# Getting started

## Open the application

The inspected development instance is at `http://earth.127.0.0.1.nip.io:8083/frontpage_panel`. It is already signed in for this documentation capture. On another deployment, use the address and sign-in process provided by your institution. Sign-in and account recovery were not exercised in this session.

The home page is titled **Scientific Management Platform**. The SciShield logo in the header links home. **Toggle navigation** expands or collapses the sidebar. The header also contains **Notifications** and **User menu** controls.

## Use the sidebar

Select a section's button to expand its links. Each lab has its own section. The inspected account belongs to three labs, so checking the lab name before opening a record matters.

| Section | Available links |
| --- | --- |
| A lab, such as Bruxner Lab Group | View Lab Profile, Compliance Dashboard, View Members, Send Lab Message, View Lab Spaces, Bio Summary, Rad Summary, Rad Request, Rad Waste Pickup, Self Inspections, Manage Lab Forms |
| SOPs | Organizational SOPs |
| Research Tools | Announcements, Document Library, External Links, Important Contacts, SDS Search |
| Training | My Training, Course Directory |
| Equipment | My Equipment |
| My Account | Account Settings, individual lab links, Messages, Log out |

Some links depend on the lab: the third lab's menu had fewer entries than the first two. Absence of a link does not establish that the feature is disabled institution-wide.

## Read the home page

![Home page and navigation](assets/screenshots/home.jpg)

**Report choices.** The top of the home content provides **ObservNow™ Safety Concern**, **Incident or Near Miss**, and **Visit Knowledge Base** links. Reporting forms are explained in [Safety reporting](safety-reporting.md). The knowledge base is a separate integration and was not followed.

**Needs Attention.** A personal setup item may appear with **Start Now**. The captured example concerns an incomplete Animal Contact Review Wizard. It is specific to the account; its questions and submission were not inspected.

**Announcements.** Select an announcement title or **[more]** to read it. **View All Announcements** opens the announcement list. Announcement dates and instructions reflect institutional content.

**Required Training.** Each row contains a status, course name, and renewal date. The captured page shows both **Overdue!** and completed rows. **Never** appears as the renewal value on some completed courses; it is not the same as a course never having been completed. Use [My Training](training.md) to inspect completion dates.

**Messages.** Subject links open individual messages; **View Entire Inbox** opens messaging. The captured home page and the separate inbox did not agree on the number of messages. See [Troubleshooting](troubleshooting.md).

**Compliance Summary for.** Choose a lab and use the Biological, Radiological, Training, and Equipment status links or **View Dashboard**. Confirm the displayed lab heading before following an issue.

**SDS Search.** The home page offers a chemical name or CAS number field. Research Tools also provides an SDS screen with advanced filters.

## Work with tables

Many tables offer sortable column headers, filters, and pagination. Sortable headers are links or have a sorting label. A result count such as “Showing 1–25 of 34 results” means additional records are on another page.

An empty table can mean no matching records, no records for this context, or a loading/integration problem. Clear filters and confirm the lab before concluding that nothing exists.

## Accessible navigation

The application exposes **Skip to navigation** and **Skip to main content** links. The documentation also has a keyboard-accessible skip link, a labeled search input, visible focus styles, and text links to all guides. Screenshots supplement the written steps.

Next: [Labs, members, and spaces](labs.md) or [Training and courses](training.md).