> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mercora.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# The Inbox
> Your work queue: review what Mercora read against the original, then approve, reject or request a correction.
The Inbox is where you review documents once [processing](https://docs.mercora.io/documents/processing.md) finishes: check what Mercora read, confirm the trade, settle any differences and approve. Proposals from other workflows wait here too, so one queue holds everything that needs a person.
> [!NOTE]
>
> **Before you start:** reviewing documents needs the **Document inbox** module, and approving needs permission to edit documents. View-only roles see the same panels without the buttons. Workflows such as deal capture or hedging keep their place in the Inbox even if the module is off.
The Inbox for sugar trade VCS-S-2026-0714: eleven documents ready to approve, and purchase contract VCS-P-2026-0688 waiting to be matched.
## How it's laid out
* **Tabs**: **Needs you** (you're the next step), **Waiting** (Mercora is processing, or a reply is pending), **Done** (approved, closed or rejected) and **Filtered** (set aside as not trade-related; only shown when not empty). Items move between tabs on their own.
* **The rail** on the left lists items. In **Needs you** they're grouped as **Recover** (failed), **Match**, **Review** (open discrepancies or a pack to split), **Decide** (workflow proposals) and **Ready to approve**. Each row shows a [status](https://docs.mercora.io/documents/processing.md#statuses-you-see-in-the-inbox), such as **Unmatched**, **2 disc.** or **Clean**.
* **The document** in the middle. Tables Mercora read, such as invoice charge lines, sit in a bar under it that you can expand and edit.
* **The review panel** on the right, with **Approve** at the bottom.
To narrow the rail, type in **Search…**, or press F to filter by **Owner** (who uploaded or forwarded it, or **Unassigned**) and **Type** (documents or workflow actions). The display icon sets the order; **Priority** puts critical discrepancies first. Your view is saved to your account, and admins can **Set as workspace default**.
## Reviewing a document
Open a document from the rail and work down the review panel:
**1. Match**
The **Trade** field shows the trade, or Mercora's recommendation. Click **Match** to link it and run its checks. Until then, **Approve** is unavailable. See [Matching](https://docs.mercora.io/documents/matching.md).
**2. Shipment**
For a B/L, packing list or other shipping document, check the [shipment](https://docs.mercora.io/trades/shipments.md) it describes. This step only shows when your role can see shipments.
**3. Discrepancies**
Decide on each open difference with the trade. See [Discrepancies](https://docs.mercora.io/documents/discrepancies.md).
**4. Fields**
Check the parties, quantities, prices, dates and ports Mercora read. Click a field to highlight it on the document. An amber dot means Mercora was less sure: check those first.
If the document came by email, the email shows in a bar above it.
### Correct a field
* **Edit it.** Double-click the value (or Tab to it and type), then press Enter. The field shows who changed it, and **revert** goes back to what Mercora read. Mercora re-checks the document, so discrepancies can appear or disappear. Corrections survive reprocessing.
* **Read it from the page.** Hold Option (Alt on Windows) and drag a box around the value. Mercora reads it and suggests a field; check it and click **Apply**. Click into the notes box first to save the passage as a note instead.
* **Pick a reading.** When a number could mean two things, for example "745,087", Mercora shows both readings under the field and marks the one that fits the deal. Click the right one.
For invoices, also check whether it's an invoice or a credit note, and whether it's a receivable (AR) or payable (AP). A missing required field, such as a due date, is marked in red and must be set before you approve.
Use **Notes** at the bottom of the panel to leave a note for your team.
## Approving
Click **Approve** or press Enter. The line beside the button says what will happen, for example "Links it to the trade · accepts 2 differences".
* Approve is unavailable until the document is matched and checked.
* A document on no trade shows **Approve without a trade** and asks you to confirm. Enter never approves it.
* Approving accepts the document's remaining open trade discrepancies, so review them first.
The document moves to **Done**, its information becomes part of the trade's record, and the next item opens. To move it to another trade later, see [Matching](https://docs.mercora.io/documents/matching.md).
An amendment opens an **Amend** panel instead, where you decide on each changed term before approving.
### Contracts and recaps
Approving a contract or recap can create or change a trade, so it opens a short flow:
1. **Where should this document go?** Choose **Create a new trade**, **Match to existing trade** or **Don't attach a trade**. Mercora marks its pick **Recommended**. With the **Contracts** module, **Create contract** replaces **Create a new trade**.
2. **Should this document create a trade leg?** Create a **Purchase** or **Sale** leg, link to an existing one, or **Save directly to trade**. Check the leg's buyer, seller, quantity and price.
3. Check the summary on the right and click **Approve document**.
Approving sales contract VCS-S-2026-0714: Mercora recommends Match to existing trade.
**Create contract** skips the leg step. See also [Starting a trade from a contract](https://docs.mercora.io/documents/matching.md#starting-a-trade-from-a-contract-or-recap).
## Rejecting
For a draft or a copy you don't need, click **Reject**, then **Confirm**. It moves to **Done** as **Dismissed**. The trade isn't changed.
## Request a correction
When a document is wrong at the source, ask the counterparty to fix it:
1. Click **Request correction** under **Approve**.
2. Check the draft. It lists the discrepancies you **Declined** as corrections required, plus open ones.
3. Check **To** (the original sender, if the document came by email) and edit the message, or click **Regenerate**.
4. Click **Open email draft**. It opens in your own mail program, also copied to your clipboard. Send it from there.
Mercora doesn't send the email. It records that a correction was requested.
## The ⋯ menu
At the top of a document: **Download** (the original file), **Reclassify…** and **Full Reprocess** (see [Processing](https://docs.mercora.io/documents/processing.md#fix-the-type-or-reprocess)), **Reassign to Trade**, **Change shipment** and **Delete from Record**. All but Download need permission to edit documents.
## Keyboard shortcuts
| Key | Action |
| - | - |
| J / K or ↓ / ↑ | Next / previous item |
| Enter | Approve |
| T | Fold or unfold the current section |
| F | Filters |
| Esc | Clear a selection, cancel an edit, close a popover |
| Option / Alt + drag | Read a value from the page |
## Other items in the Inbox
Workflows your workspace uses also send proposals here for a person to approve, change or decline: [deal terms](https://docs.mercora.io/workflows/deal-capture.md), [hedge requests and broker fills](https://docs.mercora.io/workflows/hedging.md), [freight rate changes](https://docs.mercora.io/workflows/freight-rates.md), [vessel nominations](https://docs.mercora.io/trades/shipments.md), [automation approvals](https://docs.mercora.io/workflows/automations.md) and [syncs to external systems](https://docs.mercora.io/integrations/external-systems.md). Filter by **Type** › **Actions** to see only these.
## Next steps
* [Discrepancies](https://docs.mercora.io/documents/discrepancies.md): decide what each difference with the trade means.
* [Walkthrough](https://docs.mercora.io/getting-started/walkthrough.md): follow one trade from its first document to its P\&L.
This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.