# Overview Source: https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/registers/overview > What a register is, where to find it, and how to create one from a new or existing form. A register is a form whose submissions become tracked entries, such as a Conflict of Interest register, an emergency drill log, a restrictive practice log or a Continuous Improvement register. Astalty Premium - This feature is part of the Astalty Premium plan. See What Premium includes. ## Overview Every submission of the register's form becomes an entry with: | Detail | Meaning | | ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Reference** | The register's prefix, the year and a running number, e.g. `COI-2026-00001`. The number keeps counting from one year to the next rather than restarting. | | **Status** | Where the entry is up to. Each register has its own statuses. | | **Owner** | The person responsible for the entry. New entries go to the register's default owner. | | **Collaborators** | Other staff working on the entry. | | **Next Review** | When the entry is next due for review, if the register uses reviews. | Entries can also carry [Action Items](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/action-items) for the follow-up work they need. ## Where to Find It From the left-hand menu, select **Registers** (under **Library** when your menu is grouped into sections). The list shows registers you have access to, including those where you own or collaborate on an entry. Admins see a register only if they are on its access list, directly or through a group such as the Admin group. Star a register to add it to **Favourites**, pick a tag tab to narrow the list, or open **Archived** for archived registers. ![The Registers page, with the All Registers, Favourites, System, Compliance, Support Coordination and Archived tabs above the list highlighted and an arrow pointing to the star for favouriting the Conflict of Interest Register](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/registers-catalogue-guide.png) If you have access to [Incidents](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/incidents) or [Feedback & Complaints](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/feedback-and-complaints), they also show here under **System**, so you don't need to look for them separately. Star either one to add it to **Favourites**, or pick the **System** tab to see just these. Selecting one takes you straight to Incidents or Feedback & Complaints, not a register entries list, since each already has its own page. ![The Registers page with Incidents starred under Favourites, and a System registers section listing Incidents and Feedback above All Registers](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/registers-system-guide.png) Open a custom register to see its **Entries**. ## Creating a Register A register is created as a form, so only Admins can create one. Click **New Register**, or go to **Forms** and create a form, then: 1. Under **Form Usage**, select **Register**. **New Register** sets this for you. 2. Enter a **Reference Prefix**: 2 to 10 capital letters or digits, e.g. `DRILL`. Entries are numbered `DRILL-2026-00001`, `DRILL-2026-00002` and so on. Each register needs its own prefix, and `INC`, `FB` and `REF` are reserved for incidents, feedback and referrals. 3. Build the form's fields as usual. See [Create a Form](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/forms/manage-forms/create-forms). ![The Add Form drawer with Register selected under Form Usage and the Register section highlighted, with a Reference Prefix of CI](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/registers-create-form.png) The register starts with four statuses: **New**, **In Progress**, **Completed** and **Cancelled**. You are its default owner. Change these in [Register Settings](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/registers/register-settings). ## Converting an Existing Form A **General** form that is already collecting submissions can become a register without losing its history. 1. Open the form and click **Actions**, then **Convert to Register**. 2. Enter a **Reference Prefix**. 3. Under **Existing Submissions**, choose the status past submissions start in: **Completed**, **In Progress** or **New**. 4. Click **Convert to Register**. ![The Convert to Register drawer for Weekly Wellbeing Check-in, with a Reference Prefix field and a choice of status for 2 existing submissions](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/registers-convert-form.png) Astalty then opens the new register and adds an entry for each existing submission, oldest first, in the background. > **Converting can't be undone** > > A register can't be turned back into a General form. ## Things to Keep in Mind - Only **General** forms that aren't archived can be converted. Incident, Referral and Feedback forms already have their own registers. - Only Admins can convert a form. You become the register's default owner. - Converted entries keep the date of their original submission, and their reference uses that year. For example, a 2025 submission becomes `DRILL-2025-00001`. - The form keeps its fields, access and notifications. Converted entries send no notifications. - If no one has **Can Update** access yet, converting gives it to the Admin user group. See [Access](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/registers/register-settings#access). - A register can't be deleted. To retire one, archive it from its settings. See [Archiving a Register](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/registers/register-settings#archiving-a-register). ## Video Walkthrough Video walkthrough: Custom Registers overview walkthrough.