---
title: "Starting Marlin | Marlin Getting Started"
slug: "starting-marlin"
description: "Learn how to Get Started with Marlin Tyre and Mechanical Workshop Software by Megabus."
updated: 2025-02-24T03:37:55Z
published: 2025-02-24T03:37:55Z
canonical: "help.megabus.com.au/starting-marlin"
---
> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.megabus.com.au/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Starting Marlin
**{{variable.Marlin}}** allows flexible and secure access to help effectively manage mechanical workshops.
Marlin uses a two-step login process, allowing different levels of access across different company and branch configurations.
[Users](/v1/docs/users) can be granted different levels of access and permissions, suitable for their specific needs.
Marlin can also be set up to work in a variety of countries, using different languages.
## Opening Marlin
A Windows desktop shortcut icon will usually be created when Marlin is installed.
To begin using Marlin, double-click on the desktop shortcut or open the program from the Windows Start menu or Applications folder.
:::(Warning) (Tip)
If there is no Marlin desktop shortcut, one can be created by menu and dragging the application icon from the Windows Start menu or Applications folder onto the desktop.
:::
The **Starting Marlin** pop-up window will open, showing the status of its network connection.
Once connected to the appropriate database, the **Marlin Login** window will open, which can be used to start and manage sessions for different users and branches.
## Logging into Marlin
Once Marlin has connected to the appropriate database, the **Marlin Login** window will open.
In the **Username** textbox, enter a valid username.
In the **Password** textbox, enter the password associated with the username.
:::(Warning) (Warning)
User accounts will be [locked out of Marlin](/workshop/docs/users#locked-user-accounts) after too many failed attempts and need to have their account [unlocked](/workshop/docs/users#unlocking-user-accounts) by another user with appropriate permissions
:::
:::(Info) (Note)
[User passwords](/v1/docs/users#resetting-user-passwords) can also be reset by another user with appropriate permissions, by going into a User's profile and manually editing their password or ticking the Reset checkbox.
:::
Once a valid Username and Password have been entered, click on the **Login** button to the bottom right of the Password textbox (or press **Enter** on the keyboard).
The **Language** and **Branch** drop-down menus and the Session buttons below will now be activated.
Use the **Language** menu to select the language to use for the session.
:::(Info) (Note)
The language selected in the Login window does not affect the language used for documents and reports generated during the session, which can only be changed using the **DefaultLanguage** [enterprise setting](/workshop/docs/enterprise-settings).
:::
Use the drop-down **Branch** menu to select which branch to log into.
Marlin will remember users' language and branch choices for future logins.
To log into the selected branch, click on the **Start Session** button at the bottom of the login window.
The session will begin and Marlin will open on the **Navigator** window.
## Logging Out of Marlin
To log out of an active Marlin session, select **Daily Activity > Logout** from the menu bar.
The **Marlin Login** pop-up window will open.
To end the Session while keeping the user logged into Marlin, click on the **End Session** button, below the drop-down Branch menu.
:::(Warning) (Tip)
Ending sessions while keeping users logged into Marlin is useful for switching between different branches.
:::
To end the session and also log the user out of Marlin, click the **Logout** button below the Password textbox.
Alternatively, to cancel the logout and continue the session, click the **Cancel** button at the bottom right of the Login window.
To log out and close Marlin completely, click on the **X** button at the top right of the application window.
## Switching Branches
Users can end one session and begin another one for a different branch without having to logout of Marlin entirely.
To log into a different branch, first end the current session by selecting **Daily Activity > Logout** from the menu bar.
The **Marlin Login** pop-up window will open.
To end the session while keeping the user logged into Marlin, click on the **End Session** button, below the drop-down Branch menu.
Once the session is ended, use the drop-down **Branch** menu to select a different branch to log into.
To log into the selected branch, click on the **Start Session** button at the bottom of the login window.
The session will begin and Marlin will open on the **Navigator** page.
## Managing Marlin Sessions
For users with Session Administration and View Sessions [permissions](/v1/docs/users#user-permissions) enabled, an additional **Manage Sessions** button will appear at the bottom right of the Marlin Login window.
Clicking the Manage Sessions button will open the **Sessions** pop-up window on the Search page, showing a list of active sessions.
To view additional details about a session, open it from the Search list.
The session window will open on the **Details** tab will open, showing general information about the session, as well as a list of its record locks and open modules.
:::(Info) (Note)
The Sessions window is also accessible to permitted users from within Marlin, by selecting **Tools > Sessions** from the menu bar.
:::
### Unlocking Records
#### Sessions > Details
Records being edited are usually locked and cannot be edited by other users.
Unlocking records allows them to be edited by other users until they are saved.
To unlock a record, click on the **Unlock** button in the Unlock column of the relevant record in the session's Record Locks list.
### Ending Sessions
#### Sessions > Details
To end a user's session, first open it from the Sessions Search list.
To the top right of the Details list, click on the **End Session** action button.
The user's Session will end and they will be returned to the Marlin Login window.