--- title: Navigate a case url: https://www.tines.com/docs/cases/overview/layout/ updated: 2026-01-29T01:30:10+00:00 --- *[tines.com](https://www.tines.com/llms.txt) › [Docs](https://www.tines.com/llms.txt) › [Cases](https://www.tines.com/llm/docs/cases.md) › [Overview of cases](https://www.tines.com/llm/docs/cases/overview.md)* # Navigate a case *[View on tines.com](https://www.tines.com/docs/cases/overview/layout/)* Understand the key components of a case and how they work together. ## Case structure The case layout uses a visual hierarchy. When you open a case, start at the top left to check the case status and key details, then work your way down and right to review content and access tools. The topics of this article correspond to each section in the diagram below. 1. Navigation path 2. Controls 3. Title, properties 4. Table of contents 5. Content 6. Sidebar ![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/55802/1769147453-cases-layout.png) --- ## Navigation path When you open a case, you'll see where it lives in your team structure. Cases live within a team or in a Team's case groups. The **navigation path** shows breadcrumbs to help you understand where the case is in the hierarchy. ``` Team > Case group > "Cases" > Case name & ID ``` The navigation path also displays a hint with a few key details about the case, specifically: - Case ID - How long ago the case was created - Who created the case - Number of user comments ![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/55802/1769465625-cases-navigation-v2.png) --- ## Controls Next are controls for managing the case: - Number of case tasks remaining vs completed - Navigational arrows to advance to the previous or next case assigned to the current user - Notifications and configuration for subscriptions - Case status selection - Options & controls - Copy the direct link to the case - Subscribe/unsubscribe to the case - Export the case as a PDF - Delete the case - Hide/show the case sidebar - Toggle wrapping of code blocks - Collapse/expand all blocks ![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/55802/1769465680-cases-controls-v2.png) --- ## Title and properties This section shows case details and metadata: - Severity of the case (Critical, High, Medium, Low, Info) - Subscribers to be notified of case changes (users are subscribed by opting-in via the control options or from being mentioned in a comment) as well as current viewers of the case - Assignee(s) - Case title - Tags - Info icon—click to view timing and activity metadata - Timing metadata: `Created at`, `updated at`, `resolved at`, `time lapsed since creation` - User metadata: `Created by`, `last comment from` ![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/55802/1769465696-cases-title-v2.png) --- ## Table of contents Navigate case contents using the table of contents. It showcases the case description and structure of case blocks. ##### Click to navigate to a section Each entry is a header in the case description, a case block group, or a case block. Click any section to quickly scroll and display the description heading or case block. ##### Spotlight one or more sections When hovering on a section in the table of contents, the spotlight icon will appear. Click this icon to hide all content except the target description header, case group, or case block. Easily compare content between specific case sections by clicking more than one section's spotlight icon. ##### Reorder sections by dragging Click and drag a case block to re-order it within the case structure. You can also drag the case block into and out of case groups. Headings and the description section cannot be moved - they are pinned to the top of the case table of contents. ##### Show and hide sections Select `Hide` from the options menu within each case block to hide it from displaying in the case content. Clicking a hidden case block will display it's content similar to spotlighting unhidden sections. ##### Show and hide the table of contents sidebar The table of contents is located in the left sidebar. This sidebar is shown by default but can be configured to a "peek" mode by clicking the `Contents` button at the top of the sidebar. This will temporarily hide the table of contents sidebar until you position your mouse near the left edge of a case. It will then peek out for interaction before hiding again. ![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/55802/1769465747-cases-toc-v2.png) --- ## Description and content Build and view the core content of your case here. Case content uses [CommonMark](https://commonmark.org/) formatting. When you type and format content, it's stored as markup. When you interact with APIs and stories, you can view and edit the raw markup. The content area is broken up into two sections: **Description** and **Case blocks**. Every case has a description block. Case blocks are optional. ![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/55802/1769465770-cases-content-v2.png) ##### Description section The description is the beginning of the case content and is followed by case blocks. It supports a large volume of text and the contents of the description are included in search results. You cannot re-order the description within the case structure or table of contents. ##### Case blocks and groups Click each button in the toolbar at the bottom of the case to add content below the description section. Cases use a concept called "Blocks" to help structure and format your content. Each block can be added via the **case toolbar** at the bottom of the case below. Add blocks to the case, then add your content. - Blocks can be grouped together - You can re-arrange blocks or groups of blocks using the table of contents or options menu within a block - Blocks can be set to one of 8 pre-defined colors. ##### References & formatting - Use the `/` shortcut to open the formatting menu. The formatting options support Headings, bullet lists, ordered lists, task lists, a code block, a quote, inserting an image via link, pasting an image, a table, or a callout. - Use the `@` shortcut to open the reference menu. The reference options support mentioning stories, users, pages, other cases, as well as blocks within the current case. You can also include shortcuts to case primitives like fields and case actions. ##### Record section Create, attach, view, filter, search and remove [records](https://www.tines.com/docs/records/) that have been linked to the case. This section is pinned to the bottom of the case. ##### Case toolbar

