> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://research.docs.laws.africa/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://research.docs.laws.africa/welcome.md).

# Welcome

This guide teaches you how to turn a gazette into works on Indigo: reading the source, capturing its metadata, linking everything it changes, and getting it reviewed and approved. It assumes you have never used Indigo before.

### How the course is laid out

Work through the six modules in order. Each one builds on the last, and most lessons end with a few questions so you can check you are ready to move on. Once you are working, the Reference section is there to look things up without re-reading a lesson.

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><h4><i class="fa-compass" style="color:$primary;">:compass:</i></h4></td><td><strong>Module 1: Orientation</strong></td><td>What Laws.Africa does, how legislation is modelled on Indigo, and the words you will meet every day.</td><td><a href="/orientation/what-laws-africa-does.md">What Laws.Africa does</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4><i class="fa-newspaper" style="color:$primary;">:newspaper:</i></h4></td><td><strong>Module 2: Reading sources</strong></td><td>Which documents you may use, and how to read every piece of metadata from a gazette.</td><td><a href="/reading-sources/what-metadata-is.md">What metadata is</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4><i class="fa-file-pen" style="color:$primary;">:file-pen:</i></h4></td><td><strong>Module 3: Creating a work</strong></td><td>Indexing a source document and filling in the work form, including commencements, repeals and links.</td><td><a href="/creating-a-work/indexing-a-source-document.md">Indexing a source document</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4><i class="fa-circle-check" style="color:$primary;">:circle-check:</i></h4></td><td><strong>Module 4: Reviewing and approving</strong></td><td>Checking another researcher's work, approving it, and choosing which tasks to create.</td><td><a href="/reviewing-and-approving/reviewing-a-work.md">Reviewing a work</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4><i class="fa-book" style="color:$primary;">:book:</i></h4></td><td><strong>Module 5: Consolidations</strong></td><td>Indexing laws from a revised edition, with chapter numbers and consolidation dates.</td><td><a href="/consolidations/consolidations.md">Consolidations</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4><i class="fa-diagram-project" style="color:$primary;">:diagram-project:</i></h4></td><td><strong>Module 6: Running a project</strong></td><td>From kick-off meeting to hand-over to the editorial team.</td><td><a href="/running-a-project/starting-a-project.md">Starting a project</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

### How every lesson works

Lessons use the same parts, in the same order, so you always know where to look. Not every lesson needs every part.

* **What you will be able to do:** The skills the lesson gives you.
* **The idea:** The concept in a few sentences, before any steps.
* **Steps:** One action per step, in the order you do them.
* **Worked example:** A real gazette or work, taken from start to finish.
* **Judgement calls and pitfalls:** What is not obvious the first time, and the mistakes we see most.
* **Check yourself:** Questions with answers you can reveal.

Three kinds of note appear in lessons:

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Rule.** Something you must always do. Rules are not open to judgement.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Watch out.** A mistake new researchers often make.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
**Tip.** Something that saves time or helps you check your work.
{% endhint %}

Under each screenshot, a grey panel explains the numbered markers on the image.

### The one principle behind everything

{% hint style="info" %}
When a document is in front of you, capture everything it tells us. You may never see that document again, so the time to record what it says, and what it does to other laws, is now.
{% endhint %}