# Location

Locations let you manage information and customize settings for physical stores using the InStore Center.

An InStore location is a physical store. It does not directly map to an online [Store](/learning-model-your-business-structure/stores-and-channels/manage-multiple-experiences-from-one-project.md#stores). Many location settings are inherited from the environment but can be customized in the InStore Center.

The relevant [environment](/instore/use-the-instore-center/environment.md#activate-environment) must be activated before you can set up locations. You also must set up at least one [Store Role](/instore/use-the-instore-center/store-roles.md).

## Location setup

To set up or edit a location, do the following:

1. In the InStore Center, select **Locations**.
2. In the **Actions** column, click the **Edit** icon to view or change details for a location, or click **Add Location** to create a new one.
3. On the **Location Information** page, provide the following details:

   - **Location Name**: name displayed in the InStore Center.
   - **Location ID**: unique identifier for the location. Location IDs must correspond to locations already registered in your Project. This value becomes a component in the InStore POS URL and part of the InStore-generated order number.

   Do not use spaces or special characters in the Location ID.

   - **Tax ID**: (optional) tax identifier for the location. Overrides the environment's Tax ID for this location only.

   - **Location Type**: select a type that describes the location. Add more types using the [Reference list](/instore/use-the-instore-center/reference-lists.md).

     Choose the location type carefully. Your organization may use it for reporting and metrics.

   - **Status**: shown only for active locations. New locations have a status of **Pending** until activated. Select **Inactive** for permanently closed locations. Locations with **Pending** or **Inactive** status are unavailable to users, except those with the **Device Management** permission, who can log in to register devices.

   - **Store Safe**: shown only for active locations. Select the device designated to hold cash. This can be a physical safe or a register tagged as `Eligible as Safe`. Register your [devices](/instore/use-the-instore-center/devices.md) in the InStore POS before completing this field.

   - **Parameter Set**: select the [parameter set](/instore/use-the-instore-center/parameter-sets.md) for this location if it differs from the environment.

     You cannot override parameters set as immutable at the environment level.

   - **Template Set**: select the [receipt template](/instore/implement-instore/receipts/create-receipt-template.md) set for this location if it differs from the environment.

   - **Language**: select a supported language. This determines the language displayed when users log in to this location. To use receipts in another language, select the translated set in the **Template Set** field.

     You must provide values for all the preceding fields. If the field is not in use for this location, you must select **None**. Blank fields prevent the **Save Changes** button from being available. Address fields are optional and may be left blank, though this may affect receipt output and reporting.

   - **Location Description**: description shown on the **Locations** page and available for receipts.

   - **Address**: (optional) complete address for receipts. The country is inferred from the Locale setting at the environment level.

   - **Telephone Number**: phone number for receipts, including country code if needed (for example, +44 for the UK). No formatting rules are applied.
4. Click **Save Changes**. This creates the location but does not activate it.

## Activate a new location

To set up a location or edit its information, do the following:

1. In the InStore Center, select **Locations**.
2. In the **Actions** column, click the **Edit** icon to view or change details for a location, or click **Add Location** to create a new one.
3. On the **Location Information** page, complete the following fields:
   - **Location Name**: name displayed in the InStore Center.
   - **Location ID**: unique identifier. Must already exist in your Project. Becomes a component in the InStore POS URL.
   - **Tax ID**: (optional) tax identifier that overrides the environment Tax ID for this location only.
   - **Location Type**: select a type. Add more types using the [Reference list](/instore/use-the-instore-center/reference-lists.md).

     Choose carefully. Your organization may use this value for metrics.
   - **Status**: shown only for active locations. New locations have **Pending** status until activated. Select **Inactive** for locations that are permanently closed. Locations with **Pending** or **Inactive** status are unavailable to users except those with the **Device Management** permission.
   - **Store Safe**: shown only for active locations. Select the device designated to hold cash (physical safe or a register tagged `Eligible as Safe`). Register [devices](/instore/use-the-instore-center/devices.md) in the InStore POS first.
   - **Parameter Set**: select the [parameter set](/instore/use-the-instore-center/parameter-sets.md) if it differs from the environment.

     You cannot override parameters marked immutable at the environment level.
   - **Template Set**: select the [receipt template](/instore/implement-instore/receipts/create-receipt-template.md) set if it differs from the environment.
   - **Language**: select a supported language. This language displays when users log in at this location.

     To use receipts in another language, select the translated template set in **Template Set**. See [Receipt template sets](/instore/implement-instore/receipts/create-receipt-template.md).
   - **Location Description**: text shown on the **Locations** page and available for receipts.
   - **Address**: (optional) address shown on receipts.

     The country is inferred from the Locale setting at the environment level.
   - **Telephone Number**: phone number for receipts. Include country code if needed (for example, +44). No formatting rules are applied.
4. Click **Save Changes**. The location is created but not yet activated.

## New location activation

After creating a location, activate it in the InStore POS.

### Prerequisites

- Login credentials for the relevant environment's InStore POS
- A [role](/instore/use-the-instore-center/store-roles.md) with the `DeviceManagement` permission

### Activate a location

1. Go to the InStore POS URL for the relevant environment.

   Use `01` as the `workstation` component in the URL the first time you log in.

   If you cannot log in, check the InStore POS user record. It must include `test_key`, `connection_key`, `tenant_id`, `user_name`, `password`, and `role`. Ensure these values match the credentials you enter.

2. On the **Enter Credentials** page, enter your **User ID** and **Password**.

3. Click **Log In**.

4. In the left menu, select **Manage Devices**, then register devices:
   - Register one or more [printers](/instore/use-the-instore-center/devices.md#printers).
   - Register one or more [cash drawers](/instore/use-the-instore-center/devices.md#cash-drawers). Complete the **Connected Printer** field by selecting a previously added printer.
   - Register one or more [workstations](/instore/use-the-instore-center/devices.md#workstations). Complete the **Default Printer** and **Default Cash Drawer** fields.
   - (Optional) Register [scanners](/instore/use-the-instore-center/devices.md#scanners).
   - (Optional) Register [PEDs](/instore/use-the-instore-center/devices.md#peds).
   - Register a [safe](/instore/use-the-instore-center/devices.md#safes). For more information, see [Add the safe to the InStore Center](/instore/use-the-instore-center/location.md#add-the-safe-to-the-instore-center).

5. Click **ACTIVATE LOCATION**.

   If the **ACTIVATE LOCATION** button is not available, check that previous settings are valid.

6. Click **DONE**.

7. If necessary, log in again using the new Workstation ID in the URL. Additional menu options may appear based on your role.

### Add the safe to the InStore Center

1. Go to the InStore Center.
2. On the left-hand navigation menu, click **Locations**.
3. Click the **Edit** icon for the location.
4. In the **Store Safe** field, select the name of the safe you added in the InStore POS.
5. Click **SAVE CHANGES**.

If this is a new location, you must log into the InStore POS and use the **Manage Devices** feature to set up a printer, cash drawer, workstation, safe and other peripheral devices. For more information, see [Devices](/instore/use-the-instore-center/devices.md).

### Payment methods

You must assign payment methods to each location to control which methods are available there. Workstations in that location inherit those payment methods unless you override them at the workstation level. To configure them, see [Assign to a location](/instore/integration/payments/build-payment-components.md#assign-to-a-location).

## Related pages

- [Area overview page with navigation](/instore.md)
- [Previous page: Localization](/instore/use-the-instore-center/localization.md)
- [Next page: Parameter history](/instore/use-the-instore-center/parameter-history.md)
- [Search documentation and API specs](/search.md)