> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.melonly.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Dispatch Calls

> Manage the calls board, create and edit calls in the Call Editor, answer 911 calls and handle ER:LC calls from the Dispatch panel.

***

## Calls Board

The Calls panel lists every call you can see. The Active tab shows Pending and Open calls, and Call History shows closed ones. Only Dispatch can reopen closed calls, and they go back to Pending.

* Click a call to open it in the [Call Editor](#call-editor).
* Right-click a call to view it on the map, add a note, merge it, add it to a timer or tone, send a lookup or record to its units, or end it.
* Tick several calls to act on them together.
* Drag units or groups onto a call to assign them. Drag a record onto a call to add it as a note.
* Use the header to search, hide or reorder columns, or switch between table and card view.

***

## Call Editor

The Call Editor is where you create, edit and close calls. Open it with **New Call**, by clicking a call on the board, or add it as a docked panel. You can have several editors open at once, and drag units straight onto them.

### Create a call

<Steps>
  <Step title="Fill in the call">
    Enter a **Call Title** and choose the call type. Add an address, code, priority and description as needed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose who sees it">
    Pick the **Panels** that should see the call. Leave it empty to send it to all panels.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Attach units">
    Drag units or groups onto the editor. The first unit becomes the primary unit.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create it">
    Click **Dispatch Call** (or **Create Call** if no units are attached).
  </Step>
</Steps>

Changes to existing calls save automatically while **Auto-save** is on. Turn it off if you'd rather click **Save**.

<Expandable title="Call fields">
  | Field | Description |
  | - | - |
  | Units | The units on the call. Click × on a unit to remove it. |
  | Status | Pending or Open. Calls with units are always Open. |
  | Type | Emergency or Civil (non-emergency). In-game calls keep their type. |
  | Origin | Dispatch, Walk-up, Caller, Report, On-sight or Radio |
  | Primary Unit | The lead unit |
  | Call Title | Free text, with suggestions for every panel including dispatcher-only titles |
  | Panels | Police, Fire, EMS, DOT. Which service panels see the call. |
  | Code | One of your server's 10-codes, up to 45 characters |
  | Priority | One of your server's priorities |
  | Postal / Address | Suggests address shortcuts. Use the map icon to pick a spot on the map. |
  | Linked Records | Records attached to the call |
  | Caller details | Name, residence, contact number and whether they want contact. Shown for Caller calls. Fill Caller copies them from a civilian. |
  | Description | Free text |
</Expandable>

### Saved call templates

Save calls you make often as templates, then pick one from **Saved Call Templates** to fill the form. You can save up to 50, and they're tied to your account. The [Command Bar](/CAD/Intro/interface/command-bar#saved-calls) `NEW` and `SI` commands use them too.

### Call notes

Add a text note, or attach a record you've copied or looked up. Melonly also adds notes automatically when the call is created, units are assigned or removed, a unit changes status, or the call is closed or reopened.

***

## How Calls Behave

* A unit can only be on one call. Assigning it to a new call takes it off the old one.
* A Pending call becomes Open as soon as a unit is assigned. Assigning a unit to a closed call reopens it.
* Removing the last unit closes the call, unless your server turns this off.
* Calls still open after your server's Clear Calls time (2 hours by default) close automatically. See [Config](/CAD/Admin/config#general-settings).
* Assigned units hear a tone and a spoken summary of the call, and are alerted when notes are added.
* Merging calls can't be undone. See [Calls](/CAD/User/calls).

***

## 911 Calls

### Civilian calls

Civilians report incidents from the [Civilian panel](/CAD/User/civilian). These arrive on your board as Pending, with the Caller origin. You hear the incoming call tone for each new call, filtered by your Selective Dispatching.

### Voice calls

When a civilian is waiting on the 911 or non-emergency voice line, every dispatcher gets an alert. Click **Join call** to talk to them, and **Leave** when you're done. Phone lines are open mic and aren't recorded as radio clips.

If no dispatcher is online, Police units get these calls instead.

### ER:LC in-game calls

If your server's ER:LC integration is set up, in-game calls appear on the board automatically as Pending. They show the in-game location, caller and players involved.

* Police calls go to Police, Fire and EMS calls go to both Fire and EMS, and DOT calls go to DOT as non-emergency.
* When the in-game call ends, the CAD call closes if no units are on it.
* If your server turns on auto-dispatch, the nearest available units are assigned automatically, but only when no dispatcher is online. See [Config](/CAD/Admin/config#general-settings).

***

## Finding Calls

**Get Call** in the top bar finds any call, open or closed, by its incident number and shows a read-only preview.

There are two call histories:

* The **Call History** tab on the Calls board lists every closed call you can see.
* The **Call History** window lists calls your current unit was on, from the last 7 days by default. Change the date range to look further back.

***

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