Chest

Get started

Set up your library

Invite your staff, then create collections, document types and groups before the first upload.

Before the first upload, Chest needs somewhere to file documents and a description of what they are. All of this lives under People & settings, which only the owner sees.

Invite your staff

In People and local sign-in, enter a Name and an Email and press Invite staff. Chest sends that person an invitation; when they follow it they are signed in, and afterwards they return through Sign in with their email.

Each person's row shows their email, role and status, with two actions:

  • Deactivate and revoke sessions signs them out everywhere and stops them signing in. Reactivate identity lets them back.
  • Inspect sessions lists their sign-ins, and you can revoke one at a time.

While Chest runs on your computer, invitations go to the local outbox (see Run Chest on your computer).

Create a collection

A collection is a shelf of related records, such as Supplier certificates or Customer agreements. Enter a Collection name and press Create collection.

Each collection carries grants: who can read, edit or review the documents in it. See People and access for how grants work.

Create a document type

A document type says what a record is and which fields it must carry. Enter a Type name and a Field schema (JSON), then press Create document type. Each field has a name, a type (text, number, date or boolean) and whether it is required:

JSON
[
  { "name": "policy number", "type": "text", "required": true },
  { "name": "insurer", "type": "text", "required": true },
  { "name": "cover", "type": "number", "required": false }
]

You can change a type later and press Save document type. Values already saved stay as they are; records that no longer meet the type show Fields need attention until someone edits their filing. New uploads and filing changes must meet the current type.

Create a group

Groups let you grant access once to a team. Enter a Group name and the Member emails (JSON array), for example ["maria@example.com", "dan@example.com"], then press Create group. Each group shows its ID; use that ID in grants. Change members later with Save group membership.

Next

File your first document.