SD Elements

Summary Elements are how you shape the body of an SD. You add an element by dragging its icon from the row of purple buttons into the SD, then edit it, move it, attach files to it, and use its chat for comments tied to that element. New elements are locked, to prevent accidental deletion; once you unlock an element you can archive it or delete it permanently. You can also hide the traffic lights and dates to make more room on the screen.

Steps

Note. Elements are how you shape the "body" of your SD, and each element is used for a different purpose. Each element has its own module, such as Section Headers, Notes and Fast Notes. The steps below show how to use elements in general, with the section header (topic header) element as the example.

Step 1

In the row of purple buttons above the SD's section headers, click and hold the Section Header icon (the topic header element): the first from the left, a numbered list. Drag it into the SD and let go.

Step 2

A new row appears where you let go, and the New Section Header panel slides out on the right of the screen.

Step 3

Type the header's text in the box below the formatting buttons, at the top of the panel. The count under the box shows how many of its 250 characters are left.

Step 4

Click Save, at the bottom left of the panel. The new section header shows in the SD.

Step 5

To move any element within the SD, use the same technique: click and hold the element's row, drag it to where you want it, and let go.

Step 6

To attach files to an element, click the attachment button (a paperclip) at the right end of its row. The FILES panel opens on the right of the screen.

Step 7

Drag and drop your files onto the box at the top of the panel, or click Browse to choose a file from your computer and upload it.

Step 8

To leave comments for yourself or others directly within the SD, use the element's chat button (a speech bubble) at the right end of its row, next to the paperclip. This is called contextual comms: the conversation is tied directly to the specific element it relates to. Unlike email, which can be disconnected from the work, this makes progress much easier to track, and it is especially helpful for handovers or future reference.

Locking and unlocking

Step 9

New SD elements are automatically locked when they are first created: a padlock shows at the right end of the row. Locking and unlocking serves two main purposes: \1. Preventing accidental deletion: locked elements can't be removed by mistake, which helps preserve important content. \2. Controlling element archiving: this is especially useful when you use an SD as a report, as it gives precise control over what gets archived (see Step 15).

Step 10

To unlock an element, click the padlock at the right end of its row. The element's edit panel opens on the right of the screen (for a section header, Edit Section Header).

Step 11

At the bottom of the panel, beside Lock/Unlock rows, which notes that locked rows cannot be edited or deleted, the padlock button shows a locked padlock by default. Click it to switch between locked and unlocked.

Step 12

When the padlock shows unlocked, click Save, just below it.

Step 13

A shortcut that many users prefer for locking and unlocking: double-click the element's row to unlock it.

Step 14

When an element is unlocked, the padlock at the right end of its row changes to an unlocked icon.

Archiving or deleting an element

Step 15

Once an element is unlocked, you have two options: archive it or delete it. - Archive it if you're treating the SD as a report, such as meeting minutes or a report controlled by the owner or a nominee, so you can retrieve it later. The Using SDs as a report or meeting minutes app module covers archiving. - To delete it, first unlock it, then swipe right on the element to reveal the delete option. Deleting an element is permanent and cannot be undone.

Step 16

PaT asks you to confirm that you wish to delete the row. Click OK to delete it, or Cancel to keep it.

Hiding the traffic lights and dates

Step 17

You may not always need the traffic light feature, or to see the dates that notes and action points were inserted. You can hide them to create more screen space.

Step 18

Click Hide, the lower of the two round buttons at the far left of the row of purple buttons. The traffic lights and the Date Raised column disappear.

Step 19

If you change your mind later, click Show, just above Hide.