If you’re looking to get your document control work under control or are simply looking for an alternative to what you’re doing currently, a great way to learn about DocBoss is to see what the interface looks like and how easy it is to set things up.

Below, you’ll see a number of interesting aspects of DocBoss including the menus, setting up a project, adding new customers and more.

We’ll also introduce you to some benefits you might find very helpful such as the prices & estimates module so you can charge money for your documentation work.

Getting Started With DocBoss

After logging in, take a few minutes to get familiar with DocBoss navigation and key terms.

Menus

There are three menus you’ll be working out of:

• Logo menu (from the DocBoss logo on the top left of all screens)
• Project menu (only visible when inside a project)
• System menu (from the gear icon on the top right of all screens)

Logo menu

To access the logo menu, hover over the DocBoss logo in the top left of any screen.

The logo menu is a quick navigation for any screens relating to projects.

Note: depending on your user role (admin, full, review, or view) you may only see some of the options shown here.

Here, users can access the following screens:

1) Actions Dashboard

• View pending actions assigned to yourself and other users across all projects

2) Project Dashboard

• View all projects in visual tiles

3) Project List

• View all projects in a grid

4) Multi-Project Card Report

• Search and filter for documents across all projects

5) Expedite Projects

• Send requests to sub-suppliers, customers, and more with a list of due/coming due documents

6) Sign Documents

• If using DocBoss’s eSignature feature, review and sign documents before they are sent to customers

7) Add New Project

• Start a new project

Project menu

The project menu serves as navigation inside individual projects. To access this menu, you’ll first have to navigate to a project.

Ways to open existing projects in DocBoss:

• Search for the project in the search bar on the top right of any screen, then click on the project’s name from the search results
• From the Project Dashboard, click on the project’s name on its tile
• From the Project List, click on the project’s name inside the grid

This will take you to the screen that is selected as the project’s landing page (by default, the Project Hub). Whatever screen you are on, the navigation bar inside a project functions the same:

Selecting the rightmost dropdown arrow inside the project navigation bar opens the project menu.

The project menu lists screens specific to the currently open project:

Here, users can access the following screens:

1) Project Hub

• A visual overview of the project, targets, and KPI’s

2) Outstanding Actions

• View pending actions assigned to yourself and other users, specific to this project

3) Index Reports & Compilations

• Create databooks, packages, and supplier document indexes

4) Prices & Estimates

• Generate a quote to charge your customer for documentation

And the following groups:

5) Cards

• Create and manage the list of documents on the project

6) Cards In/Out

• Bring files into DocBoss and send them out in submittals

7) Equipment

• Manage the list of equipment related to the project

8) Set Up

• Customize the project’s setup

System menu

The system menu is where you’ll access information related to your DocBoss system as a whole, rather than specific projects. Most options in the system menu are related to users, lists, settings, and customization.

Note: depending on your user role (admin, full, review, or view) you may only see some of the options shown here.

Some commonly used functions available from each section called out in the image above:

1) Edit your profile

• Update login information
• Change email notifications
• View your user role type

2) Users

• Add, edit, or remove other DocBoss users

3) Lists

• Manage internal company profile
• Manage company profiles for sub-suppliers, customers, and end users
• Add doc codes, return statuses, and more to company profiles

4) Library

• Store and organize documents that will be used across many projects (for example, IOMs)

5) Reports

• Generate reports with KPIs on projects and individual users

6) Admin

• Set defaults for your system
• Create custom fields and project templates
• Manage output templates (cover page, transmittal, document index, submittal email, etc.)

7) Allow support to access your account

• Temporarily grant the DocBoss support team access to your system

Next steps

The way you use DocBoss will in part be determined by your user role. The lists below offer suggestions for getting started, depending on your user role. (If you’re not sure which user role you have, you can check this under your user profile.)

Admin users

Admin users have full access to DocBoss and are able to manage the list of users and customize the way the system works for all other users in their company. They may or may not manage projects directly.

• Create and manage your first project using our list of quick steps
• Can also complete Review and View user functions (see below)

Full users

Full users create and manage projects. They are often document controllers or project coordinators.

• Create and manage your first project using our list of quick steps
• Can also complete Review and View user functions (see below)

Review users

Review users participate in the internal workflow and review of documents within DocBoss, but do not have access to manage entire projects or make submittals.

• Watch this short video on Outstanding Actions (applicable section starts at 0:59), which is the main function review users complete within DocBoss
• Learn more about how outstanding actions work in our Outstanding Actions article
• Learn how to complete outstanding actions, assign actions to other users, and remove actions which are no longer required.
• Can also complete View user functions (see below)

View users

View users have limited access. They are often managers or supervisors who require access to metrics and to view the projects that their teams are working on, but won’t be participating in document control or document workflow directly within DocBoss.

• Learn how to use the Actions Dashboard for an overview of pending documentation tasks assigned to DocBoss users
• Learn how to use the Project Dashboard to view KPI’s on your team’s projects
• Learn how to use the Multi-Project Card Report
• Open a project and explore the available options

For more detail on user role types, see our article on user roles