> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.brieftech.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.brieftech.ai/reference/matters-list-states.md). # Matters list: states and indicators The **Matters** list shows every matter you own or that a colleague has shared with you. Each row is one matter, and the icons, badges, and captions on it show that matter's state at a glance. This page explains what each indicator means and when it appears. For what you can *do* from this screen — creating, searching, filtering, pinning, sharing, and archiving matters — see [Find, organise, and archive your matters](/how-to-guides/manage/organise-your-matters.md). ## Matter icon The icon at the left of each row shows whether the matter is yours or shared with you. | Icon | Meaning | | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | | A plain folder (blue) | A matter you own. | | A folder with a person (lighter blue) | A matter another user has shared with you. | ## Name and identifier The matter's name is shown in bold at the top of the row. If a matter has no name, its identifier is shown in place of the name. The identifier also appears as the first line of grey caption text beneath the name. ## Status badge A badge appears beside the matter name to flag its status. | Badge | Meaning | | ------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Archived** (grey) | The matter has been archived. Archived matters are hidden by default — the status filter (the second dropdown above the list, which shows **Active** until you change it) must be set to **Archived** or **All statuses** for them to appear. | On a matter you own, the row's archive action also reflects this state: an **active** matter shows an amber archive action Archive matter, and an **archived** matter shows a green restore action Restore matter in its place. For how to archive and restore matters, see [Find, organise, and archive your matters](/how-to-guides/manage/organise-your-matters.md#archive-a-matter-you-have-finished-with). ## Shared-matter indicators These appear only on a matter another user has shared with you. | Indicator | Meaning | | ------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Shared by: *****name*** | The owner who shared the matter with you, shown by their display name — or their email if they have no display name set, or **Unknown** if neither is available. | | Role badge | A colour-coded badge showing the role you were given when the matter was shared with you. Sharing gives editing access. For what that lets you do, see [Matter roles and permissions](/reference/matter-roles-and-permissions.md). | A shared matter's row carries only the pin control. The edit, share, archive, and restore actions are not shown at all on a matter someone has shared with you, because those are reserved for the matter's owner — see [Matter roles and permissions](/reference/matter-roles-and-permissions.md). The list of shared matters is loaded once when you open the Matters screen. A matter that a colleague shares with you while you are already on this screen does not appear until you reload the page. ## Activity metadata The last line of caption text on each row summarises recent activity. | Indicator | Meaning | | --------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Last accessed | When you last opened the matter, in the largest unit that fits: **Last accessed just now**, then minutes (**5m ago**), hours (**6h ago**), **yesterday**, days (**3d ago**), months (**3mo ago**), and years (**2y ago**). Shows **Never accessed** if you have never opened it. | | ***N***** docs** | The number of documents in the matter, including any you have moved to the Bin — the count falls only when a document is deleted permanently. An empty matter shows **0 docs**. This total is a stored figure refreshed as documents are processed or permanently removed, rather than a live tally, so it can briefly differ from the Files list while a document is still uploading or being processed. | ## Pinned matters | Pin | Meaning | | ------------------- | ------------------------- | | A filled amber pin | The matter is pinned. | | A grey outlined pin | The matter is not pinned. | A pinned matter is sorted to the top of the list, above unpinned matters, whatever the search and filters are set to. Below the pinned matters, the list is ordered by the matter you opened most recently, then by the most recently changed, then by the most recently created — so the order shifts as you work. To pin or unpin a matter, see [Find, organise, and archive your matters](/how-to-guides/manage/organise-your-matters.md#pin-a-matter-to-the-top). ## Empty list Whenever the list has nothing to show, it is replaced by the message **No matters match your filters.** It is the only empty state, so you see it even when nothing is being excluded: * on a new account, before you have created or been shared any matter; and * briefly while the list is still loading, because this screen shows no loading indicator. ## Related
How a matter moves through BriefTechThe staged pipeline and the two workstreams that run alongside it./pages/p87rZDZKq7GzvEb7cREo
Find, organise, and archive your mattersFind, pin, filter, and archive your matters from the Matters list./pages/CcvdHgHlTf39wCyOUPsR
Profile settingsThe fields in your user profile, and how to verify your email address./pages/Sa3AQQFQ5FzPfJYTMD1A
Download an invoiceGet a receipt or invoice for a credit pack purchase./pages/Jh0Kl3ZdEfLlRM46ZQge
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