Softdocs Etrieve Central (Electronic Forms and Workflows) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Quick Links: | About Etrieve Central | Logging into Etrieve Central | Access to Etrieve Central | Checking for Pending Forms | Attaching Documents | Returning and Commenting on Forms | Downloading and Printing Forms |

About Etrieve Central

Etrieve Central (by Softdocs) is a browser-based, mobile-friendly platform used at Chico State to create, submit, and manage electronic forms and automated workflows. It allows users to complete forms online, route them for approval, and track their progress through each step of the process.

Etrieve Central works closely with Etrieve Content — but they serve different purposes:

  • Etrieve Central is used to fill out and submit electronic forms and manage approval workflows.
  • Etrieve Content is used to store finalized, approved documents for long-term recordkeeping.

In short, Central handles active processes, while Content stores the final results.

Logging into Etrieve Central

  1. Go to the Softdocs Login Page.
  2. Enter your full Chico State email address, then click Continue.
  3. If prompted, enter your Chico State domain password and click Sign In.
  4. You may be asked to authenticate with Duo.

Access to Etrieve Central

Access to Etrieve Central is provided to:

  • Chico State employees
  • Active students
  • Auxiliary employees

You will only see the forms and workflows your department owns or that have been shared with you.

Checking for Pending Forms

You can check for forms waiting on your action in two ways:

  1. Check your email. You will receive a message when a form requires your attention.
    • Tip: If you don’t see the email, check your Junk Email folder in Outlook.
  2. Log in to Etrieve Central and check your Inbox.
    • Click Inbox and select the form you’d like to open. Your form will display on the right side of the screen.
      Selecting Inbox then Form in etrieve
       

If no forms appear, try refreshing your browser. If none appear after that, you likely do not have any pending forms. Contact the form originator or your department for assistance.

For additional information, see the Central Page Layout section in the Etrieve Central User Guide - 2024.

Attaching Documents

You can attach supporting files to a form only if the option is enabled for that form.

  1. Open the form in the Document Viewer.
  2. Click the Attachments button at the bottom of the page.
  3. Select the files you want to attach. Accepted file types include: .jpg, .tif, .pdf, .xps, .jpeg, .png, .tiff, .bmp, .gif.

For more details, see the Header and Navigation section of the Etrieve Central User Guide - 2024.

Returning and Commenting on Forms

If a document needs revision, you can return it to the previous step in the workflow.

  1. Open the form in the Document Viewer.
  2. Click the Return button to send it back.
    Return button on the toolbar in Document Viewer
     
  3. To add comments, click the History button to view workflow progress and add notes.

Adding comments helps clarify why the form was returned and what changes are needed.

Additional details can be found in the Central Flow Management section of the Etrieve Central User Guide - 2024.

Downloading and Printing Forms

You can download or print forms directly from the Document Viewer.

  1. Open the desired form.
  2. Use the Download or Print icons located at the bottom of the screen.

For more information, review the Self Service section in the Etrieve Central User Guide - 2024.

 Still need help? Contact IT Support Services for further assistance.
  
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