# Getting Started — For Admins

This guide is for **business users and administrators** who work in the backoffice to configure applications, manage data, and set up workflows. You do not need to write code to use the platform.

## The backoffice

The backoffice is your control panel. It runs at the URL your team has been given (typically `your-domain.com/backoffice`). Log in with your account credentials.

The main areas you will use:

| Section | What it's for |
|---|---|
| **Applications** | Create and configure the applications your users see |
| **Data Types** | Define the structure of your data (contacts, tickets, tasks, etc.) |
| **Actions** | Build automated workflows |
| **Storage** | Manage file storage providers |
| **Users** | Manage team members and app users |
| **Settings** | Project-level configuration |

## First login — onboarding flow

When a **new user logs in for the first time** and has no projects yet, the backoffice automatically redirects them to `/projects/new` so they can create their first project immediately. This happens on every visit to the dashboard (`/`) as long as the user has no projects.

Once the user has at least one project, the redirect no longer triggers and the normal dashboard is shown.

### Disabling the redirect for specific users

Admins can suppress this redirect for individual users by enabling the **"Project Creation Disabled"** flag on their account. When this flag is set, the user lands on the regular dashboard even if they have no projects — useful for users who should not create projects themselves (e.g. read-only accounts).

To set this flag: go to **Users → [select user] → Edit → Project Creation Disabled**.

## First steps

### 1. Create a data type

A data type defines what a piece of data looks like — for example, a "Contact" with fields for name, email, and phone number.

Go to **Data Types → New** and choose a template to start from, or build one from scratch by adding fields.

### 2. Create an application

An application is what your users see. It has pages, and each page is made of widgets.

Go to **Applications → New Application**. Give it a name and choose whether it is internal (backoffice users) or public-facing.

### 3. Add pages and widgets

Inside an application, add pages. Each page is built by placing widgets onto a canvas. Widgets include:

- Data tables and grids
- Input forms
- Charts and counts
- Navigation menus
- Custom views

### 4. Set up user access

Configure which user groups can see which applications and pages under **Settings → Registration Control** and **User Types**.

### 5. Automate with Actions

Use the **Actions** section to build workflows that run automatically — for example, sending a notification when a record is created, or transforming data when it is saved.

→ See the [Actions User Guide](/actions/user-guide) for a walkthrough.

## Key concepts to understand

- **User types**: your team ("employees") and your customers ("app users") are managed separately. [Learn more](/applications/user-types)
- **Opt-ins**: you can require users to accept terms before registering. [Learn more](/applications/opt-ins)
- **Default dashboard**: every new project gets a default dashboard that you can customize. [Learn more](/applications/default-dashboard)
- **Storage**: file uploads need a configured storage provider. The default is set up for you. [Learn more](/data/storage)

## Where to go next

- [Dynamic Applications](/applications/overview) — deep dive into how applications work
- [Storage & Files](/data/storage) — configure where files are stored
- [Workflow Automation](/actions/overview) — automate business processes
- [Import & Export](/data/import-export) — move data in and out of the platform