# Start here: Author

Prepare bounded investigation policies from permitted saved evidence.

Source: https://help.smartfact.ai/manuals/lottrail/author

Review edition: 25 October 2026

Roles: author

As Author, prepare controlled investigation policies where the shared Automation workspace is connected. You also read permitted saved runs and cases. Author authority does not grant access to every dataset or allow source imports and identity approvals.

## Start from an understood investigation

Ask an Operator or Supervisor to save an exact current-evidence investigation using the intended datasets, identity, relationship meaning and direction. Read its coverage and limitations before reusing it. A partial result is not a complete traceability baseline.

On Automation policies, select the permitted Saved investigation under Start from a saved investigation and choose Create policy draft. This reuses the exact query and datasets but creates no active rules or example answers. Your Author role and access to every dataset are rechecked.

## Prepare independent expectations

Use Open in Automation when offered to prepare conditions, actions and independent examples. Keep query bounds, exact starting references, grouping and coverage-review decisions explicit. Write expected related identities and limitations from an independently known business case rather than calculated output.

A draft cannot run until its complete native proof and independent review pass. Contributors cannot approve their own case or whole release through a second role. Do not describe a local draft or passing synthetic example as an activated policy.

## Hand over honestly

If the page says Automation workspace is not connected, the native page does not provide a substitute local release editor. Continue permitted manual investigation and arrange the authorised connection or review with the responsible people.

Read [policies and review](/manuals/lottrail/policies-and-review) and the [Automation handbook](/manuals/automation). Policy output remains bounded read-only investigation or a local review task; it cannot create missing physical relationships or write containment into another product.