Toolbar button

Icon

Details

Note block

Add helpful notes to your case that can be titled, colored, and formatted.

The content of a note block is included in search results.

HTML block

A block that supports rendering basic HTML syntax.

The content of an HTML block is not included in search results.

Attachment block

A block to add one or more attachments. Each attachment can be annotated with a direct comment.

Table block

A note block that's pre-formatted with a table.

Code block

A note block that's pre-formatted with a code snippet.

This text can be formatted as text, C, C++, CSS, HTML, Java, JavaScript, JSON, Markdown, Python, SQL, and YAML.

Group of blocks

Add a case group, then drag case blocks into the case group using the table of contents or the options menu on a case block.

Load in workbench

Load the current case into a workbench chat for AI-assisted case analysis and interaction.

--- ## Case sidebar The sidebar keeps essential tools and context within reach while you work. Customize it to fit your workflow by reordering sections and chosing which case tools are displayed. ![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/55802/1769465788-cases-sidebar-v2.png) ### **Interacting with the sidebar** Click each section header of the sidebar to show or hide the section's details. When a section is collapsed, you can then drag the section up and down to prioritize what's important to you. [Video](https://stream.mux.com/UemeLyYOop3cIPHIlha88asFpbi9rc5x/high.mp4)

Sidebar sections

Description

Activity & comments

All case activity and comments are listed here. Filter and search for relevant activity, or leave a comment about the case. Comments can be formatted using the / shortcut. When mentioning another user in a comment with the @ shortcut, they will automatically be subscribed to the case.

Case actions

Display actions (workflow and page shortcuts) to quickly enrich, augment, or interact with case content. Add or update case actions here. Actions can be referenced in the case description, case notes, or comments by typing the @ shortcut.

Case fields

Display fields (structured key-value pairs) that have been added to the case. Add or update fields directly. Fields can be inserted into the case description, case notes, or comments by typing the @ shortcut and the field name. Once a field is referenced in the case content, it can be interacted with and updated.

Linked cases

Display case links to other cases. Add or remove linked cases here. Hovering on a case shows a summary of the target linked case.

Tasks

Display tasks and closure requirements for the case. Tasks can be assigned, updated, or completed. Closure requirements cannot be added here. Instead, they must be added in the case template, at the time of case creation, or can be updated on an existing case via API.

> **TIP:** > You can expand and collapse sections quickly using the following keyboard shortcuts: > > - Activity: `Shift + H` > - Fields: `Shift + F` > - Actions: `Shift + A` > - Tasks: `Shift + T` > - Linked cases: `Shift + L` > > See the [shortcuts page](#datocms-record-Np6hqJeGSLeciIFesEsPig) for more information. ### **Configuring the sidebar** Sidebar customization is saved locally in your browser. Your section order and expand/collapse preferences persist across all cases, case groups, and teams. The sidebar's configuration cannot be centrally managed. > **NOTE:** Sidebar customization is browser-specific. Using a different browser or incognito mode will reset the sidebar to its default collapsed state. ##### Resizing the sidebar Adjust the sidebar width by dragging the divider between the case content and sidebar. The sidebar can expand up to half your window width. ##### Hide and show the sidebar Use the case options menu in the top-right to hide or show the sidebar. Alternatively, use  `⌘ + ]`  (Mac) or `ctrl + ]` (Windows) as a [keyboard shortcut](https://www.tines.com/docs/shortcuts/).