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

# Get Started with Cadmus Dispatch CAD in Five Minutes

> Sign in to Cadmus Dispatch CAD, confirm your environment, orient yourself to the main layout, and complete your first essential dispatch actions.

Before you take your first call, spend a few minutes getting oriented in Dispatch CAD — confirm the environment you are signed into, understand how your organization and agency context shapes what you see, and practice the keyboard shortcuts that will carry you through every shift. The steps below walk you through everything from the sign-in screen to your first dispatched unit.

## Sign In

<Steps>
  <Step title="Launch the application">
    Open the Cadmus Dispatch CAD application in your browser or from your workstation shortcut.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter your agency credentials">
    Sign in with the username and password provided by your agency administrator. If you do not have credentials, contact your supervisor before proceeding.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the dashboard loads">
    After sign-in, the **dashboard** appears with call boards in the center and the units sidebar on the side. If the boards are empty, verify your agency filter (see Organization and Agency Context below).
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Pin the Dispatch CAD window full-screen on your workstation. Resizing the window can shift board layouts and obscure call cards during busy periods.
</Tip>

## Sandbox vs. Live Environment

<Warning>
  Before creating or closing any real calls, confirm which environment you are in. The header displays either **SANDBOX MODE** or **LIVE MODE**. Creating calls in a sandbox org has no effect on live CAD — and vice versa. Follow your agency's SOP before dispatching in either environment for the first time.
</Warning>

If your deployment includes a training organization, you may be able to switch between environments:

* **SANDBOX MODE** — safe for training and testing; calls do not affect live dispatch
* **LIVE MODE** — production environment; all actions are real and audited

Always verify the header badge at the start of every session, especially on shared workstations.

## Organization and Agency Context

Your **organization** determines which calls, units, incident types, and settings you see. If you dispatch for multiple agencies within one organization, use the **Select Agencies** filter in the header to focus your boards.

| Header control      | What it does                                                                                    |
| ------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Select Agencies** | Filters call boards (and related agency-scoped views) to the agencies you choose                |
| **All**             | Selects every agency (shows the full organization)                                              |
| **Clear**           | Deselects every agency — boards show **no** calls until you check agencies again or tap **All** |
| **Done**            | Closes the picker (the filter already updates as you check or clear)                            |

The footer count shows how many agencies are checked (for example **0 of 12** after **Clear**, or **12 of 12** when **All** is selected).

<Note>
  If a board looks unexpectedly empty, open **Select Agencies** and confirm agencies are checked. **Clear** leaves zero agencies selected, which empties the boards on purpose. Tap **All** to restore the full organization view.
</Note>

## Shared Workstation Sign-Out

When dispatchers share the same Windows login, each person must sign out of Cadmus before the next dispatcher begins work. Open the user menu and select **Sign Out** between dispatchers, not only at the end of a shift.

Signing out protects the prior dispatcher's session and prevents the next dispatcher from inheriting the prior user's agency filter. Before signing out, clear any agency filter that should not carry into the next shift, or leave it set to **All Agencies** when that matches your agency's normal console setup.

<Warning>
  Do not leave Dispatch CAD signed in for the next person. A shared Windows login does not create a separate Cadmus session.
</Warning>

## Main Screen Layout

Familiarize yourself with the five major areas of the Dispatch CAD workspace before taking your first call:

| Area              | Purpose                                                                                              |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Header**        | New CFS, Login User, Query, Map, Units, BOLO, Chat, **Communication Center**, and Settings shortcuts |
| **Units sidebar** | Active units, off-duty pool, and quick status updates                                                |
| **Call boards**   | Pending, Patrol, Dispatched, Fire, EMS, Recent, Status Timers, BOLOs, and Resources tabs             |
| **Call detail**   | Full CFS view — location, assigned units, parties, notes, SMS, queries, and close actions            |
| **Command line**  | Keyboard-driven commands at the bottom of the dashboard or inside a call detail                      |

## Essential First Actions

Use this table as a quick-reference until the actions become muscle memory. Every item is covered in a dedicated guide linked from the table.

