Getting Around

Cadence IP is built around a persistent left sidebar and a global search box. Once you know these two things, you can reach any matter, list or setting in a couple of clicks — from anywhere in the app.

The navigation sidebar

The sidebar runs down the left of every screen and stays with you as you work. At the top is the Cadence IP brand and a Search item; below that are the main destinations for your caseload.

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• Matters — the full list of every matter in your organisation. This is where you land after logging in. See The Dashboard.
• Matter Views — your saved, pre-filtered matter lists (for example All Patents, Designs, Drafting, Trademarks). Each one is a shortcut you created. See Custom Views.
• Tasks — your to-do items across all matters, with saved Task Views (such as WIP) underneath. See Tasks & WIP.
• Deadlines — upcoming due dates across the caseload.
• Contacts — the people and organisations you work with.
• Calendar — your dates and deadlines in a calendar layout.
• Unbilled Time — firm-wide time not yet invoiced. The label shows a running total (e.g. $86,175). See Unbilled Time.
• Intake Forms — submissions from your public enquiry forms, waiting to be triaged. See Intake Submissions.

At the foot of the sidebar sit Settings (organisation-wide configuration), Help (this documentation), and the account switcher — showing your current organisation, for example "DA · Demo Account" — for moving between accounts and signing out.

Attention badges

Some sidebar items show a small badge with a count when something needs you. Tasks shows the number of overdue items; Intake Forms shows pending submissions; and Approvals and Automation Errors appear only when there is something waiting — a batch to review or an automation that failed. The badges save you from hunting: if there is no number, there is nothing to do there.

Global spotlight search

When you want a specific matter and don't want to scroll a list, use spotlight search. Click Search at the top of the sidebar (or use its keyboard shortcut) and a search overlay opens on top of whatever you are doing — it is available on every page.

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Start typing and results appear instantly, grouped under Matters. Each result shows the matter's name, its type and current step, and its ID number, so you can tell similar matters apart. Then:

• Use the up and down arrow keys to move through the results.
• Press Enter to open the highlighted matter and jump straight to its screen.
• Press Esc to close the overlay without leaving your current page.

Because search follows you everywhere, it is usually the fastest way to switch matters mid-task — no need to return to the dashboard first.