> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.monolithforensics.com/monolith/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.monolithforensics.com/monolith/start-here/welcome-to-monolith/initial-setup.md).

# Initial Setup

Review recommended setup steps before using Monolith for active casework.

Your organization should review and configure the core settings that support Offices, users, cases, evidence, storage, physical locations, reporting, and quality assurance.

Some settings may already be configured during implementation or trial setup. Use this page as a setup checklist to confirm that Monolith is ready for your team’s workflow.

### Recommended Setup Checklist

#### 1. Review organization information

Confirm your organization details before users begin working in Monolith.

See: [**Organization Info**](/monolith/using-monolith/settings/organization-info.md)

This information may be used throughout Monolith, including reports, labels, and other organization-specific areas.

#### 2. Create Offices

Create the physical facilities, laboratories, branches, or other operating locations used by your organization.

See: [**Offices**](/monolith/using-monolith/organization/offices.md)

Offices provide the top-level structure used for user assignments and Item Locations.

If your organization operates from multiple facilities, create each Office before assigning users or configuring its physical Locations.

{% hint style="info" %}
Creating an Office establishes the top-level facility, but does not by itself create a selectable Evidence or Storage destination.

Selectable destinations are created later by assigning users to the Office and configuring physical Locations under **Evidence Management > Item Locations**.
{% endhint %}

#### 3. Add user accounts

Create user accounts for team members who need access to Monolith.

See: [**Team Management**](/monolith/using-monolith/organization/team-management.md)

Confirm that each user has the appropriate access for their role before they begin working with Cases, Evidence, reports, or administrative settings.

Assign each user to the appropriate **Office**.

A user's Office assignment also determines where that person appears within **Item Locations**. Users assigned to an Office automatically become available within that Office's user Group and can be selected as destinations during supported Evidence and Storage Chain of Custody workflows.

#### 4. Configure item number formats

Set the formatting for case numbers, evidence numbers, and storage numbers.

See: [**Item Number Formats**](/monolith/using-monolith/settings/item-number-formats.md)

Number formats help standardize how records are created and referenced across Monolith.

#### 5. Configure case options

Review and customize the options your team will use when creating and managing cases.

Recommended settings include:

* [**Case Types**](/monolith/using-monolith/settings/case-types.md)
* [**Case Statuses**](/monolith/using-monolith/settings/case-statuses.md)
* [**Case Progress**](/monolith/using-monolith/settings/case-statuses.md)

These options help your team classify cases consistently and track case progress over time.

#### 6. Configure evidence options

Review and customize the options your team will use when adding and managing evidence.

Recommended settings include:

* [**Evidence Types**](/monolith/using-monolith/settings/evidence-types.md)
* [**Evidence Progress**](/monolith/using-monolith/settings/evidence-progress.md)

These options help standardize evidence intake and tracking across your organization.

#### 7. Configure time entry options

Review the categories your team will use for time tracking.

See: [**Time Entry Categories**](/monolith/using-monolith/settings/time-entry-categories.md)

These settings help organize time entries and provide more consistent reporting.

#### 8. Configure quality assurance options

Review and customize the options your team will use for quality assurance workflows.

Recommended settings include:

* [**QA Checklist Items**](/monolith/using-monolith/settings/qa-checklist-items.md)
* [**QA Issue Types**](/monolith/using-monolith/settings/qa-issue-types.md)

These settings help your team standardize review processes and track QA issues consistently.

#### 9. Configure item labels

Create and upload labels for evidence, storage items, or people.

See: [**Item Labels**](/monolith/using-monolith/settings/item-labels.md)

Monolith supports DYMO label templates and variables that can pull information from Monolith records.

#### 10. Configure Item Locations

Configure the users and physical Locations that Evidence and Storage Items can be assigned to as they move through your organization's workflow.

See: [**Item Locations**](/monolith/using-monolith/evidence-management/item-locations.md)

Item Locations are organized by Office.

Physical destinations use the structure:

```
Office
└── Group
    └── Location
```

For example:

```
Austin
└── Evidence Room
    ├── Shelf A
    ├── Shelf B
    └── Temporary Holding
```

Users assigned to an Office through **Team Management** also appear automatically within that Office's user Group and can be selected as destinations.

{% hint style="info" %}
An Office or Location Group alone is not a selectable physical destination. Create at least one **Location** inside the Group before using it during Evidence Intake or Chain of Custody movement.
{% endhint %}

Configure enough detail to reliably identify where Evidence and Storage Items are located without making the structure unnecessarily difficult to maintain.

See [**Location Groups**](/monolith/using-monolith/evidence-management/item-locations/location-groups.md) for additional setup guidance.

#### 11. Add existing storage items, if applicable

If your organization already uses storage items that should be tracked in Monolith, add them before beginning the related storage workflows.

See: [**Storage Items**](/monolith/using-monolith/evidence-management/storage-items.md)

This helps your team manage physical or digital storage items and associate them with cases and related workflows as needed.

#### 12. Add forensic software

Enter the forensic software tools used by your lab or organization.

See: [**Forensic Software**](/monolith/using-monolith/lab-management/forensic-software.md)

This information can support acquisition tracking, reporting, and lab management workflows.

#### 13. Test your configuration

Before beginning active Casework, create a test Case and Evidence Item using the settings your team configured.

Confirm that:

* Case and Evidence numbering works as expected
* Case and Evidence options are available
* Users have the access they need
* Users appear under the correct Office in Item Locations
* Configured physical Locations can be found during Evidence Intake
* A user or physical Location can be selected in **Received By**
* Current Location and Location Path reflect the selected structured destination
* A Chain of Custody Move updates Current Location and preserves the previous movement history
* Labels behave as expected, if configured
* Your basic workflow matches how your team plans to use Monolith

For example, a simple location test could be:

```
Create Office
    ↓
Assign User to Office
    ↓
Create Group
    ↓
Create Location
    ↓
Create Test Evidence
    ↓
Select User or Location in Received By
    ↓
Move Evidence through Chain of Custody
```

Confirm that the resulting **Current Location**, **Location Path**, and Chain of Custody history match the workflow you expect.

Once your team is comfortable with the test workflow, you can begin using Monolith for active Casework.

### Optional Setup

Depending on your organization's workflow, you may also want to configure:

* [**Custom Fields**](/monolith/using-monolith/settings/custom-fields.md)
* [**Editor Templates**](/monolith/using-monolith/settings/editor-templates.md)
* [**Document Templates**](/monolith/using-monolith/case-management/cases/case-reports.md)
* [**Task Templates**](/monolith/using-monolith/settings/task-templates.md)
* [**Relay**](/monolith/relay-request-portal/relay-overview.md)
* [**Single Sign-On**](/monolith/deployment-and-security/cloud-security/single-sign-on-sso.md)
* [**Integrations**](/monolith/using-monolith/settings/integrations.md)
* [**Monolith API**](/monolith/monolith-api-and-webhooks/api-access.md)

These options can be added during implementation or introduced later as your team's Monolith workflow develops.