Answers to some of your most commonly asked questions about using RFIs with PlanGrid.
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What can I use as a reference?
Can I cancel an RFI that I haven't made edits to?
Why can't I delete an RFI?
Can I track changes over the life of my RFI?
How can I prevent edits to my RFI?
How will I know if an RFI is assigned to me?
Do I need to pay to view or edit an RFI?
Who can view and leave comments on my RFI?
Can I assign more than one status to an RFI?
How can I show the location of my RFI on the sheet?
How can I print or email my RFI?
Can I run an RFI log or report?
What can I use as a reference?
When adding references to an RFI there are 3 options:
1. Progress photos - You can choose from any of the progress photos that currently exist within a project. To add a new photo to your project to use a reference, you can follow these instructions here.
2. Snapshots - You can add any of the snapshots that have been taken in the project and is stored in your Snapshot gallery.
3. Documents - You can choose from any of the documents currently uploaded to the project and available under the Documents icon. Documents must be already uploaded to the Documents icon to be used as a reference. If your preferred reference is not currently uploaded to your project, you can use these instructions here to upload that file to your project.
Can I cancel an RFI if I haven’t made any edits?
The RFI will be saved and assigned a number the moment that any of the fields are clicked into and saved, even if no changes were made.
If you click “Create RFI” and then decide you do not need that RFI, or a sufficient one already exists, simply back out to the main RFI page by clicking “RFI Log” or your browsers back button without making any edits and the RFI will be cancelled. If you have added information to a field but not clicked “Save”, simply click “Cancel” to erase that information.
If your RFI has been assigned a number but you do not need to use it, you can apply a custom status specifying that, such as “Void” or “Not for Use”.
Why can’t I delete an existing RFI?
In the event that two users on a project are creating RFIs at the same time, each RFI will immediately be assigned a number as soon as edits are made to the form. That way the RFI User A creates will not be overwritten by the RFI User B is creating at the same time.
The RFI numbers provide a consistent, project wide reference point, and therefore will not be changed at any point. PlanGrid provides the ability to create custom statuses, so if an RFI is no longer needed you can apply a status to specify that.
Can I track changes over the life of my RFI?
Both collaborators and admins can create RFIs, and edit unlocked RFIs created by others (for more information on locking RFIs, see “How can I prevent edits to my RFI?", below). In order to ensure accountability and track changes for each RFI, PlanGrid logs the history of each RFI. Every change made, from it’s creation, to uploading references, to editing the status or changing the due date, is tracked and visible to all users right on the RFI page.
How can I prevent edits to my RFI?
In order to prevent your team members from making unwanted or unnecessary changes to an RFI, project admins can “lock” the document to prevent tampering. Because admins and collaborators have the same rights when it comes to creating and editing RFIs, locking and unlocking allows you to secure your information and prevent any unwanted changes.
Only project admins can lock or unlock RFIs; collaborators cannot do either, even on RFIs they themselves have created.
How will I know if an RFI is assigned to me?
Users will receive an email notification anytime an RFI is assigned to them. The email will be sent from GridBot and titled "RFI #..."
Do I need to pay to view or edit an RFI?
No. RFIs are a web based feature within PlanGrid, and currently has no additional charge. However, you will need a subscription type (550, 5000 or unlimited sheets) according to the number of sheets you have in your account.
Who can view comments on my RFIs?
All users on the project team, whether collaborators or admins, will be able to view and add comments on the RFI detail screen.
Can I assign more than one status to an RFI?
You cannot assign more than one status to an RFI, but you can create a custom status to describe the current standing of the RFI. For example: “Closed but not distributed”,“Closed and distributed”, or “Closed with no cost”, “Closed with potential cost”.
How can I show the location of an RFI on my sheet?
On a sheet, you can use the hyperlinking tool to create a custom hyperlink to the RFI.
How can I print or email my RFI?
You can export RFI’s to others by clicking the "Export" in the top right corner. From here, you can download the RFI, or email it out to colleagues who don't necessarily use PlanGrid.
To download, select download from the drop down menu. Or, choose email, and then click on "PDF" under "Attached".
Can I run an RFI log or report?
Yes! To run an RFI log or report, open the RFI icon of the project at www.plangrid.com Use the filters along the top to narrow down the RFIs to be included, and then click "Reports". For detailed instructions on running RFI log reports, go here.
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