---
title: "Require Recommendations / References"
slug: "require-recommendations-references"
description: "Ensure applicants submit the required number and type of recommendations or references in Slate-hosted applications using application logic with hard and soft fails. Utilize Suitcase for example imports, conduct testing queries, and configure submission requirements to verify that all necessary recommender information is provided, enhancing the application's completeness and compliance with institutional requirements."
tags: ["Application Logic", "Applications", "Slate-Hosted Application", "Submission Requirements"]
updated: 2025-10-24T20:13:58Z
published: 2025-10-24T20:13:58Z
---

> ## 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.

# Require Recommendations / References

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

[Application logic](/v1/docs/submission-requirements-hard-and-soft-fails), including hard and soft fails, ensure applicants enter all necessary data prior to submitting an application.

## Try a Slate example 💼

Use [Suitcase](/v1/docs/suitcase#importing-a-suitcase-0-5) to import the example in this article (and others in this section) into your institution's database. These examples are also featured in the [Clean Slate Showcase environment.](/v1/docs/provision-clean-slate-test-and-time-warp-environments#clean-slate-0-2)

#### Using testing queries

Before you commit to using the application logic records, try a testing query by importing the Suitcase link in the second tab. These queries recreate the application logic records, taking advantage of the Query Builder's **Preview Results** function to ensure the records that should be receiving the hard or soft fails appear. If you only use the application logic records, you'll only see the number of records affected.

#### Application logic Suitcase ID (hard fail library)

```plaintext
082d8112-e41b-4fc5-aef5-9c7beef46969:slate-admissions-showcase
```

#### Testing queries Suitcase ID

```plaintext
a04770f5-349d-4e95-a9c0-0c5d0b1ba3b0:slate-examples
```

## Require recommenders

You can use this hard fail query to prevent applicants from submitting an application without indicating the required number of recommenders in the reference widget on the application.

The required number count can be adjusted to meet the needs of specific processes.

- **Type:**Submission Requirement
- **Section**: Select the application page on which you collect [reference information](/v1/docs/custom-reference-page)
- **Name:**Enter text to appear when applicant is missing your required number of references
- **Base:** Configurable Joins - Application
- **Filters**: Create a [Subquery Filter (Aggregate - Count)](/v1/docs/subquery-filters#count) that filters for Material → Name where count is less than however many you require.

[![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/10735053496987.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/10735053496987.png)

## Require recommender type

You can use this hard fail query to ensure applicants identify within the reference widget the required recommenders by type. The recommender type can be adjusted based on the specific needs of the application requirements and institution.

- **Type:**Submission Requirement
- **Section**: Select the application page on which you collect [reference information](/v1/docs/custom-reference-page)
- **Name:**Enter text to appear when applicant is missing a recommender of a required type
- **Warning:** Hard Fail
- **Base:** Configurable Joins - Application
- **Filters**: Create a [Subquery Filter (Aggregate - Not Exists)](/v1/docs/subquery-filters#not-exists) that includes a filter for Material Name.

[![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/10735334245147.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/10735334245147.png)

📖 [More submission requirements you can create in Slate](/v1/docs/submission-requirements-hard-and-soft-fails#examples-of-submission-requirements)