> ## 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.

# Creating & Filing a Record

> Start a record, fill it in, save drafts, file it, and edit or delete it afterwards.

***

## What Happens When You Create a Record?

You fill in a form built from one of your server's templates, then file it. Filing saves the record and, if it has charges, sends it to the court or applies the penalties straight away.

You need an active unit to create records.

***

## Creating a Record

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start a record">
    Use any of these:

    * **New record** in the top bar
    * The **New Record** tab in [Records Centre](/CAD/User/records/records-centre)
    * **New** on a [Run](/CAD/User/lookups#run) or Record Search result, which fills the record in for you
    * **Create New Record** in your call's [linked records](/CAD/User/calls/notes-records#linked-records)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in the form">
    Fill in each section. Add [charges](/CAD/User/records/charges) if the template has them.
  </Step>

  <Step title="File it">
    Click **Create Record**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Turn on **Paper** in the window header to see the record laid out like a printed form.

### Drafts

New records save as drafts to your account as you type, so they follow you across devices. Open them from **Drafts** in the top bar or Records Centre. Filing the record removes the draft, and **Discard** lets you throw it away or keep it as a draft.

### Filling from other records

Some sections have fill buttons, such as Civilian, Vehicle or Licence. Pick a search result and the matching fields are copied in for you.

***

## Fields and Sections

| Field | How it behaves |
| - | - |
| Supervisor-only | Red label. Only supervisors for that record type can fill it. |
| Read-only | Can't be changed once set |
| Unique | Can't match another record. Generated values appear when the record is filed. |
| Required | Must be filled to file the record |

* Charges and Licence Suspension: see [Charges](/CAD/User/records/charges).
* Record Link: link other records with a short label. Paste a copied record ID or search for one.
* Duplicate sections: some sections repeat, for example a second suspect. Use **Duplicate** to add one.

***

## Filing a Record

What happens when you click **Create Record** depends on your server's [law settings](/CAD/Admin/law#configuration).

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Auto prosecution off (default)">
    The record goes to the Law panel. Bond holds create a bond hearing, and Criminal or Determinable charges (or a Summons template) go to court. See [Law](/CAD/User/law).
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Auto prosecution on">
    Fines, jail time, points and suspensions are applied straight away and the record is closed.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Templates can also skip prosecution, skip bond, always summon to court, or set their own court deadline.

***

## Editing and Deleting

Open a record and click **Edit**. Closed Police and Law records use **Edit conviction**, which fixes the saved record only. Fines, jail and licence penalties are adjusted from the Law panel. Closed Fire, Medical and DOT records, BOLOs and warrants can't be edited.

<Warning>
  **Delete record** doesn't ask for confirmation.
</Warning>

Open BOLOs and warrants have **Close BOLO** and **Close Warrant**. Supervisors can see who wrote a record with **View Author**.

***

<Card title="Need help?" icon="headset" href="https://melonly.xyz/discord">
  Still have questions? Join our Discord server for support from the Melonly Team.
</Card>


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.