> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.firstresonance.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# ION basics

> Global tools for working in ION: the dashboard, Search, personal settings, chat support and tickets, the sandbox, and supported browsers and devices.

The basics every ION user needs before diving into their role's workflows: where you land after signing in, how to find anything, personal setup, and where to get help.

## The dashboard

When you sign in, ION opens the dashboard. This is the landing page for your account. It shows a **Factory Dashboard** header with two controls:

* **ION Marketplace**: opens the [ION Marketplace](https://marketplace.firstresonance.io/) in a new tab.
* **Refresh**: reloads the dashboard.

You can return here at any time from **Dashboard** in the sidebar. To move into your work, use [Search](#search) or the sidebar.

<Note>
  The dashboard shows a placeholder in place of factory metrics.
</Note>

## Browser and device compatibility

### Supported devices

ION is tested and supported on:

* **iPads** (up to two major iOS versions before the latest release)
* **Microsoft Surface Pro**
* **Mac computers** (laptops and desktops)
* **Windows computers** (laptops and desktops)

ION is built for tablets and desktop-sized monitors. Some areas may work on mobile, but the full application is not supported on mobile devices.

### Supported browsers

ION is tested primarily on **Google Chrome**. Edge, Firefox, and Safari are also supported.

## Search

ION Search lets you navigate and find records from anywhere in ION. Open it from any page with **Ctrl+K** (Windows/Linux) or **⌘+K** (Mac), or click the magnifying glass in the sidebar.

Navigate the bar with the arrow keys and press **Enter** to select. Close it by clicking outside the popup, pressing the same key combination, or pressing **Escape**. You can find main pages, help documents, and specific records within ION.

### Command list

When you open the search bar with nothing selected, it lists every command available to you. Navigate the list with the mouse or keyboard.

<Note>
  The key combinations shown on each command are keyboard shortcuts. You can run them without opening the search bar.
</Note>

Opening it while rows are selected in a table narrows the resting list to the commands that act on that selection, so a bulk edit isn't buried in the full list. Start typing and the search covers every command again. Some tables have no commands of their own; those open the full list as usual.

Dismissing the bar, by clicking outside it, pressing **Escape**, or closing it, also clears the row selection. Running a command leaves the selection in place, so you can run several commands against the same rows.

### Search records

Search also does keyword search of ION records like runs, procedures, issues, locations, purchases, and parts. It runs automatically as you type.

### Help docs

Scroll to the **Help** section of the command bar to browse the manual. You can also search the manual directly by typing your query into the command bar.

## Chat support and tickets

The chat bubble at the bottom right of ION connects you to the support team, and every conversation becomes a tracked ticket.

### Start a chat

1. Click the chat bubble icon at the bottom right of your ION environment.
2. Select **Start New Chat**.
3. Type the details of your issue and send the message.

ION creates a support ticket from the conversation automatically.

<Note>
  If you don't see the chat bubble, an ad-blocker may be hiding it. Disable your ad-blocker and it will appear.
</Note>

### Track your company's tickets

To see the tickets reported by your company's team, go to the [support portal](https://support.firstresonance.io/):

1. Enter your email address to receive a login code. The code scopes the portal to your company's tickets only.
2. Enter the code and click **Continue**.

You land on a page listing every conversation started by ION users at your company. Click a ticket to open the conversation; you can continue a ticket started by someone else.

## Personal settings

Personal settings apply only to your own account: your profile details, your account-level switches, and how ION looks to you.

### Edit your profile

1. In ION, go to **Settings > My Profile**.
2. Click **Edit profile**.
3. Change your **Name**, or click your profile picture to set a new image by URL.
4. Click **Save changes**, or **Cancel** to discard.

The page also lists the teams and roles you belong to. Those are managed by an admin; see [Manage team members](/administration/users-and-permissions/manage-team-members) and [Manage user roles](/administration/users-and-permissions/manage-user-roles).

### Account switches

Under **Settings** on the **My Profile** page, two toggles control your account:

* **Enforce MFA**: require multi-factor authentication for this account.
* **Email notifications**: also receive your notifications by email. You always receive them in the app; this switch adds email delivery, per user. Which objects notify you is driven by your subscriptions, see [Subscribe to notifications](/automate-with-ion/notifications/subscribe-to-notifications).

### Choose a theme

1. In ION, go to **Settings > Appearance**.
2. Under **Theme**, pick one of the cards:
   * **Light**: bright, high-contrast.
   * **Dark**: the classic dark theme.
   * **Slate**: cool blue-gray, with depth.
   * **Graphite**: warm neutral, easy on the eyes.
   * **System**: match your device.

The theme applies immediately and only affects your own account.

## Practice in the sandbox

ION offers a sandbox environment where you can practice your workflows and try out features without affecting your production environment. Sandbox access is provisioned separately from production and uses its own credentials, so your production login won't work there. To set up a sandbox for your team, contact [support](https://support.firstresonance.io).

Once your sandbox is provisioned, sign in at the sandbox URL that matches your production URL:

| If your production URL is   | Your sandbox URL is                 |
| --------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| app-v2.buildwithion.com     | app-v2.staging.buildwithion.com     |
| app-v2.gov.buildwithion.com | app-v2.staging.gov.buildwithion.com |
| app-v2.ap.buildwithion.com  | app-v2.staging.ap.buildwithion.com  |

For building and testing integrations against the ION API in a sandbox, see [Sandbox and dev environments](/api-reference/sandbox).