# Understanding the interface

## What the interface is for

The application shell is the starting workspace for reaching the Accounting and Inventory
areas. The **Accounting Dashboard** presents journal entries, while the **Inventory Dashboard**
is an entry surface for Inventory work.

Choose a destination by task:

| If you need to… | Go to |
|---|---|
| Recognize the shell and the two covered entry surfaces | [Recognize the shell and entry screens](#recognize-the-shell-and-entry-screens) |
| Open an Accounting or Inventory destination | [Find an entry surface](#find-an-entry-surface) |
| Use an Inventory action | [Use an Inventory entry action](#use-an-inventory-entry-action) |
| Understand why Inventory areas differ | [Handle role and data branches](#handle-role-and-data-branches) |
| Follow the detailed menu procedure | [Navigation basics](doc:navigation-basics) |
| Work with the Accounting Dashboard in detail | [Accounting Dashboard](doc:accounting-dashboard) |
| Work with the Inventory Overview in detail | [Inventory Overview](doc:inventory-overview) |
| Change workspace appearance | [Personalizing your workspace](doc:personalizing-your-workspace) |

## Before you start

**Prerequisites**

- Have permission to open the **Accounting Dashboard**.
- Know that Inventory can begin with a loading state while its information appears.
- Know that an account with no available Inventory role sees a no-views message instead of a role
  area.
- The **Inventory Dashboard** is prioritized before the classic **Inventory Overview**.

An Inventory role is a work perspective that changes the areas and actions shown on the Inventory
surface. If no Inventory role is available, it shows
`No inventory views are enabled for your role. Contact an administrator.`

## Find an entry surface

The product menu includes **Accounting** and **Inventory**. Choose the area that matches the work
you need to start.

### Open Accounting

**Prerequisites**

- You have permission to open the **Accounting Dashboard**.

**Steps**

1. Select the destination that matches your work.

   | If you need to… | Select in order |
   |---|---|
   | Open the Accounting entry surface | **Accounting**, then **Dashboard** |

The requested Accounting screen did not open when this route was used. The product menu also did
not open for the Accounting menu action, so stop at the screen that remains visible.

**Result:** The Accounting Dashboard is the destination for journal entry work when the screen
opens.

### Open Inventory

**Steps**

1. Select the destination that matches your work.

   | If you need to… | Select in order |
   |---|---|
   | Open the Inventory entry surface | **Inventory**, then **Inventory Dashboard** |

The Inventory menu did not open when this route was used.

**Result:** The Inventory Dashboard is the destination for the Inventory entry surface when the
screen opens.

## Recognize the shell and entry screens

The shell combines product navigation with workspace controls. The Accounting Dashboard presents
journal entries with a journal name and type. The Inventory surface presents a role title and
subtitle, followed by metrics and lists that change with the selected role.

The shell currently shows these workspace controls:

| Control | Type |
|---|---|
| **Menu Style** | Select |
| **Font Type** | Select |
| **Preloader Option** | Select |
| **Theme Colors** | Select |
| **Brand Color** | Select |
| **Background Color** | Select |
| **Sidebar Color** | Select |
| **Chatter Position** | Select |
| **Save** | Button |
| **Reset To Default** | Button |

When these role choices are available, the Inventory surface shows the area for the selected choice:

| Role choice | Main area |
|---|---|
| **Warehouse manager** | Today at a glance, including stock health, transfers, activity, and attention areas. |
| **Buyer / planner** | Reorder queue, vendor performance, and open purchase-order timing. |
| **Ops director** | Flow today, throughput, work-in-progress, and exception triage. |
| **CFO / finance** | Working capital, inventory ageing, and warehouse valuation. |

Inventory empty states use these messages:

| Area | Message |
|---|---|
| Items below minimum | `No items below the minimum.` |
| Activity | `No recent activity.` |
| Vendor activity | `No vendor activity in the last 90 days.` |
| Purchase orders | `No open purchase orders.` |
| Work in progress | `No work in progress.` |
| Exceptions | `No open exceptions.` |
| Aged stock | `No aged stock — all inventory is fresh.` |

## Use an Inventory entry action

These actions take you from the Inventory surface to the next operational area. When you recognize
the area you need, continue with the action procedure.

### Open the next Inventory work area

**Prerequisites**

- The Inventory surface is open.
- The relevant action is visible in the role area you selected.

**Steps**

1. Select the action that matches your next task.

   | If you need to… | Select |
   |---|---|
   | Start a transfer | **New transfer** |
   | Review replenishment or incoming transfers ready for validation | **Review →** |
   | Move to purchasing work for a stock risk | **Reorder →** |
   | Resolve an open backorder | **Resolve →** |
   | Start a purchase order | **Draft PO** |
   | Open the related picking | **Open →** |

**Result:** The selected action takes you to a new transfer form, replenishment or receipts for
validation, the buyer role, backorders, a purchase-order form, or the related picking.

## Handle role and data branches

### Choose a visible Inventory role

**Prerequisites**

- The Inventory surface is open.
- At least one role choice is visible.

**Steps**

1. Select the visible role choice that matches your work after the Inventory information appears.

   | If you need to work with… | Select |
   |---|---|
   | Stock health, transfers, and attention areas | **Warehouse manager** |
   | Reordering, vendors, and purchase-order timing | **Buyer / planner** |
   | Throughput, work-in-progress, and exceptions | **Ops director** |
   | Working capital, ageing, and valuation | **CFO / finance** |

**Result:** The selected role area appears.

| What you see | What appears |
|---|---|
| Loading state | The Inventory area is still loading. |
| No available role choice | `No inventory views are enabled for your role. Contact an administrator.` |
| More than one role choice | A role selector can open. |
| **Warehouse manager** selected | The manager area appears. |
| **Buyer / planner** selected | The buyer area appears. |
| **Ops director** selected | The operations area appears. |
| **CFO / finance** selected | The finance area appears. |

## When the screen does not open

> **Note:** The requested Accounting screen did not open, and the Accounting and Inventory menu
> actions did not open.

### Try the destination again

**Prerequisites**

- The product menu is visible.

**Steps**

1. Select the destination that matches your work.

   | If you need to… | Select in order |
   |---|---|
   | Open Accounting | **Accounting**, then **Dashboard** |
   | Open Inventory | **Inventory**, then **Inventory Dashboard** |

2. If the requested screen still does not open, stop at the screen that remains visible.

**Result:** The requested destination is open when the selection succeeds; otherwise, the requested
screen remains unopened.

Use these recovery actions when the destination does not open:

| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| The requested screen does not open | Remain on the screen that is visible and use [Getting help](doc:getting-help). |
| The Accounting menu does not open | Use [Navigation basics](doc:navigation-basics) for the menu procedure. |
| The Inventory menu does not open | Use [Navigation basics](doc:navigation-basics) for the menu procedure. |

## Continue with the task you need

The two surfaces on this page are entry points rather than complete Accounting or Inventory
procedures. Continue with the page that owns the work:

| If you need to… | Continue with… |
|---|---|
| Open covered destinations from the product menu | [Navigation basics](doc:navigation-basics) |
| Understand the Accounting Dashboard and its journal entry points | [Accounting Dashboard](doc:accounting-dashboard) |
| Understand the Inventory Overview hub | [Inventory Overview](doc:inventory-overview) |
| Change workspace appearance | [Personalizing your workspace](doc:personalizing-your-workspace) |

**Result:** You know which page owns the next navigation, Accounting, Inventory, or personalization
task.