Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

A collection of common questions and quick answers about the Carta platform, including user access, Collections, and Form Builder.

Accounts & Access

Can I log in using my organization’s SSO?

Yes! If your organization has enabled SSO integration, you can log in through portal.contextualize.us.com to begin.
See: Login with SSO

I logged in with SSO but don’t see any apps. What should I do?

Logging in with SSO is the first step. After you sign in for the first time, your system administrator needs to add you to your organization’s groups to grant access to Collections, Form Builder, or other tools.

Contact your project admin to request the correct permissions.

See: Grant Permissions Using Admin Tools

How do I request a Carta account?

Contact your project administrator or email customer.service@contextualize.us.com.
See: Requesting a Carta Account

Most Carta products are compatible with your SSO, however, some third party applications will not be and you may need a Carta account to access these. We are working on an application template so anyone who creates a model, application, code, etc. can be authenticated via SSO!

I didn’t get my welcome email. What should I do?

Check your spam or junk folder. If it's not there, ask your administrator to resend the invite.

Collections

How do I start a new form?

From the Project Home Page, click Start New, select your form, fill it out, and click Submit.
See: Collections Walkthrough

Can I edit a submitted form?

Yes! Navigate to the form in the project hierarchy, open it, make your changes, and click Submit again. Everything is version controlled and can be reverted to a previous issue, if needed.

Am I giving my data to Contextualize?

No! Carta does not store your data: your organization does. One of Contextualize's core principles is that you own your data. Carta simply provides the tools to help you structure, access, and use that data more effectively.

If data is the new currency, you shouldn’t have to give it away just to make it usable.

Where is my data stored?

All submitted forms and files are saved to a structured backend managed by your organization’s Carta instance. This typically maps to project-specific storage defined by your admin.

What if I don't see a field I need to capture in a form?

Forms can be edited with Form Builder. See: Form Builder Walkthrough

Form Builder

Who can create or edit forms?

Users who can successfully login to Form Builder can create forms. If you attempt to login and see a permissions error, contact your project administrator about granting you access.

How do I include units in my forms?

You have a few different options to include units. See How to Handle Units in Forms

Admin Tools

I don’t see the 'create user' option. What’s wrong?

You may not have the "User" tab on the lefthand side of the screen selected.

How do i know if i am an admin and can create users or grant permissions?

At this time we do not have an option to view your level of permissions in Admin Tools, however, you can try to grant permissions or create a user and you will get an error if you do not have the proper permissions.

Linking Forms & Parent-Child Relationships

How do I fill out a form for a single process that produces multiple artifacts?

Use two forms! Collections uses a Parent–Child relationship to link steps within a workflow, included whenever a single process produces multiple related parts, samples, or datasets.
Examples:

One build plate with many printed parts
A melt run with multiple chambers
A test batch machined into multiple coupons

See Link Properties for Multi-Part Processes for more details.

Can I just put all the parts in one big form instead?

You shouldn’t. Putting multiple parts or samples in one giant form makes it harder to:

Track and update individual parts
Reuse part data in future processes
Build a clean traceable knowledge graph

Linked forms keep each part separate but connected — which preserves traceability and supports automation.

Do I have to submit the parent form first?

While you can edit a form later to add the parent, if you create the parent form first, then you can use table view to make sure all samples point back to the same parent, saving you time.

Troubleshooting

Why can’t I submit my form?

Make sure:

All required fields are filled
There are no validation errors

If the issues continue, please submit a Bug Report through the "Report a Bug" button at the bottom of the page or under the "help" page.

I logged in successfully, but I don’t see anything. What now?

You don't have any assigned permissions. Contact your project admin to request the correct permissions.