Creating and Managing Collections

Collections gather relevant events into a single space so that analysts can tag one another, collaborate with comments, and attach files. Collections can be thought of as case files or a folder of information. The Collections widget is used to create collections, find and search for existing collections, or customize a workspace containing multiple collections. Drag collections into the Object Details Viewer to examine them.

At a high level, the Collections widget allows the following capabilities:

• Attaching events that are relevant to a case or investigation.
• Assigning users as a collection's primary analyst or participant.
• Assigning a custom status through collection tags.
• Assigning additional labels through system/additional tags.
• Assigning a priority from among high, medium high, medium, medium low, and low.
• Enabling collaborative dialogue between users using the comments functionality with the ability to attach files to comments, and create threads of collapsible comments.
• Utilizing custom fields to allow users to capture specific customized information on a collection.
• Exporting to a PDF file.
• Exporting (limited collection info) to a CSV file.

Creating Collections

Collections are highly customizable thanks to custom fields, and can be assigned priorities with a designated status.

To create a collection:

1. Add the Collections widget to an open workspace.
2. At the top right side of the Collections widget, click the blue + button to create a new collection within the widget.
3. Type a Name for the collection.
4. Type an optional Description to better define the collection's intended purpose.
5. If needed, use Assign to User to designate a Workstation user as the collection's primary analyst.
   • Users assigned to collections receive system notifications when certain changes occur.
   • While not required, assigned users can be helpful for designating a point person responsible for a collection's management.
6. If needed, use Participants to identify additional users that may be involved on this collection.
7. Assign an optional Priority to designate a collection as Low, Medium-Low, Medium, Medium-High, or High priority.
8. Assign tags to the system notification generated for the collection.
   • Collection tags are assigned in the Primary Tag field to color code and organize your collection.
   • Select one or more system tags in the Additional Tags field.
9. When finished, click Create.

Right-Click the collection to Send to Object Details Viewer, Open in new viewer widget, or Send to another Workspace.

Editing Existing Collections

If changes are needed for a collection, drag the collection into Object Details Viewer.

To make edits to collections:

1. At the top right side of the Object Details Viewer widget containing a collection, click the pencil icon (✎).
2. Make edits to the collection.
3. Click Update to update the collection, or Cancel to discard the changes.

Archiving Collections

Collections cannot be deleted from Workstation, but they can be archived. Archived collections can be filtered from the collections widget.

To archive a collection:

1. At the top right of a collection open within Object Details Viewer, click the archive icon.
2. Confirm archival of the collection, or click Cancel to halt archival.

To unarchive a collection:

1. At the top right of an archived collection open within Object Details Viewer, click the archive icon.
2. Confirm unarchival of the collection, or click Cancel to keep the collection archived.

Exporting Collections

A collection can be exported if the user has VIEW permissions to Workstation Collections Export.

To export a collection:

1. At the top left side of an Object Details Viewer widget containing a collection, locate the export icon.
2. Click the export icon. A menu opens containing the open collection and all possible file formats, including: JSON, JSON with attachments, PDF, or as a basic or advanced report.
3. Select the file format desired. The file is downloaded.

note

PDF exports are enabled by building report templates via the Report Builder tool in Designer.