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"A batch covering these schedule entries is already creating bookings"

If you tried to start (or retry) a booking-generation batch and saw a red banner with this message — and a list of one or more blocking batches — this article explains why and what to do.

Written by Dec Norton

Symptoms

The Start button on the Create batch bookings page is disabled.

A red panel reads: "Cannot start a new batch — the following batch(es) are still creating bookings for some of these schedule entries:"

Cause

Another batch is currently in Confirming, Confirmed, or Creating status and would touch one or more of the same schedule-entry occurrences as the one you're trying to start. To avoid duplicate bookings, the system blocks the second batch from starting until the first one finishes.

Solution

Option 1: Wait for the in-flight batch

The simplest fix. Click the named batch in the red panel to open it; check the progress screen. Once it reaches a terminal state (Completed, Partially completed, Failed, or Cancelled), the block clears and you can start your new batch.

Option 2: Cancel the blocking batch

If the blocking batch is no longer wanted, open it and click Cancel. See Cancel or retry a booking-generation batch for what cancellation does in each phase.

After the blocking batch reaches a terminal state, return to the create page; the Start button will re-enable.

Option 3: Narrow your date range or team filter

If the overlap is small, you can sometimes work around the block by adjusting your filters so the new batch covers a different set of schedule entries. For example, if the blocking batch is creating bookings for Team A on 1–7 April, you can still start a separate batch for Team B on the same dates.

Prevention

  • Aim for one batch per (date range, team) combination at a time.

  • Wait for one batch to finish creating before starting another that overlaps.

  • The same block applies to Retry — if you retried a batch quickly after cancelling, the original may still be cleaning up.

Still having issues?

If you don't recognise the blocking batch, ask your team — it may have been started by another admin. You can see who started it under the Created by column on the Generate Bookings list.

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