CurAI-it manuals

Create a collection

CurAI-it stores objects in collections. A collection is a group of items that share a purpose — a cabinet, a deposit, a project. You choose the name, the collection code, and the accession number template when you create it.

Sign in

1. Open https://curai-it.io.
2. Enter your email and password.
3. Choose Continue.

Sign-in is email and password only. There is no single sign-on.

You land on the Dashboard.

Finding your way around

Along the top you will see Dashboard, Collections, AI Review, Archive Chat, Import / Export, and your user menu.

Start a new collection

1. Choose Collections in the top navigation, then create a new collection. On the Dashboard you can also start from Create Collection.
2. Fill in the form. Required fields are marked. Create Collection stays unavailable until the collection has a name.
3. Choose Create Collection.

What the form asks for

• Collection name — the name you will look for later.
• Description — a short note for you and colleagues.
• Collection type — defaults to Personal Collection.
• Collection code — used in the accession number template (uppercase letters and numbers).
• Accession number template — defaults to [YYYY]-[CollectionCode]-[NNNN].
• AI model and AI prompt for this collection (how drafts are written). You can leave the defaults while you learn the form.
• OCR entity categories — names, places, dates and similar taken from documents. Leave the defaults unless you have a reason to change them.
• Icon and colour — a preview updates as you choose, so the collection is easy to spot in a list.
• View permissions — who can see items in this collection. You can keep the account default.

Accession number template

You set the template on this form. It belongs to this collection, not the whole account. Each collection has its own counter, which starts at 0.

Year and month come from the date when the template is filled in.

Variables you can use:

• [YYYY] — full year, for example 2026
• [YY] — two-digit year
• [MM] — month, 01–12
• [CollectionCode] — the code you set above
• [NNNN] — four-digit counter
• [NNN] — three-digit counter
• [NN] — two-digit counter

Numbers you already have

If you import from a file, map the column that holds your accession numbers. CurAI-it copies the number when that cell is not blank. A blank cell stays blank — import does not invent a number for you.

Worked example — Cabinet of Everyday Wonders

This is sample data. Not a real collection.

Choose Create Collection.

After you create the collection

You land on the new collection.

• Tabs: Items · Overview · Field Definitions
• Header: Import · Export · Batch Upload · Add Item · Edit Collection

A brand-new collection has no items yet. Next, add the fields this collection needs, then add items.

Custom fields

Custom fields are extra questions you add to a collection. They appear on items in that collection only. Other collections do not see them.

Open Field Definitions

1. Open the collection.
2. Choose the Field Definitions tab.
3. If the collection has no fields yet, choose Add First Field. Otherwise choose Add Field.

If there are no fields yet, you will see a short empty state: no custom fields yet, and a prompt to add some so you can capture metadata for items in this collection.

What you can set

• Field Label — the name you see on the item form.
• Field Key — lowercase letters, numbers, and underscores only. Filled from the label.
• Data Type — what kind of answer this field holds.
• Display Order — the order of fields on the item form.
• Help Text — a short hint under the field.
• Placeholder — faint example text inside the field.
• Required — marked on the form. If you import a file and a required mapped field is empty, the import will not accept that row.
• Searchable — on by default. Searchable fields are included when you search.

Types you can use

Text, Text Area, Number, Decimal, Date, Date & Time, Boolean, Select, Multi-Select, Email, URL, and Classification.

Currency is already a built-in field on the item (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD, AUD). Do not add it as a custom type.

Photographs belong on the Images section of the item, not in a custom field.

Select and Multi-Select

Add Options, separated by commas or new lines. For example: Bronze, Silver, Gold.

Classification

A Classification field lets you pick one node from a classification tree you choose. One node per field. You cannot add a new term on the item form — add terms in Classification Trees in account settings first, then pick an existing node on the item.

The hierarchy lives on the tree, not on Text, Select, or other field types. See Classification trees.

Worked example — three fields for the sample cabinet

Add these fields to Cabinet of Everyday Wonders. Leave Searchable on.

