# Handle a missing starting record

Recognise a missing record and ask for the right evidence.

Source: https://help.smartfact.ai/batchtrail/guides/missing-record

Audience: Operator

Practise with fictional workshop records. For real work, use only sources you are allowed to read.

## Handle a missing starting record

1. **Start an investigation**

   Start an investigation.

   Choose the source records you are allowed to use, then identify the lot or unit exactly.

2. **Choose the workshop records**

   Choose the workshop records.

   Select Synthetic workshop. Your product role alone does not give you access to every dataset.

3. **Check a code that is not found**

   Check a code that is not found.

   Enter the exact code. Do not change or shorten a code just to find a result.

4. **Save this investigation**

   Save this investigation.

   Save the search once and wait for confirmation. This searches the available records; it does not change factory stock or place a hold.

5. **Open saved investigations**

   Open saved investigations.

   Open the saved result. Your current access is checked again each time you open it.

6. **Read the saved result**

   Read the saved result.

   Read the coverage notice before using the result. The newest investigation is listed first.

7. **Stop when the starting record is missing**

   Stop when the starting record is missing.

   Check the source, type, namespace and exact code with a supervisor. Missing records do not prove that a unit is unaffected.

[Watch or practise this chapter](https://help.smartfact.ai/batchtrail/demo?guide=missing-record&chapter=practice)

Check the current records and any missing-information notices before using a result at work.