# Locations

<p class="callout info">The **Manage Locations** feature in OPSCOM allows administrators to define and organize various physical locations relevant to your operations, such as buildings, parking areas, or specific points of interest. This is crucial for accurate incident reporting, violation tracking, and providing clear geographical context within the system.</p>

### Using this Feature

The **Manage Locations** page provides a straightforward interface to add and delete various locations.

1\. Hover over **System Configuration,** then **Manage Locations,** and click **Manage Locations**.

##### <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Adding Locations</span>

1. Click the **Add Location** button.
2. **Enter the name** of your new location (e.g., "Mulloy Library").
3. **Select the Sub-Location(s)** you would like associated with this main location. 
    - <p class="callout warning">Sub-Locations are specifically used in **incident reporting** and do not apply to vehicle violations.</p>
4. To make the location visible to violation writers on handheld devices or the admin side, enable the **Writer Visible** checkbox beside the location name.
5. The **GIS Number** field is optional and is used by clients who utilize a geographic location code (GIS maps).
6. Click **Save Changes** to create the new location.

The **Manage Locations** page will refresh and display a confirmation message indicating that the **Location has been updated** (or added).

##### <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Editing Locations</span>

1. Locate the **Location** you wish to modify in the list.
2. Click the **Edit** button next to it.
3. Make your updates and click **Save Changes**.

##### <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Deleting Locations</span>

A location can only be deleted from the system if it is **not associated with any existing records** (e.g., incidents, violations, or other data where this location is referenced).

1. If a location is eligible for deletion, you will see a **Delete** button specific to that location
2. Click the **Delete** button and confirm. This action will permanently remove the location from the system.

---

### <span style="color: rgb(22, 145, 121);">Best Practices &amp; Considerations</span>

- <span style="color: rgb(22, 145, 121);">**Descriptive Naming**: Use clear and concise names for your locations (e.g., "Main Campus Building A," "West Parking Lot," "Gymnasium Entrance"). This improves clarity for all users.</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(22, 145, 121);">**Sub-Location Usage**: Leverage sub-locations to provide more specific detail for incident reporting, which can be crucial for detailed record-keeping and analysis.</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(22, 145, 121);">**Writer Visibility**: Carefully consider which locations need to be "Writer Visible" for your enforcement officers to ensure accurate violation reporting.</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(22, 145, 121);">**Data Integrity**: Always ensure that a location is not actively referenced by any system records before attempting to delete it. Reassigning records to another valid location is crucial to prevent data inconsistencies.</span>