Filing records is the process of classifying records and putting them into the correct location in the

There are three ways that you can create records:

• Create a record by uploading files
• Create a non-electronic record that references a physical record such as a paper record or microfilm
• Select an item in another Alfresco site (non-Records Management) and declare it as a record

Note: You can also import folders,

categories

Record categories contains the retention and retention schedules for folders and records. They control how records are managed, and how they're disposed of when they're not needed any more. The top level of the File Plan can only contain record categories. A category can contain other categories and folders.

, and even entire File Plans, and any records that they contain, see Exporting and importing File Plan content.

Your Alfresco administrator can also set up your system so that emails to specified addresses are captured and stored as records.

A record is not considered to be complete until all the required metadata has been added to it. You select Edit Metadata to complete required metadata.

In

Once that’s done you can select to Complete Record and it will be subject to the retention rules that apply to the folder you’ve placed it in.

Note: When you set up a record category or folder you can specify that it will be used to hold Vital Records. A vital record must be reviewed on a periodic basis, as defined on the record category or folder.

Filing an electronic record

Electronic records are files that are uploaded to a records folder. Non-

1. In the record folder where you want to file a record click File.

2. Click Electronic.

3. Click Select Records to File and find the file that you want to upload.

   Tip: You can also select multiple items in the standard multi-select way.

   The files are uploaded as record and display in the

   File Plan
   The File Plan is a container for records, folders, categories and retention schedules. It's effectively a virtual filing cabinet for storing records, and is the basic structure of Records Management. This structure lets you classify and group records with similar characteristics. The top level of the File Plan is created when you create a Records Management site.
   as incomplete records. You need to make sure any required metadata is added before you can set records to
   complete
   A completed record is one that has all the information (metadata) present for it’s business context to make sense. A record can't be disposed of until it's complete. Usually a record can only be completed when all the mandatory metadata has been entered.
   .

See also video explaining filing an electronic record.

Filing a non-electronic record

Non-electronic records might be paper files that can be stored in a physical location. Filing a non-electronic record in the File Plan means the file can be traced and details of where it is physically stored can be recorded.

1. In the record folder where you want to file a record click File.

2. Click Non-electronic.

3. Enter details for the file you are making a record of.

   Only the Name and Title are required, but you should enter enough information so that the record will be recognized by other users.

4. Click Save.

   A new record is created and displays in the File Plan as an incomplete record. You need to make sure any required metadata is added before you can set records to complete.

Filing an unfiled record

When you’ve declared a record from a non-Records Management site it’s added to the Unfiled Records area. You now need to add it to a records folder.

1. Click the Unfiled Records area on the explorer panel on the left of the page.

   All

   unfiled records
   When a record is declared from a non-Records Management site it's added to the Unfiled Records area. It then needs to be added to a records folder.
   are displayed.

   Note: You can add additional folders to the Unfiled Records area to create a folder hierarchy to help manage unfiled records. You can also declare items as records directly from within the Unfiled Records area structure.

2. Hover over an unfiled record and click More then File to….

3. Select a records folder to file the record in then click File.

   Note: There are multiple other actions available including Reject so you can reject the record from the

   File Plan

   The File Plan is a container for records, folders, categories and retention schedules. It's effectively a virtual filing cabinet for storing records, and is the basic structure of Records Management. This structure lets you classify and group records with similar characteristics. The top level of the File Plan is created when you create a Records Management site.

   , and Move to so you can move the record to another location in the Unfiled Records hierarchy.

The record’s added to the File Plan, and if you haven’t already you can now go and edit metadata.

See also video explaining filing an unfiled record.

Adding record metadata

All records in the

If you associate the record with a specific type by selecting the Add Record Metadata option then additional metadata options are required for the record. You need to complete all the required metadata before you can set a record to

The Add Record Metadata option is only available in

Note: Adding record metadata isn’t mandatory, but can be useful to allow additional metadata to be added against a file.

1. Hover over an incomplete record in the File Plan and click More then Add Record Metadata.

   Tip: For non-

   electronic records

   A record such as an email, spreadsheet, or image that can be stored in the Records Management site. A non-electronic record is a physical record such as a paper letter or microfilm.

   the Add Record Metadata is available as soon as you hover over them, you don’t need to click More.

   The available record types are displayed.

2. Select the appropriate record type.

   Record type	Description
   Web Record	A web page.
   Scanned Record	A file that is scanned into the Records Management system.
   PDF Record	A PDF file.
   Digital Photograph Record	A photographic image file.

   Tip: You can select multiple items in the standard multi-select way.

3. Click OK.

   Some record metadata is mandatory. Before you can complete a record, you must edit the metadata to complete the mandatory fields.

Icons next to the record show the record types that it’s been associated with. Hover over an icon to display the record type.

See also video explaining adding record metadata.

Editing record metadata

You can edit record metadata to add information to a record.

Before you can

1. Hover over a record in the

   File Plan
   The File Plan is a container for records, folders, categories and retention schedules. It's effectively a virtual filing cabinet for storing records, and is the basic structure of Records Management. This structure lets you classify and group records with similar characteristics. The top level of the File Plan is created when you create a Records Management site.
   and click Edit Metadata.

   The Edit Metadata page displays. The metadata fields you see on this page depend on the file type, and whether or not record types have been associated with the file. The metadata is divided into sections, with additional sections dependant on if a record type has been associated with the item.

2. Enter the record metadata.

   If your Records Management system is

   DoD 5015.2-STD
   If you create a site of this type then in has additional metadata requirements, as required by the US Department of Defense. Mandatory metadata includes the originator, the originating organization, the publication date, the destroy action.
   compliant then every file includes the DOD5015 Record section, which is a default set of basic metadata fields. The default record metadata fields are:

   Property/metadata	Description
   Publication date	Required. The date that the record is published. Select the date from the calendar selection box.
   Originator	Required. The person or department in the originating organization.
   Originating Organization	Required. The organization that created the record.
   Media Type	The general media type such as audio, video, or document.
   Format	The format in which the record is stored, such as electronic or physical file.
   Date received	The date that the record was received from the originator.
   Addressee	The email address of the originating organization to be used for correspondence.
   Other Addressee	The secondary recipients of the message (CC).
   Location	The physical location of the record, generally only applicable to non- electronic records A record such as an email, spreadsheet, or image that can be stored in the Records Management site. A non-electronic record is a physical record such as a paper letter or microfilm. A record such as an email, spreadsheet, or image that can be stored in the Records Management site. A non-electronic record is a physical record such as a paper letter or microfilm. .
   Supplemental Marking List	Any additional properties applicable to the record. This list is defined by the Alfresco administrator in the List of Values in the RM Admin Tools. This is available in both standard and DoD 5015.2-STD compliant File Plans.

   You can’t save this page until you complete any required fields.

3. Click Save.

See also video explaining editing record metadata.

Requesting record information

If you need additional information to complete a record, you can request this from other users.

1. Hover over a record in the File Plan and click More then Request Information.

2. Click Select and select a user or group to request the information from.

3. Enter details of what you need in the Requested information box.

4. Click Request Information.

   A task will be assigned to the selected user and will show in their My Tasks dashlet. Once they mark the task as done the information they provide will be shown in a task assigned to the user who requested the information. Access the information through your My Tasks dashlet and click Task Done to close the information request.

Completing a record

Content added to the

1. Hover over an incomplete record in the File Plan and click Complete Record.

   Tip: Incomplete records are marked.

   If a record has mandatory metadata that hasn’t been completed then a message lets you know that required metadata is missing.

Once a record is

Note: A record can be filed in multiple categories, see Linking records for more details.

See also video explaining completing a record.