Building the Program: Session Codes

This screen is used to build a master list of codes, which are part of the unique programme codes of contributions and which describe the type of presentation within a session, i.e., invited or contributed oral, or poster, and when during the day it is presented--morning, afternoon, before or after coffee, etc.

This functionality has evolved over the years mainly in connection with the big particle accelerator conferences. EPAC and APAC (now IPAC in Europe and Asia) have adopted approximately the same codes over many years. PAC (now IPAC in the US, and "North American" PAC) codes differ from conference to conference.

Of course, administrators can define these codes as they see fit, in particular for smaller workshop-type events not requiring sophisticated coding.

Unique programme codes built within the SPMS are made up of a:

• Day Code: MO, TU, WE, etc.
• Session Code: (codes given below)
• Location Code: a code for an auditorium or poster hall
• Sequence Number: the last digits that indicate the place within the session.

It is of course possible to create programme codes manually, rather than using this functionality.

As an example of what session codes can look like, the session codes shown below were used for EPAC'08 (IPAC'10 and '11 used very similar codes) and PAC'09.

EPAC'08 (IPAC'10 and '11)

• X is the code for invited oral sessions, scheduled in the morning, before the coffee break
• Y is the code for invited oral sessions, scheduled in the morning, after the coffee break
• Z is the code for invited oral sessions, scheduled in the afternoon
• O is the code for contributed oral presentations
• P is the code for poster sessions.

For invited oral sessions, adding an A, B, or C, i.e. XA, XB, XC provides the possibility to divide one session into several, for example if several different topics are being addressed within the same block of time (before or after morning coffee, afternoon).

Idem for contributed oral sessions, adding an A, B, or C, i.e. OA, OB, OC allows the possibility to distinguish between sessions in the SPMS, though it does not give an indication of time: pre-coffee, post-coffee, afternoon.

PAC'09

while PAC'07 used codes similar to the above, PAC'09 developed a completely new approach.

• 1 is the code for oral sessions, scheduled in the morning, before the coffee break
• 2 is the code for oral session, scheduled in the morning, after the coffee break
• 3 is the code for oral sessions, scheduled in the afternoon, before the coffee break
• 4 is the code for oral sessions, scheduled in the afternoon, after the coffee break
• 5 is the code for poster sessions scheduled in the morning
• 6 is the code for poster sessions scheduled in the afternoon
• PC is the code for oral presentations scheduled during the plenary, closing session, in the afternoon