The research log records every search you make for an engagement - including the ones that find nothing, which show your client the work done and save them paying twice for the same search.

Recording a search #

On the Research Log tab, under Record a search: the date, where you searched, what you searched for, the result (Found, Partly found or Nothing found), your findings, the citation, the hours, and who can see it. "Where" suggests the repositories from your earlier entries and the agreed plan.

Who sees an entry #

• Private - only you - the default.
• Ready - not yet shown - checked and ready for the client. The dashboard reminds you of entries waiting here.
• Shown to the client - on their Research log page. A search that found nothing reads "Searched, nothing found".

One button shows the client every entry marked ready. An entry the client can see cannot be deleted; take it down first.

Hours #

Hours used is worked out for you: the hours on every log entry, whoever can see it, plus any Other hours you enter on the Billing & terms tab for time spent away from the log. It appears on the Billing tab, on the dashboard, and on the client's Overview if you show hours.

Into the report #

A new report starts with the repositories from the log, the number of searches and the hours, ready for its Limitations section.