---
title: "Getting Started with References"
slug: "reference-overview-getting-started"
status: "new"
updated: 2026-08-05T20:19:55Z
published: 2026-08-05T20:19:55Z
canonical: "knowledge.technolutions.net/reference-overview-getting-started"
---

> ## 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 References

> [!NOTE]
> 📚 Part of the series **Application Building Phase II:** [**The Slate-hosted Application**](/v1/docs/introduction-to-the-slate-hosted-application)

The Slate-hosted application includes a **references page** that lets students request recommendations from references.

[Final Getting started with the reference module](https://player.vimeo.com/video/1138217734?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479)

## The elements of references in Slate

There are four different components that work together to make references work in Slate. Their names are similar, and it can sometimes be easy to conflate them; see the table below for a breakdown:

| Component | Audience | Configuration |
| --- | --- | --- |
| References host page | Applicant | Slate-Hosted Application Page form |
| *Add Reference* popup | Applicant | Reference Widget form embedded in the host |
| Recommendation Request email | Recommender | System email containing Slate’s generated secure link |
| External recommendation form | Recommender | Reference Page form selected under `ref Recommendations` |

## The references page and widget

Your Slate for Admissions database is provisioned with a custom form page called *References*.

Find this form in **Forms → Folders → Slate-hosted application pages → References.**

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

> [!WARNING]
> 📝 Older databases may use a [previous version of this page with limited configurations](/v1/docs/standard-recommendation-form). You can replace it with a custom form page.

Also in the *References* folder, you’ll find the form *Slate-Hosted Application Widget - Recommendation*. This form is the popup that appears when they select *Add Reference*.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/Reference widget popup(1).png)

📖 [Learn how to make changes to this form and its embedded widget, or create your own](/v1/docs/custom-reference-page).

## The *Recommendation Request (To Recommender)* system email

When the applicant selects **Send to Recommender,** Slate sends the reference a system email. This email informs the reference that their recommendation has been requested and provides a link to an external reference form.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image(810).png)

You can edit the content of this email, but not the *Submit Recommendation* link.

📖 [The *Recommendation Request (To Recommender)* system email](/v1/docs/system-emails#recommendation-request-to-recommender)

## The external reference page

When the reference selects the *Submit Recommendation* link in the email, they’re brought to the **external reference page**. This is the form references complete on behalf of the applicant.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image(809).png)

This is the third form found in **Forms → Slate-hosted application pages → References.**

📖 [Customize or replace the external reference page](/v1/docs/external-reference-page)