Platform Basics
A quick reference guide to essential TEA Platform features and navigation.
Core Features
Creating an Assurance Case
- Navigate to Cases: Click “Cases” in the main navigation
- Create New: Click the “New Case” button
- Add Details: Enter case name, description, and colour coding
- Start Building: Begin adding goals, claims, and evidence
Importing and Exporting
Import a Case:
- JSON format supported
- Click “Import” from the Cases page
- Select your JSON file
Export a Case:
- Open the case you want to export
- Click “Export” in the case menu
- Download as JSON for backup or sharing
Case Elements
Quick access to add elements:
- Goal Claim: Top-level normative claim (usually one per case)
- Property Claim: Specific claims about system properties
- Strategy: Explanation of decomposition approach
- Evidence: Supporting information and data
- Context: Boundaries and scoping information
Navigation
Main Menu
- Home - Dashboard and recent cases
- Cases - View and manage all your cases
- Templates - Access case templates
- Community - Connect with other users
- Documentation - Access this documentation
Case View
When viewing a case:
- Graph View: Visual representation of your argument structure
- List View: Tabular view of all elements
- Edit Mode: Modify elements and connections
- Comments: Collaborate with team members
- Version History: Track changes over time
Key Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Save case | Ctrl+S (or Cmd+S on Mac) |
| Add new element | + key when in graph view |
| Search cases | Ctrl+K (or Cmd+K on Mac) |
| Zoom in/out | Mouse wheel or pinch gesture |
| Pan view | Click and drag background |
Linking Elements
Support Links
Connect elements to show logical support:
- Goal → Strategy: How you’ll decompose the goal
- Goal → Property Claim: Direct claim supporting goal
- Strategy → Property Claim: Claims following strategy
- Property Claim → Property Claim: Sub-claims supporting parent
- Property Claim → Evidence: Evidence supporting claim
Context Links
Provide contextual information:
- Goal → Context: Scope for top-level claim
- Property Claim → Context: Specific context for claim
- Strategy → Context: Context affecting decomposition
Visual Feedback
The platform provides visual indicators when links are valid. Invalid connections are prevented automatically.
Collaboration Features
- Sharing: Invite team members to view or edit cases
- Comments: Add notes and discussion threads on elements
- Version Control: Track who made what changes and when
- Export/Share: Generate shareable JSON files
Common Tasks
Review a Case
- Switch to graph view for visual overview
- Check each claim has supporting evidence
- Verify all strategies are implemented
- Review context elements for completeness
- Use list view to check for gaps
Prepare for Review
- Add comments explaining key decisions
- Ensure all evidence has URLs or descriptions
- Complete long descriptions for clarity
- Export JSON as backup
- Share case link with reviewers
Update an Existing Case
- Add new elements as needed
- Update evidence with latest data
- Revise claims if requirements changed
- Document changes in comments
- Review overall argument still holds
Getting Help
- Documentation: Comprehensive guides in TEA Trainee
- Community: Questions and discussions in Community Support
- Glossary: Term definitions in Glossary
In-Depth Learning
This is a quick reference. For detailed tutorials, see the TEA Trainee curriculum.