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CatalogIt Basics

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CatalogIt is an application for documenting physical things, recording where they came from, who made them, where and when they were made, what they were made of, how they were made, what they were used for, who used them, and how they came to be yours- the stories of things. The record of each physical thing you document is an “Entry” in CatalogIt. An Entry is defined by the classification you choose for it (what is it? a basket? a textile? a painting?), the data you input about the Entry’s characteristics, and one or more photos and other types of informative or visual media. The Classification delivers a custom set of data entry fields including the properties and relationships appropriate for that particular type of item. Examples of CatalogIt Classifications are photograph, painting, sculpture, publication, basket, etc.
Throughout the CatalogIt screens are special descriptive fields called Profiles. Profiles allow you to capture and maintain standardized and reusable information- a controlled vocabulary- about a wide variety of things such as a person, place, material, or technique. Once you’ve created a Profile, for example, of a person or a company that made an item in your collection, that profile is available to you to use again anywhere in your account. Profiles additionally also add depth and detail to your entries- they relate entries to one another by these things that they have in common. A Profile can even relate to another profile, such as a person that is related to another person, or people to a particular place. As you are creating or editing an Entry, the Profile fields are easy to identify, as they always have an ellipsis after the name, such as, "Artist...," "Material...," or "Color..."
As you create more Entries , you may wish to organize them into groups based on the type of item, workflow, locations, exhibits, etc. In CatalogIt, these organizational devices are called Folders and are displayed in the “Thumbnail Screen” described below. An You can place an Entry can be placed in multiple Folders and make edits made to an Entry it from within any Folder will apply , saving these changes to the Entry in every Folder location.
== CatalogIt Concepts ==
'''Entry:''' each physical item for which you are creating a record in CatalogIt constitutes an Entry; for example, "Paiute Burden Basket", "Walrus Ivory Spoon", or "1959 Original Barbie".
'''Folder:''' any assembly of Entries you wish to group together. Items in a Folder do not need to be of the same classification. The Folder can be specific, for instance, "Paiute Twined Baskets" or general, such as "Things in Grandma's Hutch.". Items can be moved from one Folder to another, and can exist in as many Folders as you need them to be in. Folders are also the level of publishing to web.
'''Primary Photo:''' the photo that appears in your thumbnail screen and the first photo that appears when you view your Entry.
* Click the Create Entry button in the lower right corner.
* Next, choose a photo. You can use a photo you’ve already taken or if you're using a smartphone or tablet with a camera feature, you can take a new photo. Note that you can also create your Entry with a pdf, Microsoft Word or Excel file or with no image at all (you can always add images later).
* Add a name/title to the Entry. If you wish, you may also add a description of the Entry in the field below the photo. When you are done, click "NEXT" in the upper right corner.
* Scroll through the available fields and enter the data you wish. When you are finished, click “SAVE” in the upper right corner.
 
== How to use "Collection" and "Category" ==
CatalogIt allows users to organize their collections in many different ways. While you are able to be very specific with your cataloging through the use of authoritative classifications, we recognize that you may organize your collections in ways that are specific to you, and with the “'''Collection'''” and “'''Category'''” fields, you are able to do just that.
 
The “'''Collection'''” field, which is available in CatalogIt Museum and Organization accounts, is a repeating field that allows you to break up your own collection into distinct groups that you create and assign. For example, you may have a named collection within your permanent collection called “Jane Smith Craft and Decorative Art Collection.” This same item may also be in your overall “Craft and Decorative Art Collection” and CatalogIt allows you to include multiple collections to ensure you are identifying your collections as specifically as required.
 
The “'''Category'''” field, included in all account types, enables you to classify your collection into categories and subcategories that you define. This is a hierarchical field that allows you to create categories and related subcategories. For example, if you are a collector of vintage household goods (like vintage crockery), you are able to create a category called “Household Goods” and a subcategory of “Kitchenware”, and a second subcategory of “dinner service” for cataloging your vintage soup tureen.
 
