---
title: "Getting Started with Records"
slug: "getting-started-with-records"
updated: 2026-04-01T22:43:43Z
published: 2026-04-01T22:43:43Z
---

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

# Getting Started with Records

The most common type of record you’re likely to interact with in Slate is the **person record**.****Person records store data associated with individuals like applicants, enrolled students, and alumni.

Go to **Records** and type a name into the search bar to find a record.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/Person record.png)

## Tabs on the person record

The data on the person record are stored on its **tabs:**

#### Dashboard

A quick look at the person’s high-level data points. Can be replaced with a [custom dashboard](/v1/docs/modifying-standard-profile-tab-settings#standard-tab-settings).

#### Timeline

A chronological list of the record’s interactions.

📖 [Timeline](/v1/docs/timeline-overview)

#### Application

The details associated with a record’s application. Person records can have more than one application.

📖 [Applications](/v1/docs/application-building-checklist)

#### Giving (Advancement only)

An accounting of the gifts given, or planned to be given, by a [donor](/v1/docs/donor-alum-record).

📖 [The giving tab](/v1/docs/giving-tab-overview-settings)

#### Profile

An overview of the main biographical data points associated with a record.

📖 [The Profile tab](/v1/docs/person-record-profile-tab)

#### Materials

Uploaded documents associated with the record.

📖 [Materials](/v1/docs/materials-overview)

#### Academic (Student Success only)

A dashboard displaying details related to the student’s academic standing

#### Advising Notes (Student Success only)

A record of the advising notes taken for a student

#### Early Alert (Student Success only)

A record of the early alerts raised for a student.

#### Custom tabs

You can create custom tabs that contain additional data related to the person record.

📖 [Custom tabs](/v1/docs/custom-tabs)

## Creating a test record

Creating a **test record** lets you to explore Slate and visualize how data appears to the constituents who interact with your instance.

1. Select **Record** in the top navigation bar.
2. Select **New Record**.
3. Configure the following settings:
  - **Email:**Use an email that is accessible to you.
  - **First Name, Last Name:**Append the word `TEST` to the first and last name so the record is easily identified as a test record.
  - **Birthdate:**A birthdate must be in the past; unborn records cannot exist in Slate. [![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/2026-03-31_14-28-20(1).png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/92ztk13pauisyd9ntb2tqmceclip1.png)
4. Select **Create**. You are redirected to the new person record.

[![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/rzrmhcst0o7qtq1ewjb6amceclip0.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/rzrmhcst0o7qtq1ewjb6amceclip0.png)
5. Under **Tags**, select the **Test Record** tag.

Using the Test Record [tag](/v1/docs/tags) lets you isolate test records from queries.