# Your first day

Signing in is the entry task for starting work in Sherkety ERP. The application shell is the
starting screen after sign-in; use it to choose the application area that matches your work.

| If you need to… | Go to |
| --- | --- |
| Reach the sign-in form | [Reach the sign-in page](#reach-the-sign-in-page) |
| Enter your details | [Enter your details and submit the form](#enter-your-details-and-submit-the-form) |
| Understand the sign-in result | [Submit the form and handle the result](#submit-the-form-and-handle-the-result) |
| Choose an application area | [Choose where to start work](#choose-where-to-start-work) |
| Understand the shell | [Understanding the interface](doc:understanding-the-interface) |
| Open a destination from the product menu | [Navigation basics](doc:navigation-basics) |
| Adjust workspace options | [Personalizing your workspace](doc:personalizing-your-workspace) |

Begin by preparing your sign-in details.

## Before you sign in

Have the email address and password for your account ready. The sign-in form is where you enter
those details. It contains **Email** and **Password**. It can also contain **Database** when more
than one database is available.

| What you use | What to expect |
| --- | --- |
| **Email** | Enter the email address for your account. |
| **Password** | Enter the password for your account. |
| **Database** | Use the database shown when the form offers more than one database. |

Enter a value in **Password**. Your sign-in session can prefill **Email** and **Database**.

With these details ready, continue to [Reach the sign-in page](#reach-the-sign-in-page).

The form requires **Email** and **Password**. When **Database** is shown, it is also required.

## Reach the sign-in page

Use the sign-in route to reach the form before entering your details.

**Prerequisites**

You have the sign-in information described in [Before you sign in](#before-you-sign-in).

**Steps**

1. Open `/web/login`.
2. Confirm that **Email** and **Password** are visible.

![Check that the sign-in form is visible before entering your details.](https://atloriaassets.blob.core.windows.net/assets/a438221c-c1af-407c-b9e6-a56c986db846/f84c0e9880246b251ffaedc9899a0ce7.png)

**Result:** The sign-in form is on screen with **Email** and **Password** available. Continue to
[Enter your details and submit the form](#enter-your-details-and-submit-the-form).

## Enter your details and submit the form

The sign-in form collects your account details and submits them with **Log in**.

**Prerequisites**

You are on the sign-in form.

**Steps**

1. In **Email**, enter the email address for your account.
2. In **Password**, enter the password for your account.
3. If **Database** is shown, select the database you need.
4. Select **Log in**.

The **Select** control opens the database selector when the form offers a database choice.

**Result:** The sign-in request is submitted. A successful request continues to the application
shell. If sign-in fails, an error message appears on the sign-in page. Continue to [Submit the
form and handle the result](#submit-the-form-and-handle-the-result).

## Submit the form and handle the result

After you select **Log in**, read the result to identify the sign-in branch you reached.

**Prerequisites**

You have selected **Log in** on the sign-in form.

**Steps**

1. Read the sign-in result when the request finishes.

| What you see | Next action |
| --- | --- |
| `You are logged in.` | Continue to [Choose where to start work](#choose-where-to-start-work). |
| An error message | Read [When sign-in does not work](#when-sign-in-does-not-work). |

After a successful sign-in, the text `You are logged in.` can appear. Debug mode can also add
**Log in as superuser**. Database management can add **Manage Databases** unless database
management is disabled.

**Result:** You either reach the application shell or have the message needed to correct the
sign-in attempt.

The application shell opens at `/web`.

## Choose where to start work

In the application shell, **Home Menu** can list the following work areas:

| Application labels |
| --- |
| **Discuss**, **Calendar**, **To-do**, **Contacts**, **CRM**, **Sales** |
| **Dashboards**, **Point of Sale**, **Accounting**, **Legal**, **Project**, **Timesheets** |
| **Website**, **Email Marketing**, **Purchase**, **Inventory**, **Manufacturing**, **Maintenance** |
| **Repairs**, **Employees**, **Attendances**, **Recruitment**, **Fleet**, **Time Off** |
| **Expenses**, **Lunch**, **Apps**, **Settings** |

In full-screen mode, the navigation bar is hidden.

**Prerequisites**

You are in the application shell.

**Steps**

1. Open **Home Menu**.
2. Choose the application area that matches the work you need to do.
3. If the area presents sections, choose the section for the destination you need.
4. When the needed section is under **More Menu**, open **More Menu**.
5. Choose the needed section.

The shell can also show **Documentation**, **Support**, **Shortcuts CTRL+K**, **My Profile**,
**My Sherkety Account**, and **Log out**. Choose a destination by the label shown in the shell.

**Result:** The application shell remains available while you choose a work area or section. If a
sign-in message still needs attention, go to [When sign-in does not work](#when-sign-in-does-not-work);
otherwise continue to [Continue from the shell](#continue-from-the-shell).

## When sign-in does not work

Use the message on the sign-in page to decide what to do next.

**Prerequisites**

The sign-in request has finished and a message is visible on the sign-in page.

| What you see | What it means | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `Wrong login/password` | The submitted account details were refused. | Check the details in **Email** and **Password**, then select **Log in** again. |
| `Only employees can access this database. Please contact the administrator.` | The selected database does not allow this access route. | Contact the administrator. |

**Steps**

1. Find the message in the **What you see** column of the table.
2. Follow the matching action in the **What to do** column.

For support routes, go to [Getting help](doc:getting-help).

**Result:** You have the next action for the sign-in message on screen. When sign-in is resolved,
continue to [Continue from the shell](#continue-from-the-shell).

## Continue from the shell

Once the shell is open, continue with the task that matches your work. Use [Understanding the
interface](doc:understanding-the-interface) to learn the shell's areas, [Navigation basics](doc:navigation-basics)
to open covered destinations, or [Personalizing your workspace](doc:personalizing-your-workspace)
to work with workspace options.

The shell can also present these workspace controls:

| Workspace controls |
| --- |
| **Menu Style**, **Font Type**, **Preloader Option**, **Theme Colors** |
| **Brand Color**, **Background Color**, **Sidebar Color**, **Chatter Position** |
| **Save**, **Reset To Default** |

**Result:** You have a starting point in the shell and a next page for orientation, navigation, or
workspace setup.