The Log Exchange feature of CLIFF provides an interface between your CLIFF database and other CLIFF databases allowing you to create and send Referrals to other databases. Each "external" Referral you create sends a copy of your Log and its attachments to the other database. If the receiving CLIFF database accepts the Referral, a new Log with your Referral is created in their database. When they complete their Referral and close the Log, your Referral is automatically updated.

In addition, if you have a section on your web site where you invite people to submit questions, report problems, send comments, or other information, this can all be captured and submitted to CLIFF for creating Logs through the Log Exchange function.

All external Referrals, or Logs received by CLIFF, go into a holding area where they can be examined before being accepted into your database.

Exchanging Referrals

Exchanges with other CLIFF organizations is done through Referrals. You may create a Referral to another CLIFF organization or you may receive a Referral from another organization. Referrals from other CLIFF organizations are easily identified as the external Office will always have a prefix of "x:"

The behaviour of external Referrals is similar to normal Referrals, because they appear in your Referrals Sent and Received lists, and you act on them as you would with any other Referral. The main difference is that completed Referrals are not flagged as completed in the originating organization until the receiving office closes the Log. This provides the receiving office with more flexibility in handling the Referral before responding to the originator of the external Referral.

An external Log/Referral closed by a receiving office may be re-opened if the originating office re-opens a completed Referral or sends a new Referral. A new Log will not be created.

Web Forms

There are no Referrals associated with Logs received from a MailTo form.