These are both user-defined fields. Users can create as many profiles as needed to ensure their collections are organized and categorized in ways that are of most use to them.
== Managing Photos and PDFs ==
[[File:Video-Help.svg|20px|frameless|link=How-To Videos#Photo_Editing_in_CatalogIt]] Watch our "[[How-To_Videos#Photo_Editing_in_CatalogIt|Photo Editing in CatalogIt]]" video
=== To add a new photo:===
* Click on the Entry from your thumbnail screen to view the Entry.
* You can then continue to edit the Entry or click “SAVE” in the upper right corner.
=== To move photos and pdf files in an Entry:===
* Click on the Entry from your thumbnail screen to view the Entry.
The icon of an up arrow pointing to a horizontal line will move the photo/pdf to the top, the primary position. The icon of a down arrow pointing to a horizontal line will move the photo/pdf to the last position, and the other arrows will move the photo/pdf either up one or down one position. When you are done, click “SAVE” in the upper right corner.
=== To delete a photo or pdf in an Entry:===
* Click on the Entry from your thumbnail screen to view the Entry.
* Click on the trash can icon in the lower left corner. You will be asked if you are sure you wish to delete the Entry- note that once it is deleted, it cannot be retrieved. If you wish to delete it, click “DELETE”.
[[File:Delete Entry.png|thumbframeless]]
== Creating a New Folder ==
A Folder is any assembly of entries you wish to group together. Items in a Folder do not need to be of the same classification. A Folder can be specific, for instance, "Paiute Twined Baskets" or general, such as "Things in Grandma's Hutch," or they can relate to processes, such as “To be Cataloged.” Entries can be in multiple Folders at the same time. Publishing to the web in CatalogIt is also by Folder, so keep in mind things you may want to eventually display as groups and create Folders for them. === To create a new Folder: === * Click on the Main Menu in the upper left corner of the thumbnail screen.
To create a new Folder:* Choose “New Folder…”.
Click on the Main Menu in the upper left corner of the thumbnail screen* Enter a name for your new Folder.
Choose “New Folder…”* Add an optional description for your Folder. If you are publishing to the Web, this description will appear on the website.
Enter * “Leaderboard Visible” is turned on by default. The Leaderboard keeps a name for count and a sum of the value of the Entries in your new Folderin the lower left corner of your thumbnail screen. You can turn On or Off either of these two Leaderboard variables by checking or unchecking the box beside the variable name, or you can hide the Leaderboard entirely by clicking on the toggle switch next to the “Leaderboard Visible” label.
Add an optional description for your Folder. If * When you are publishing to the Webfinished, this description will appear on click “Create” in the websiteupper right corner.
“Leaderboard Visible” is turned on by default. The Leaderboard keeps === To add Entries to a count and a sum of the value of the Entries in your Folder in the lower left corner of your thumbnail screen. You can turn On or Off either of these two items Leaderboard variables by checking or unchecking the box beside the variable name, or you can hide the Leaderboard entirely by clicking on the toggle switch next to the “Leaderboard Visible” label.: ===
When * Select an Entry that you are finished'd like to add to the Folder * Click on the Edit pencil in the upper right corner to enter Edit mode * Click on the Folders icon in the upper right * Select the Folder(s) you'd like your Entry to appear in. * Click Save in the upper right corner. == Hide or Show the Leaderboard (which presents count and/or value) on the Thumbnail Screen ==* From your All Entries (or any other Folder), click “Create” on the "Actions Menu", the three dots in the upper right corner. * Select "Edit Folder"The lower part of this screen includes the items that can be shown or hidden on the "Leaderboard", that blue bar. You can make the whole Leaderboard hidden by clicking on the blue dot or you can show or hide the Count and/or Value.
== Customize Date, Currency and Measurement Settings ==
CatalogIt defaults to US settings for currency, date format, length, and weight units, but the Account Owner can set custom defaults. To change your default settings:
* Click on the Main Menu in the upper left corner of the thumbnail screen.
* Choose "Settings."
* Next, select "Default Settings."
* Choose your new default settings. Your currency will automatically display based on your selection and new dimensions and weights you enter will default to your selected setting. Units of measurement or currencies you’ve already entered will not change and going forward, you have the freedom to enter measurement data in units other than your default settings. CatalogIt will also automatically honor your local settings, so dates will display in the format customary for your country.
== Email, Password, Account Name and Other Settings ==
To change your account settings:
* Click on the Main Menu in the upper left corner of the thumbnail screen. * Choose “Settings.” * Choose the Setting you would like to change and follow the prompts on the next screen. == Creating a Subscription ==If you've exceeded 100 Entries, it's time to subscribe! To subscribe, you'll need to be at your computer (this is one function in CatalogIt that isn't available from a mobile device). Follow these steps: * Log in from your desktop or laptop computer. * Click on the Main Menu in the upper left corner of the thumbnail screen. * Choose "Settings" * Choose "Subscription"
Choose “Settings== Adding Collaborators (Users) to your Account ==With CatalogIt multiple users can view and edit the same account at the same time to collaborate on the entries and profiles. You can add and remove users and control the level of access each user has.
Choose To add users to your account, the Account Owner just needs to send an email to [[support@catalogit.app]] with the Setting you would email address of each person they'd like to change add, and follow for each, indicate whether they should have read-only, read-write, or owner access to the prompts on account. Soon, account owners will be able to manage this process themselves, but in the next screenmeantime, we are glad to help.
== Getting Help ==
Getting help with CatalogIt is easy!
* Click on the Main Menu in the upper left corner of the thumbnail screen.
* Choose “Help” and select the topic you need assistance with.
If you don’t see the topic you need help with, please feel free to email your question to contact us at support@[https://www.catalogit.app/support CatalogIt Support]