Build evidence requirements in standards
Standards authors define what evidence a site must link to each requirement by adding open slots, specific slots, or alternative groups in the draft requirement editor. Open the Evidence section on a draft requirement to start the evidence builder.
Before you start
You need edit access to the standard definition. Open the standard definition from the Standards Library and choose the draft requirement you want to configure.
Add an open slot
An open slot lets the site choose the evidence type when it links evidence. You can suggest which types appear at the top of the picker, or restrict the picker to a fixed list.
In the draft requirement editor, go to the Evidence section and click Add.
Choose Open Slot.
Enter a Label that tells the site what kind of evidence to link.
Choose the slot interval: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, or 1 Year.
Under Recommended Types, select the evidence types you want to appear at the top of the site add-evidence picker. Sites may still link other entitled types unless you restrict them.
Toggle Restrict Allowed Types if you want the site to only link the types you select. When enabled, pick the allowed types below.
Save the requirement.
Add a specific slot
A specific slot fixes the evidence type so the site only links that type. Use this when the requirement always needs the same kind of evidence.
In the draft requirement editor, go to the Evidence section and click Add.
Choose Specific Slot.
Pick the Evidence Type from the list.
Enter a Label and choose the slot interval.
Save the requirement.
Add an alternative group
An alternative group gives the site two or more typed options and requires a minimum number of them to be linked. This is useful when the requirement can be met by linking one of several evidence types.
In the draft requirement editor, go to the Evidence section and click Add.
Choose Alternative Group.
Enter a Label for the group.
Choose the interval for the group.
Click Add Alternative to add a typed option. Pick the Evidence Type and enter a label.
Repeat to add at least one more alternative. A group must contain at least two options.
Set the Minimum required alternatives to the number of options the site must link. The minimum cannot exceed the number of options in the group. The default is 1.
Save the requirement.
When a site opens the requirement, it sees each alternative as a separate slot to link. The requirement is satisfied when the minimum number of alternatives are linked.
Manage evidence slots
To change a slot or group, open the requirement editor and go to the Evidence section. Click the slot or group you want to edit and update the fields.
To remove a slot, click Remove evidence slot. To remove a group, click Remove alternative group. Deleting a group removes all its alternatives.
A requirement may define at most 20 evidence slots. Open slots cannot be added to an alternative group.
What sites see when linking evidence
After a site adopts the standard, the requirement shows the evidence slots you defined. The site adds evidence by clicking Add Evidence on each slot.
For open slots, the site add-evidence picker shows your recommended types first. If you enabled Restrict Allowed Types, the site only sees the types you selected. The picker groups options into Operational Links, Site Evidence, and Recommended where applicable.
For specific slots and alternative groups, the site sees the fixed evidence type and links the matching record directly.
For more about how sites link evidence after adoption, see Link Evidence to a Standard.
Evidence slots are part of the standard definition. Sites can only link evidence; they cannot change the slot structure. To update the structure, edit the draft requirement in the Standards Library and publish the change.
Related articles
Authoring Standard Definitions — creating and editing standards from scratch.
Configure Standard Requirements — setting evidence, roles, and attestation on requirements.
Set up roles and attestation for a draft requirement — assigning roles and review intervals.