User manual

📘 User Manual – Help-Me-Help (HmH)

Overview

Help-Me-Help is a desktop application that allows users to safely donate to verified charitable organizations.
The system retrieves trusted data from Innsamlingskontrollen to ensure transparency.

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Getting Started

Launching the Application

Run the following command:

mvn javafx:run

You will be presented with the Login Page.

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Creating an Account

1. Click Sign Up
2. Enter the following information:
   • First Name – Your first name
   • Last Name – Your last name
   • Email – A valid email address (used for login)
   • Password – A secure password (minimum 8 characters recommended)
3. Review and accept the Privacy Policy
4. Click Create Account

Your account will be created instantly and You will be navigated to the home page

Note: Data is stored locally on your computer.

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Logging In

1. Enter your email address (the email used during signup)
2. Enter your password
3. Click Login

If the credentials are correct, you will be taken to the Home Page.

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Browsing Organizations

On the Causes Page, you can:

• Browse all available organizations that Innsamlingskontrollen verifies ✓
• Search for specific organizations by name
• View organization:
  • Name
  • Logo (may take a few seconds to load)
  • Approval status

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Viewing Organization Details

Click on any organization card to see:

• Full description of their mission and activities
• Organization logo (high-resolution)
• Donation button

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Making a Donation

1. Select an organization from the Causes Page
2. Click Donate
3. Enter the donation amount (must be a positive number)
4. Select a payment method (if applicable)
5. Review your donation details
6. Click Confirm Donation

You will receive a confirmation message with your donation details.

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Viewing Donation History

1. Click your Profile in the navigation menu
2. View your complete donation history, including:
   • Date of donation
   • Organization name
   • Donation amount
   • Payment method used

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Navigation

The application includes the following pages accessible via the header menu:

• Home – Dashboard with quick access
• Causes – Browse and filter organizations
• Organization Details – Full information for a selected organization
• Profile – Your account settings and donation history
• About Us – Information about the Help-Me-Help project

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Error Handling

The application will display error messages if something goes wrong:

Error	Solution
Invalid email or password	Check your email and password are correct
All fields are required	Make sure all form fields are filled out
Email may already be in use	Use a different email address for signup
Invalid donation amount	Enter a positive number (e.g., 100, not -100)
Logo failed to load	Try refreshing; the source may be temporarily unavailable

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Logging Out

To log out:

1. Click the Profile icon or menu in the header
2. Select Logout

You will be returned to the login screen.

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Tips for Users

• Prefer donating to approved organizations for verified legitimacy
• Approved organizations have been verified by Innsamlingskontrollen
• Double-check donation amounts before confirming
• Use a strong password to protect your account
• Logos and descriptions are fetched from organization websites and may take a few seconds to load
• All data is stored locally on your computer – no cloud backup is performed

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FAQ

Q: Is my data safe?
A: Yes. Your data is stored locally on your computer using H2 database encryption.

Q: Can I edit my donation history?
A: No. Donation records are permanent for audit purposes.

Q: What does "approved" mean?
A: Approved organizations have been verified by Innsamlingskontrollen and are confirmed to be legitimate.

Q: Can I donate without creating an account?
A: No. You must create an account to track donations and manage preferences.

Q: What if a logo doesn't load?
A: The organization's website may be temporarily unavailable. Try again later, or proceed without the logo.