66fe54741712c4f76ae1394ef" alt="" style={{ borderRadius: '0.75rem' }} width="1919" height="940" data-path="images/Dashboard/Sessions/schedule-session/ScheduleSessionDCmessage.png" />
</Frame>

### Full session

| Setting | Description |
| - | - |
| Automatically Post Full Session Message | Posts the full session message once your server reaches max players. Requires the ER:LC integration |
| Customize full session message | Custom embed. Requires [Melonly Plus](https://melonly.xyz/plus) |

### Shutdown

| Setting | Description |
| - | - |
| Automatically End Session | Ends the session and posts the shutdown message once the server is empty. On by default. Requires the ER:LC integration |
| Automatically Shutdown ER:LC Server | When the session is shut down, announces it to in-game players and kicks everyone 10 seconds later. Requires the ER:LC integration |
| Custom Shutdown Message | The in-game message players see when the server shuts down. Up to 200 characters. Shown when **Automatically Shutdown ER:LC Server** is on |
| Customize session shutdown message | Customizable Discord embed. Requires [Melonly Plus](https://melonly.xyz/plus) |

### Boost messages

| Setting | Description |
| - | - |
| Mention Roles | Roles pinged on a session boost |
| Customize session boost message | Customizable embed. Requires [Melonly Plus](https://melonly.xyz/plus) |

### Area of Play

| Setting | Description |
| - | - |
| Default Area of Play | Default AOP enforced during sessions unless overridden at launch. Leave empty for no default |
| Open area of play editor | Opens the AOP editor to create custom areas. See [edit location maps](/Learnmore/editlocation) |
| Minutes Allowed Outside of Area of Play | Minutes a player can be outside the AOP before they are warned |
| Number of PM Warnings Before Action | In-game PM warnings sent before action is taken. Warnings are one minute apart |
| Area of Play Enforcement Action | What happens after the last warning: **Respawn User**, **Make Wanted**, or **Kick User** |

<Frame caption="Area of Play configuration">
  <img className="block" src="https://mintcdn.com/melonly/bE_o--6ispPaEGC3/images/LearnMore/Maps/AOP/AOP.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=bE_o--6ispPaEGC3&q=85&s=8e33689b91b9968e8098dd6a6dcb95d2" alt="" style={{ borderRadius: '0.75rem' }} width="1919" height="941" data-path="images/LearnMore/Maps/AOP/AOP.png" />
</Frame>

### Channel locks

Melonly locks channels while no session is running and unlocks them when a session starts. Select a channel to add a lock. You can configure up to 5 channel locks. Text and forum channels are supported.

| Setting | Description |
| - | - |
| Lock Type | **Hide channel visibility** or **Restrict message send permissions** |
| Ignore Roles | Roles whose channel permissions Melonly never changes, such as a staff role or `@everyone` |
| Channel Lock Message | Message sent in the channel when it locks. Requires [Melonly Plus](https://melonly.xyz/plus) |
| Channel Unlock Message | Message sent in the channel when it unlocks. Requires [Melonly Plus](https://melonly.xyz/plus) |

To remove a lock, open the menu on the channel's card and click **Remove channel lock**.

## Embed variables

Use these in any custom embed.

| Variable | Value |
| - | - |
| `{user}` | Mentions the user who started the session, created the poll, or scheduled the session |
| `{players}` | Players in the session (startup, full, and boost messages) |
| `{queue}` | Players in the queue (startup, full, and boost messages) |
| `{aop}` | The session's area of play (startup, poll, full, and boost messages) |
| `{code}` | Server join code |
| `{joinlink}` | Server join link |
| `{maxplayers}` | Server's max player count |
| `{servername}` | Server name |
| `{votes}` | Current vote count |
| `{votesrequired}` | Votes needed to start the session |
| `{time}` | Date and time (short) |
| `{timet}` | Time only |
| `{timeT}` | Full time with seconds |
| `{timed}` | Date only (short) |
| `{timeD}` | Full date |
| `{timef}` | Short date and time |
| `{timeF}` | Long date and time |
| `{timeR}` | Relative time (e.g. "2 months ago") |

### Scheduled session variables

| Variable | Value |
| - | - |
| `{scheduledtime}` | Short date and time |
| `{scheduledtimet}` | Short time |
| `{scheduledtimeT}` | Long time |
| `{scheduledtimed}` | Short date |
| `{scheduledtimeD}` | Long date |
| `{scheduledtimef}` | Short date and time |
| `{scheduledtimeF}` | Long date and time |
| `{scheduledtimeR}` | Relative time |

<Card title="Need help?" icon="headset" href="https://melonly.xyz/discord">
  Still have questions? Join our [Discord server](https://melonly.xyz/discord) for support from the Melonly team.
</Card>


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