Cannot save a gig: This older record needs review and a field is longer than allowed

If you are editing a gig and a red box will not let you save, this gets you unstuck in one tap. The block happens when one of the booking fields holds more text than that field is allowed to store.

What the message means

The red box says This older record needs review. Under it you will see: The fields listed below were repeated or malformed. Saving replaces only the named booking fields. Notes and other sections stay untouched. Then it lists the exact field and problem, for example Source detail: The saved text is longer than 160 characters.

Each booking field has a length limit. Otto fills these fields from client emails and can sometimes write more than a field allows, and records brought in from an older version can also be over length. Until the long value is shortened, the app refuses to save so nothing gets stored half broken.

The one tap fix

1. In the red box, click Shorten the long ones to fit.
2. The app trims each over length field back to its limit, keeping whole words where it can, then tells you what it touched: Shortened Source detail to fit. Read it over, then press Save changes.
3. Read the trimmed text so you are happy with it, then press Save changes.

Once the value fits you will see That fits now. Press Save changes to store it and clear this notice. Saving then clears the red box for good.

If you already shortened it by hand

If you cut the text yourself and the box still refuses, click Shorten the long ones to fit anyway. If nothing actually needs cutting it says Everything already fits. Press Save changes. - then press Save changes and the notice clears.

The field limits

So you know the ceilings, the most common ones are: Booking or buyer name 120, Organization 160, Email 180, Phone 60, Event type 160, Venue 160, City 100, Source detail 160, Next action 240, Blocker 240, Room notes 500 characters.

If you do not see the button

Older versions showed this same red box but only told you to press Save, and Save then rechecked the same long value and refused again, a loop with no way out. Update to the current version from booked.kivimedia.co/download, reopen the gig, and the Shorten the long ones to fit button will be there.

Good to know

Saving only replaces the named booking fields. Your notes and every other section of the gig are left untouched.

Still stuck? Email bookedsolid@kivimedia.freshdesk.com and a person will help.