1. Object nickname

1. Choose Add First Field (or Add Field).
2. Field Label: Object nickname
3. Field Key: leave the value filled from the label.
4. Data Type: Text
5. Display Order: 1
6. Choose Add Field.

2. How we found it

1. Choose Add Field.
2. Field Label: How we found it
3. Field Key: leave the value filled from the label.
4. Data Type: Text Area
5. Display Order: 2
6. Choose Add Field.

3. Display highlight

1. Choose Add Field.
2. Field Label: Display highlight
3. Field Key: leave the value filled from the label.
4. Data Type: Select
5. Options: Bronze, Silver, Gold
6. Display Order: 3
7. Choose Add Field.

Check the table

You should see three rows: Object nickname (Text), How we found it (Text Area), and Display highlight (Select). Each row has edit and delete.

The table columns are Label, Field Key, Data Type, Properties, and Actions.

These fields now appear on items in this collection, in the display order you set.

Classification trees

A classification tree is a shared list of terms, arranged as a hierarchy. Trees belong to the whole account, so the same tree can be used on many collections.

You will find Classification Trees in account settings.

How a tree is used

On a collection, add a custom field with type Classification and choose the tree. On an item, pick one existing node. That is one node per field.

Only the Classification field type uses this hierarchy. A Text or Select field is a flat value — it is not a tree.

A typical path looks like this: Earth > Europe > France > Paris.

Build a tree

1. Open Classification Trees in account settings.
2. Add a root node — the top of the tree.
3. Add children under that node, and children under those, until the path is as deep as you need.
4. On the collection, open Field Definitions and add a field with type Classification. Choose this tree.
5. On an item, open that field and choose one existing node.

Worked example — a place tree for Sampleton

SAMPLE DATA ONLY.

1. In Classification Trees, add a root node Earth.
2. Under Earth, add Europe.
3. Under Europe, add United Kingdom.
4. Under United Kingdom, add Sampleton.

The path is Earth > Europe > United Kingdom > Sampleton.

On Cabinet of Everyday Wonders, add a custom field:

When you add or edit an item, choose Sampleton — or any other node that already exists on that tree. One node only.

Add items

An item is one object in a collection. You add it from the collection header. You can type the record yourself, or let CurAI-it draft a title and description from photographs or a PDF and then review that draft.

Open Add Item

1. Open the collection.
2. Choose Add Item in the header. If the collection is empty, you can also choose Add Item from the empty state.

Process with AI

Process with AI is on by default and uses credits. It runs in the background. If you upload photographs or a PDF, CurAI-it can draft a title and description from that content. Review the draft in AI Review.

Leave it on when you have something to process. Turn it off when you want to type the title yourself — Title is then required before you can save.

What the form asks for

• Collection — keep the collection you opened, or choose another.
• Title — optional while Process with AI is on. Required if you turn it off.
• Description
• Process with AI — on by default.
• Location
• Condition
• Estimated value
• Currency — USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD, or AUD.
• Acquisition date
• Tags — comma-separated.
• Custom fields — the fields you defined on this collection, in display order.
• Images — Add Images, Choose Files, or Take Photo. Images upload when you save.
• Documents — a PDF, so the text can be made searchable.

At the bottom: Cancel or Create Item.

Worked example — The Slightly Haunted Teaspoon

SAMPLE DATA ONLY. Not a real object. For this practice record, turn Process with AI off and type the title yourself so you do not spend credits on fiction.

Leave estimated value, currency, and acquisition date unless you want to try them. You can skip images and documents for this sample.

Choose Create Item.

After you save

You land on the item. From here you can go Back to Collection or Add Another Item.

On the collection, the item appears as a card. Open it with View Details.

If you left Process with AI on, the draft title and description come from the photographs or PDF you uploaded. Open AI Review in the top navigation and accept or change what you see.

Ask the catalogue

When you have items in a collection, open Archive Chat in the top navigation. That page is Archive Assistant: ask a question in plain English about what you hold.