🚀 Case Management is Coming Soon!
This feature is currently in Closed Beta and limited to select partners. We'll keep you in the loop as we work toward a wider release.
Overview
One of the most powerful aspects of Cases in Case Management is their ability to act as containers for related work. A Case doesn't replace your existing tools for Tasks, Conversations, Appointments, or Documents—instead, it brings them together in a single view so you can track all the work associated with a student's issue in one place.
This article explains how to link (relate) and unlink objects to and from Cases, and what each type of related object looks like within the Case detail panel.
Cases can relate to the following object types:
Alerts
Tasks
Conversations
Appointments
Documents
🔒 Permissions & Visibility: Related objects respect the permissions and visibility groups already configured in Element451. Users will only see related objects they have access to. For example, a user without Conversations permissions will not see any conversations related to a case, even if they have access to the case itself.
How Relating Works
When you relate an object to a Case, you're creating a link between them. The related object keeps its native behavior and remains accessible in its original module (e.g., a Task is still visible in the Tasks module). It simply becomes "case-aware" — visible within the Case detail panel for context and coordination.
🧠 Good to Know: An Alert can belong to only one Case at a time. Tasks, Conversations, Appointments, and Documents do not have this restriction.
How to Relate Objects to a Case
From within the Case: Using the tabs in the Case detail panel to relate existing objects or create new ones.
Directly from the object's module: For example, associating a Task with a Case from the task creation or edit form.
Each method is explained in the next sections.
1) Relating Objects from the Case Detail Panel
Each tab in the Case detail panel (Tasks, Conversations, Appointments, Documents) provides two options for adding related objects:
Relate existing — search for and link an object that already exists in Element451
Create new — create a brand new object and automatically link it to the Case
You can also use the + button in the top right corner of each tab to add objects.
Alerts (via Information Tab)
Alerts (via Information Tab)
Linked Alerts appear in the Information tab of the Case detail panel, in the Alerts section. The table shows each Alert's Name, Type, Due Date, and an action menu.
Alerts are typically linked to Cases through the escalation process (setting an Alert's resolution to "Escalate to Case"). However, you can also manually relate an existing Alert to a Case.
⚠️ Important: Each Alert can only be related to one Case at a time. You can un-relate an Alert from a Case if you need to re-review or relate it to a different Case.
Tasks
Tasks
The Tasks tab displays a table of related Tasks with columns for Task, Reviewer, Due Date, and Status.
From this tab, you can:
Relate existing Tasks that have already been created in the Tasks module
Create new Tasks that are automatically linked to this Case
Related Tasks retain their full functionality in the Tasks module. Changes made in either location are reflected in both.
Conversations
Conversations
The Conversations tab shows Conversations linked to this Case. You can relate existing Conversations or create new ones.
This is particularly useful for tracking communications related to the Case — for example, outreach emails, follow-up messages, or check-in threads with the student.
Appointments
Appointments
The Appointments tab displays a table of related Appointments with columns for Starts at, Duration, Reviewer, Location, and Status.
Relating Appointments to a Case is helpful for tracking advising sessions, counseling meetings, or other scheduled interactions that are part of the Case work.
Documents
Documents
The Documents tab shows Documents linked to this Case. You can relate existing Documents or upload new ones.
Use this tab to centralize supporting documentation — for example, incident reports, accommodation letters, or academic plans.
2) Relating Objects Directly from Each Module
You can also relate objects to a Case from within the object's own module. When working with a Task, Conversation, Appointment, or Document, a Case field is available to associate it with one of the contact's cases.
⚠️ Important: The Case field dropdown is scoped to the associated contact's cases only, so you'll only see cases relevant to that student.
Tasks
Tasks
You can associate both internal and contact tasks with a Case.
New Task: The Case field appears on the task creation form. Use it to associate the task with one of the contact's cases.
Existing Task: The Case field also appears when editing an existing task.
Once linked, the task appears in the Tasks tab of the Case detail panel and remains fully accessible in the Tasks module. Changes made in either location are reflected in both.
🧠 Good to Know: The Tasks index table includes a Related Case column, so you can see at a glance which tasks are associated with a case without opening each one.
Conversations
Conversations
New Conversation: The Case field is available during conversation creation and from the conversation detail view. Use it to associate a conversation with one of the contact's cases — useful when an outreach thread, follow-up, or check-in is directly tied to an ongoing case.
Existing Conversation: if the contact has an active case, there will be a "Cases" section under the Related tab on the Conversation (right-hand side). Click the plus sign to relate the Case to the Conversation.
Once linked, the conversation appears in the Conversations tab of the Case detail panel and remains accessible in the Conversations module.
Appointments
Appointments
New Appointment: The Case field is available on the appointment scheduling form. Use it to associate an appointment with one of the contact's cases — helpful for tracking advising sessions, counseling meetings, or other scheduled interactions that are part of the case work.
Existing Appointment: The Case field also appears when editing an appointment.
Once linked, the appointment appears in the Appointments tab of the Case detail panel and remains accessible in the Appointments module.
🧠 Good to Know: The Appointments index table includes a Related Case column, so you can see at a glance which appointments are associated with a case without opening each one.
Documents
Documents
Documents are associated with a Case from the document detail view. To associate a document with a case:
Upload the document first (if it doesn't already exist).
Locate the document and click the More (⋮) icon, then select View.
In the document detail view, find the Case field, then search for and select the case to associate it.
Once linked, the document appears in the Documents tab of the Case detail panel and remains accessible in the Documents module.
How to Remove or Unrelate Object/Case Relationship
Unlinking an object does not delete it—it simply removes the connection to the Case. The object continues to exist in its native module. Here are the ways to unrelate:
From the Case: Use the action menu (⋮) on the related object's row within the Case detail panel.
From the Object's Module: When viewing or editing a Task, Conversation, Appointment, or Document, clear the Case field to unlink it from the associated case. For help navigating to the Case field, see the above Relating Objects from the Objects