> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.pears.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://support.pears.io/engage/community-relationships/create-an-interaction.md).

# Create an Interaction

Learn how to log an interaction with one or more contacts in PEARS.

An interaction records a communication event with one or more contacts in the Community Relationships module. Use interactions to track meetings, phone calls, emails, and other engagements with the people in your contact database.

Interactions are logged straight from the Community Relationships list — you no longer have to open a contact first.

{% hint style="info" %}
**TIP:** The red asterisk **\*** next to the heading of a field indicates that the field is required.
{% endhint %}

## Open the Interaction Form

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### Navigate to CRM

From the PEARS homepage, hover over the **Engage** menu and click **Community Relationships (CRM)**.
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{% step %}

#### Click Add Interaction

Click the **Add Interaction** button. The interaction form opens with no contacts pre-selected.

{% hint style="info" %}
**TIP:** Two shortcuts pre-fill the contacts for you. Select rows in the list and the button reads **Add Interaction (2)** — those contacts are filled in. Or open a contact and click **Add interaction** on its record.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Interaction Details

The left side of the form describes what happened.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### Select an Interaction Type **\***

Choose the **Interaction type**. Alongside the standard types, the list includes:

* **Other, please specify** — Reveals a field for a custom communication method description.
* **Roster Attendance** — Reveals a **Roster Attendance Upload** field for attendance files.
* **Internal use only** — Documents notes without counting them as an interaction. Internal notes are excluded from Direct Contact demographics when using auto-calculate.
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Select Who Was Involved **\***

In the **Who was involved?** field, search for and select one or more contacts. At least one is required.

{% hint style="info" %}
**TIP:** The search matches on name and email address. Any contact in your organization can be selected, including ones whose details you cannot see — see [Contact Permissions](/engage/community-relationships/contact-permissions.md).
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Enter Notes **\***

Enter the interaction notes.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Select a Unit **\***

In the **Unit** field, select the unit this interaction belongs to. This defaults to your unit.
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{% step %}

#### Set the Date **\***

In the **Date** field, select the date the interaction took place. This defaults to today.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Enter a Time (optional)

In the **Time** field, enter the time of day the interaction took place.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**NOTE:** Date and time are now separate fields. The date is required; the time is optional, so an interaction you only know the day of no longer needs an invented time.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Enter a Duration (optional)

In the **Duration (minutes)** field, enter how long the interaction lasted.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Set Who Can View the Interaction

Under **Who can view this interaction?**, choose the audience for the notes:

| Option              | Who can view the notes                                 |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| **My organization** | Anyone in your organization.                           |
| **Unit**            | Anyone in the interaction's unit. This is the default. |
| **Private**         | Only the interaction's creator and Data Managers.      |

{% hint style="warning" %}
**NOTE:** This setting controls **viewing** only. Editing an interaction stays limited to its creator, users with edit access, and Data Managers, whichever option you choose.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Attribution

The right side of the form attributes the interaction to the rest of your work. Each field narrows the one below it.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### Select a Site (optional)

In the **Site** field, select where the interaction took place.

{% hint style="info" %}
**TIP:** Site appears only for interaction types where a location makes sense. It is hidden for phone and email interactions.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Select Program Areas (optional)

Select one or more **Program areas** for this interaction. This field appears only if your organization uses program areas.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Confirm the Partners (optional)

The **Partners** checkboxes are built from the partners linked to the contacts you selected, and all of them start checked.

Uncheck any partner this interaction should not be attributed to. You cannot add a partner that none of the selected contacts is linked to — link it on the contact first. See [Add a Contact](/engage/community-relationships/add-a-contact.md).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Select Action Plans (optional)

The **Action plans** options are built from the partners you have checked. Select the plans this interaction contributed to.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**NOTE:** Changing the contacts recalculates the available partners, and changing the partners recalculates the available action plans — dropping any selection that is no longer valid. Set the contacts first, then work down.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Add Uploads and Save

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### Add Uploads (optional)

Attach any documents or files related to this interaction.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Save the Interaction

Click **Save interaction**. The interaction appears on each contact involved, and on any partner it was attributed to.

To log another straight away, click **Save & add another** instead.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Draft an Interaction with AI

If your organization has AI Entry enabled, you can describe the interaction in plain language and have PEARS draft the form. Click **Start with AI** above the form. See [AI Entry](/engage/community-relationships/ai-entry.md).

## Related Documentation

* [Contact Permissions](/engage/community-relationships/contact-permissions.md) — Who can see a contact and its interactions.
* [Auto Calculate Direct Contact Demographics](/engage/direct-contacts/auto-calculate-demographics.md) — Use CRM interactions to populate Direct Contacts.
* [Edit a CRM Contact Interaction](/engage/community-relationships/edit-an-interaction.md) — Change an interaction after saving.