> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://learn.withessential.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://learn.withessential.com/administration/basics.md).

# Product Concepts

Start here when you need the shared concepts behind the rest of Essential. The sidebar splits the old broad Basics section into focused areas for first login and activity, the Essential Assistant, customer portal concepts, and automation concepts.

## Everyday concepts

* [First login, navigation, and support](/administration/basics/first-login-navigation-and-support.md)
* [Timeline events and comments](/administration/basics/timeline-events-and-comments.md)
* [Roles and permissions: how access works](/administration/basics/roles-and-permissions-how-access-works.md)
* [Custom fields: your business's extra fields on records](/administration/basics/custom-fields-your-businesss-extra-fields-on-records.md)
* [Custom pricing: a special price for an item, per customer or property](/administration/basics/custom-pricing-a-special-price-for-an-item-per-customer-or-property.md)

## Focused areas

* [Using the Essential Assistant](/administration/using-the-essential-assistant.md)
* [What the Essential Assistant can and can't do](/administration/using-the-essential-assistant/what-the-essential-assistant-can-and-cant-do.md)
* [What your customers see in the Customer Portal](/administration/what-your-customers-see-in-the-customer-portal.md)
* [How recurring service automation works (the full cycle)](/administration/how-recurring-service-automation-works-the-full-cycle.md)

## All guides

* [Roles and permissions: how access works](/administration/basics/roles-and-permissions-how-access-works.md)
* [Using the Essential Assistant](/administration/using-the-essential-assistant.md)
* [What the Essential Assistant can and can't do](/administration/using-the-essential-assistant/what-the-essential-assistant-can-and-cant-do.md)
* [What your customers see in the Customer Portal](/administration/what-your-customers-see-in-the-customer-portal.md)
* [How recurring service automation works (the full cycle)](/administration/how-recurring-service-automation-works-the-full-cycle.md)
* [Custom fields: your business's extra fields on records](/administration/basics/custom-fields-your-businesss-extra-fields-on-records.md)
* [Custom pricing: a special price for an item, per customer or property](/administration/basics/custom-pricing-a-special-price-for-an-item-per-customer-or-property.md)
* [Custom Task automation: an internal task instead of customer outreach](/administration/how-recurring-service-automation-works-the-full-cycle/custom-task-automation-an-internal-task-instead-of-customer-outreach.md)
* [Editing a quote or invoice through the Assistant](/administration/using-the-essential-assistant/editing-a-quote-or-invoice-through-the-assistant.md)
* [How automated outreach batches are built and who they go to](/administration/how-recurring-service-automation-works-the-full-cycle/how-automated-outreach-batches-are-built-and-who-they-go-to.md)
* [How your customers sign in to the Customer Portal](/administration/what-your-customers-see-in-the-customer-portal/how-your-customers-sign-in-to-the-customer-portal.md)
* [Managing portal users (inviting, access scope, and editing)](/administration/what-your-customers-see-in-the-customer-portal/managing-portal-users-inviting-access-scope-and-editing.md)
* [The property-access form your customers fill out to approve, deny, or redirect upcoming work](/administration/what-your-customers-see-in-the-customer-portal/the-property-access-form-your-customers-fill-out-to-approve-deny-or-redirect-upcoming-work.md)
* [Visit types: which services an inspection report can complete and reset](/administration/how-recurring-service-automation-works-the-full-cycle/visit-types-which-services-an-inspection-report-can-complete-and-reset.md)
* [What "Awaiting Service Completion" means and how it clears](/administration/how-recurring-service-automation-works-the-full-cycle/what-awaiting-service-completion-means-and-how-it-clears.md)
* [What a service completion is and how it's recorded](/administration/how-recurring-service-automation-works-the-full-cycle/what-a-service-completion-is-and-how-its-recorded.md)
* [What automated outreach sends, and previewing it](/administration/how-recurring-service-automation-works-the-full-cycle/what-automated-outreach-sends-and-previewing-it.md)
* [What happens after automated outreach: the customer's response](/administration/how-recurring-service-automation-works-the-full-cycle/what-happens-after-automated-outreach-the-customers-response.md)
* [Why isn't an asset group's automation running? (blockers)](/administration/how-recurring-service-automation-works-the-full-cycle/why-isnt-an-asset-groups-automation-running-blockers.md)
* [First login, navigation, and support](/administration/basics/first-login-navigation-and-support.md)
* [Timeline events and comments](/administration/basics/timeline-events-and-comments.md)


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