| Task              | How                                                                                                    |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Create a call** | Press **F1** or click **New CFS** in the header — opens the New CFS form                               |
| **Log in a unit** | Press **F2** or click **Login User** in the header — assigns a responder to a unit                     |
| **Open a call**   | Click any call card on any board to open the full call detail panel                                    |
| **Assign a unit** | Drag a unit from the Active Units sidebar onto a call card, or open the call and click **Assign Unit** |
| **Run a query**   | Press **F3** or click **Query** in the header (requires NCIC to be enabled for your agency)            |

## Communication Center

The **message icon with an exclamation mark** near the right side of the header (next to Settings) opens the **Communication Center**. Use it to:

* Read Cadmus product **updates**, release notes, and alerts (a red count badge appears when you have unread items)
* Check **system status**
* **Report a problem** or **request a feature**
* Review **My Reports** for tickets you have already submitted

<Tip>
  Report Problem and Request Feature live inside the Communication Center side navigation and footer — you do not need a separate header control for feedback.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  Master **F1 through F5** before relying on mouse navigation. Keyboard shortcuts are significantly faster during high-call-volume periods. Type **HELP** in the command line to see your agency's configured aliases.
</Tip>

## Header F-Key Reference

| Key        | Action                                                                |
| ---------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **F1**     | New CFS                                                               |
| **F2**     | Login User                                                            |
| **F3**     | Query (when NCIC is enabled)                                          |
| **F4**     | Map                                                                   |
| **F5**     | Units / unit greaseboard                                              |
| **F6–F12** | Agency quick-call templates (e.g., traffic stop, follow-up, fuel log) |

<Note>
  Function keys are inactive while the **New CFS** dialog is open so they do not interrupt call entry. With the command line focused, **F1** opens command **HELP** instead of New CFS — type `HELP` or `?` anytime, or blur the command line and press **F1** for New CFS. **RapidSOS** (when shown in training builds) is click-only and does not share **F4** with Map.
</Note>

## Reload Data and Recovery Tools

If incident types, quick-call templates, or units appear stale or missing after your agency admin makes changes in Web Admin:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Settings & Tools">
    Click the **gear icon** in the header to open the Settings & tools menu.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Reload data">
    Select **Reload Units & Dashboard Data**. This refreshes boards and picks up the latest configuration while keeping you signed in.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Use **Settings Recovery** only when directed by Cadmus support or when the normal reload does not resolve the issue. Both **Force Reload** and **Clear All Caches** under Settings Recovery sign you out; sign back in after running either action. See [Troubleshooting](/dispatch/troubleshooting) for recovery steps and live-board status messages.

### Windows CAD application updates

On Windows CAD builds, Settings & tools also includes application update controls:

* **Automatically download updates** is **off by default**. Cadmus still checks for updates, then asks before downloading and installing.
* Turn the toggle **on** if you want quiet background downloads; Cadmus still asks before installing and restarting.
* Choose **Later** to postpone for 24 hours. While postponed, Settings & tools shows **Install pending update** so you can install before the reminder returns.
* **Install pending update** clears the postpone and downloads or installs the update you already deferred.

<Warning>
  Sign out using **Sign Out** in the user menu at the end of every shift on shared workstations, and between dispatchers who share the same Windows login. Leaving a session open can expose call and unit data to the next user.
</Warning>

## Application updates (Windows)

Production Dispatch CAD checks for signed updates when you start the app and about every four hours while it stays open and online.

| Stage                | What you see                                                                                        |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Update available** | Banner or **Cadmus updates** notice with release notes                                              |
| **Downloading**      | Progress on the update action in the Communication Center                                           |
| **Ready to install** | **Update ready — restart to install** chip; choose **Restart to update**                            |
| **Postponed**        | Settings shows **Install pending update**; choose it when you are ready before the 24-hour reminder |
| **After restart**    | The installer applies the new version and relaunches Dispatch CAD                                   |

Updates download from Cadmus release infrastructure (Cloudflare). The app verifies each update with a cryptographic signature before staging it. An update is **not** installed until you restart and the verified installer runs.

If auto-update is unavailable, use **Download update** in the notice to open the manual installer from your administrator.