In DocketCalendar a "Trigger," "Trigger Event," or "Trigger Item" refers to a key event that is specified in procedural rules and upon which case deadlines are based. These triggers are essential for determining the timelines and deadlines within a case. For instance, the service of a summons and complaint can serve as a trigger event.

A "Trigger Date" is the date on which the trigger event occurs. This date could be in the past, in the future, or even the current date, depending on the nature of the trigger. An example of a trigger date could be the date of an upcoming trial or the date a motion was served.

"Related Events" are the deadlines and court appointments that are calculated based on a trigger event. While most related events are deadlines, some triggers might be case-related court appointments themselves, such as a deposition, hearing, or trial. In such cases, DocketCalendar includes these appointments in the list as Related Events​​.

In DocketCalendar, the relationship between a trigger and an event is fundamental to understanding how deadlines are calculated and managed within the application. Here's a detailed explanation:

• Trigger: A trigger in DocketCalendar refers to a specific event spelled out in procedural rules that initiates the countdown to various deadlines. These trigger events, also known as trigger items, are key dates or actions that start the timeline for subsequent deadlines related to a case. For example, the date summons and complaint are served could be a trigger for other deadlines, such as when an answer or other responsive pleading must be filed.
• Event: An event, in this context, is a deadline or court appointment that is calculated based on a trigger. DocketCalendar uses the date of the trigger event to calculate the due dates for these related events. The application automates this process by applying the procedural rules relevant to the jurisdiction of the case to ensure accurate and compliant scheduling.
• Relationship: The relationship between a trigger and an event is therefore a cause-and-effect linkage where the occurrence of the trigger (cause) results in the calculation of one or more events (effects). This relationship is governed by the procedural rules applicable to the case's jurisdiction, which prescribe the timeframes within which various actions must be taken following the trigger event.

For example, if a trial date is set (trigger), DocketCalendar will calculate and schedule all related deadlines (events), such as discovery cutoffs or deadlines to file pre-trial motions, based on the specified trial date and the procedural rules of the court handling the case. This ensures that all deadlines are accurately reflected on your calendar, helping to manage case timelines efficiently and effectively.

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To create events in DocketCalendar, you should follow these steps:

1. Access the 'Create Events' screen by clicking on 'New Events' in the EVENTS section of the sidebar.
2. Select the case for which you want to create events.
3. Choose a trigger type, ensuring that the 'Jurisdiction' field is correctly filled out.
4. Enter the necessary details for the trigger and the event.
5. Click the appropriate button to preview your events. A preview of all the events in the trigger set will appear at the bottom of the screen.
6. Optionally, you can deselect any events you don't want to include, view more information about specific events, or export the events.
7. Once you're ready to add the events to your calendar, make any necessary changes to the dates or descriptions of the events.
8. Click the final button to add the events to your calendar and to view the export success screen.

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To create a case in DocketCalendar, follow these steps:

1. Start by clicking on the "New Case" button in the "CASES" section of your navigation.
2. Fill out the case name and select a jurisdiction.
3. Optionally, you can fill out the event details, which will display with each event on your calendar.
4. After filling out these details, click to confirm. Remember, you can always modify the details later.

Once you have created your first case, you can then proceed to create events related to this case.

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To attach a file to an event in DocketCalendar, it's recommended to use a link to the document rather than attaching a physical copy directly. This method is more efficient and avoids consuming additional storage space in your calendar. Here are the steps to attach a file via a link, using OneDrive as an example, but the process is similar for other file-sharing services like Dropbox:

1. Open Your File-Sharing Platform: Navigate to the folder in OneDrive (or your chosen file-sharing service) where the document you want to share is located.
2. Share the File: Right-click on the file you wish to share, then click the "Share" icon in the dropdown menu. A new window will pop up.
3. Copy the Link: In the sharing window, click the "Copy" button to copy the link to your document within your OneDrive folder.
4. Paste the Link in DocketCalendar:
5. For a Case: If you want the document link to be available on all case-related deadlines, insert the link into the Description field at the Case level in DocketCalendar.
6. For a Trigger: If the document is relevant to specific deadlines calculated by a trigger, insert the link into the Description field for that Trigger as you calculate deadlines.
7. For an Individual Event: You can also insert links into the Description field of individual events as needed.

This method allows you to share important documents related to your events without directly attaching files, maintaining accessibility while avoiding the drawbacks of file duplication and excessive memory usage.

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