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Enable Public Access

Critical Step: Your taplist defaults to private, which means customers cannot see your beer menu until you enable public access. This guide ensures your taplist is visible to customers.

Why This Matters

Default Behavior

  • New taplists default to private - Only you can view them (requires login)
  • Customers see "This taplist is private" message - Instead of your beer menu
  • Common confusion - Many brewery owners forget this essential step

What Happens When Private

When your taplist is private, customers visiting yourbrewery.taplists.raspberrypints.com will:

  • See a "This taplist is private" message instead of your beer menu
  • Cannot access any beer information
  • May think your taplist is unavailable or restricted

How to Enable Public Access

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Access Your Admin Interface

    • Visit yourbrewery.taplists.raspberrypints.com/admin
    • Log in with your RaspberryPints account credentials

  2. Navigate to Settings

    • Click "Settings" in the admin navigation menu
    • This opens your taplist configuration page

  3. Find the Public Access Setting

    • Look for the "Basic Information" section
    • Find the "Enable public taplist" checkbox
    • This checkbox is unchecked by default

  4. Enable Public Access

    • Check the "Enable public taplist" checkbox
    • The setting changes immediately when checked

  5. Save Your Settings

    • Click "Save Settings" or equivalent save button
    • Changes are applied immediately

Visual Confirmation

After enabling public access:

  • The checkbox should remain checked
  • You should see a success message or confirmation
  • Test by visiting your public URL in a new browser window (logged out)

Testing Your Public Taplist

Verify Public Access Works

  1. Open New Browser Window - Or use incognito/private browsing mode
  2. Visit Your Public URL - Go to yourbrewery.taplists.raspberrypints.com
  3. Confirm You See Beer Menu - Not a "This taplist is private" message
  4. Check All Information Displays - Beers, descriptions, styles, etc.

What You Should See

  • Your brewery name prominently displayed
  • Current beer selection with all assigned taps
  • Beer details including ABV, IBU, descriptions
  • Professional appearance based on your theme selection
  • No login requirements for viewing

If Still Seeing "This taplist is private" Message

  • Clear browser cache and refresh
  • Wait a few minutes for changes to propagate
  • Verify checkbox is still checked in admin settings
  • Try different browser to rule out caching issues

Public vs Private Settings

Private Taplist (Default)

  • "Enable public taplist" unchecked
  • Only brewery admin can view (requires login)
  • Customers see "This taplist is private" message
  • Useful for testing before going live

Public Taplist (Recommended)

  • "Enable public taplist" checked
  • Anyone can view without login
  • Customers see your beer menu
  • Essential for customer access

When to Use Private Mode

Testing Scenarios

  • Initial setup - Test appearance before going public
  • Major changes - Preview updates before customers see them
  • Maintenance - Temporarily hide during system updates
  • Seasonal preparation - Set up holiday displays in advance

Switching Back to Private

  1. Access Settings - Go to admin settings page
  2. Uncheck the box - "Enable public taplist" checkbox
  3. Save settings - Apply the change
  4. Immediate effect - Taplist becomes private instantly

Common Issues and Solutions

Problem: Customers Still Can't Access Taplist

Check These Items:

  • Verify checkbox is checked - In admin settings
  • Confirm settings were saved - Look for save confirmation
  • Test from different device - Rule out browser caching
  • Wait 5-10 minutes - Allow time for changes to propagate

Additional Solutions:

  • Clear browser cache on customer devices
  • Share exact URL - Ensure customers have correct link
  • Check subdomain spelling - Verify URL is correct

Problem: Changes Don't Seem to Save

Troubleshooting Steps:

  • Refresh settings page - Reload and check checkbox status
  • Try different browser - Rule out browser-specific issues
  • Check internet connection - Ensure stable connection
  • Contact support - If problems persist

Problem: Some Customers See "This taplist is private", Others Don't

Likely Causes:

  • Browser caching - Some devices cached old version
  • DNS propagation - Changes taking time to spread
  • Mobile vs desktop - Different caching behaviors

Solutions:

  • Advise customers to refresh - Clear cache and reload
  • Wait additional time - Allow full propagation
  • Test on multiple devices - Verify consistency

Security and Privacy Considerations

Public Access Security

  • No login required - Anyone can view your taplist
  • Information visible - All beer details are public
  • Search engine indexing - Your taplist may appear in search results
  • Link sharing - Customers can share your URL freely

Protecting Admin Access

  • Admin URLs remain secure - /admin still requires login
  • Management functions protected - Only you can make changes
  • Account security important - Keep login credentials secure

Data Privacy

  • Beer information public - Names, descriptions, ABV, etc.
  • No customer data exposed - Only beer menu information
  • Brewery contact info - Only what you choose to display

Best Practices

After Enabling Public Access

  1. Share your URL - Promote yourbrewery.taplists.raspberrypints.com
  2. Create QR codes - Use the QR Code page in your admin panel
  3. Add to website - Use the Embed Widget or set up a custom domain
  4. Social media promotion - Share on social platforms
  5. Staff training - Ensure staff know the URL

Ongoing Management

  • Regular testing - Periodically check public access works
  • Monitor customer feedback - Ensure customers can access easily
  • Keep information current - Update beer selections regularly
  • Seasonal adjustments - Maintain fresh, accurate content

Getting Help

If You're Still Having Trouble

  • Double-check steps - Review this guide carefully
  • Test thoroughly - Try multiple browsers and devices
  • Contact support - Through your My Account page
  • Include details - Specific error messages or symptoms

Information to Provide Support

  • Your brewery subdomain - The exact URL
  • Browser details - What browser and version
  • Error messages - Any specific text you see
  • Steps taken - What you've already tried

Success! Once your taplist is public, customers can access your beer menu 24/7 from any device. Your digital taplist is now ready to serve customers and promote your brewery.