# Getting Started

## Purpose

This guide helps new users create an account, sign in, understand license access, and open their workspace for the first time.

## Who Can Use It

- New users creating a personal account
- New users creating an organisation account
- Invited users joining through a referral or organisation invite
- Existing users who need to log in, reset a password, or review account access

## How To Open It

Use these pages:

- `register.php` to create an account
- `login.php` to sign in
- `forgot_password.php` and `reset_password.php` to recover access
- `pricing.php` to review plans and payment options
- `account.php` to manage account details after sign-in

## Main Actions

- Create a personal or organisation account
- Start a 7-day free trial when available
- Sign in to an active workspace
- Review payment or administrator approval requirements
- Update profile details and change password

## Create A New Account

### Personal Account

1. Open the Sign Up page.
2. Select Personal.
3. Enter a username, email address, password, and confirmation password.
4. Enable the free-trial switch if you want to start with a trial.
5. Submit the form.

### Organisation Account

1. Open the Sign Up page.
2. Select Organisation.
3. Enter the organisation name.
4. Choose the member limit.
5. Enter username, email, password, and confirmation password.
6. Enable the free-trial switch if required.
7. Submit the form.

## Sign In

1. Open the Login page.
2. Enter your username and password.
3. Select Sign In.
4. If your account is active, you will be sent to My Work.
5. If you are the primary system administrator, you will be sent to the Admin panel.
6. If payment or approval is still pending, you may be redirected to Pricing.

## Invite And Referral Access

### Referral Invite

If you received a referral link:

1. Open the invite link.
2. Use the same email address that received the invitation.
3. Finish registration.
4. The system links your new account to the inviter automatically.

### Organisation Invite

If an organisation invited you:

1. Open the invitation link from the email.
2. Create or connect your account as instructed by the invite flow.
3. Once accepted, your session will carry organisation access and permissions.

## Licensing And Payment

OrbitOverflow checks license status during sign-in.

Common statuses:

- Active: you can use the workspace normally.
- Expiring Soon: access still works, but renewal should be handled quickly.
- Expired: access may be limited until administrator approval or renewal happens.
- Pending Payment: the account exists, but workspace use may be blocked until payment or approval is completed.

### What To Do If Access Is Blocked

1. Open Pricing.
2. Review the correct personal or organisation plan.
3. Use PayPal checkout if enabled, or follow the manual payment process.
4. If your organisation owns the license, contact the organisation owner or system administrator.

## First-Time Workspace Tour

After sign-in, most users should review these areas first:

1. My Work Dashboard
2. Notifications
3. Account Info
4. Friends, Notes, Messages, Reports, and Reminders if those permissions are enabled
5. Organisation and Teams if you are part of an organisation

## Manage Your Account

Open Account Info to:

- update email, phone, mobile, location, company name, and job title
- add birthday and work anniversary details
- review organisation role and assigned teams
- review active license details
- change password
- disable your account

## Rules And Limits

- Username must be at least 3 characters.
- Password must be at least 6 characters.
- Referral registration must use the invited email address.
- Organisation accounts must provide an organisation name.
- Some accounts require payment or administrator approval before normal workspace access begins.
- Disabled accounts cannot log in.

## Troubleshooting

### I cannot sign in

Check the following:

- your username and password are correct
- the account is not disabled
- the account has an active trial, active license, or approved payment state

### I signed in but got sent to Pricing

This usually means your account is waiting for payment or approval. Review the Pricing page or contact the workspace owner.

### I do not see organisation features

Organisation features only appear when your account belongs to an organisation.

## Best Practices

- Keep your email address current so payment and invite notices reach you.
- Review the license chip in the top navigation regularly.
- Change your password immediately if access was shared or compromised.
- If you own an organisation, review member limit and billing cycle before inviting more users.