> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cortex.aic.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cortex.aic.io/sources-and-evidence.md).

# Sources and Evidence

Find, assess, preserve, and use governed sources and evidence.

Use this menu group to register a source, check its authority, preserve original material, and find evidence. Keep the source identity, the original file, each processing version, and each later interpretation distinct.

## Choose the correct area

| Menu item                 | First action                                                           | Purpose                                                                                                                          |
| ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **News**                  | **Refresh feeds**, then inspect a lead.                                | Use a news lead as an unassessed prompt. Use **Draft requirement** only when a person has checked the question.                  |
| **Decision briefs**       | **View decision picture**.                                             | Build a bounded picture for a decision. Use **Save query** or **Capture current source versions** when you need a retained view. |
| **Sources**               | **Register source**.                                                   | Record the information origin and its status.                                                                                    |
| **Authority cases**       | **Register authority case**.                                           | Record and review the authority for external collection.                                                                         |
| **Source protection**     | **Register protected case**.                                           | Protect source identity and record controlled use.                                                                               |
| **Intelligence reports**  | **Receive a report**.                                                  | Receive a report, evaluate it, and decide how it can be used.                                                                    |
| **Evidence memory**       | **Acquire material**.                                                  | Preserve an original file, check processing, and find exact evidence.                                                            |
| **Graph explorer**        | Open the graph for the current workspace.                              | Explore cited entities and relationships. Check the source of an edge before you use it.                                         |
| **Entities**              | **Create cited entity**.                                               | Record an entity that has an evidence citation. Use **Review relationships** for linked claims.                                  |
| **Relationship review**   | **Draft a relationship**.                                              | Propose and review a cited relationship.                                                                                         |
| **Map & spatial context** | Make the required handling declaration, then **Open operational map**. | See governed geographic evidence and its limits.                                                                                 |

Some of these actions are in the page **Tasks** menu. Your role, handling access, and workspace feature choices control which actions you see.

## Preserve original material

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Confirm the requirement and authority

Confirm the requirement in **Intelligence cycle → Direction**. Confirm an active source and the authority for this exact use in **Sources** and **Authority cases**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Open Evidence memory

Select **Sources & evidence → Evidence memory**. Select **Acquire material**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Select the requirement and source

In **Requirement and source**, select the visible requirement and active source. Continue to **Original material**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Enter original material details

Enter **Material title** and choose **Original file**. Enter **Acquired at (UTC)** and **Acquisition notes**. Review the inherited handling.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Preserve and check the material

Select **Preserve original and acquire material**. Open the saved material. Check its hash, scan state, processing state, and extraction version.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

The upload accepts TXT, CSV, JSON, GeoJSON, text PDF, or DOCX files up to 10 MiB in the current UI. Its title needs 3–200 characters and its notes need 10–2,000 characters. A saved original is not yet a ready citation. The scan and processing steps have separate states. Read the [acquisition task guide](/workflow-guides/collection/ingest.md) for the full procedure.

## Select an exact passage

When the material has a ready processing version, open the evidence picker from the work you are writing. Select the material and version, then the exact segment and range. Select an interpretation when one applies. Select **Preview quotation**, check the words, then select **Add this evidence citation**. See [Evidence memory](/sources-and-evidence/memory.md), [interpretation](/sources-and-evidence/interpretation.md), and [quality review](/workflow-guides/analyse/evidence-quality.md).

If someone corrects evidence later, open the correction notice for the affected analysis or product revision. Record the effect and a next action. A correction response adds a retained version. It does not rewrite an earlier quotation or release. See [evidence corrections](/workflow-guides/analyse/evidence-corrections.md).