With the Submittals tool, you’re able to review and markup PDFs directly in PlanGrid. The markups functionality allows you to add text, annotations, or stamps, along with transmittal sheets and cover pages. You can also delete and rearrange pages within a PDF document. All of this allows you to create a complete submittal package with all of the relevant information directly within PlanGrid.
How to access the markups tool
How to access the markups tool
To access the markups tools, navigate to the package detail page and select the package with attached PDFs that you’d like to annotate. Under the “Files” section of the package detail page, you’ll see two icons—one to enter the markups tool and one to download the package. Click on the left icon to enter the markups tool.
Any PlanGrid user with access to the package can access the markups tool. If the user is an admin or Submittals Manager for the package, they will have full access to markups. If the user is a Collaborator or Power Collaborator, they will have edit access only when the ball is in their court; otherwise, they have only view access.
Combine and markup
When a submitter or manager creates a package with multiple PDF files, there’s an option to “Combine & markup” the document. This button takes all of the PDF files and combines them into one. The order of the new PDF document will reflect the order of the PDF documents in the package.
Using the markups tool
The markups tool allows you to see one PDF page at a time. You’re able to zoom in and out using the plus and minus signs or by scrolling in and out with your mouse. On the left-hand side of the page, there is a file preview of all of the pages in the package. Scroll up and down to select any page within the document. You’re also able to navigate using the paging tool in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
View Only
When in view-only mode you’re able to see all pages of the PDF document and download it but aren’t able to make changes.
Toolbar
The markups toolbar appears on the right side of the screen in the markups view. You have the following markup options:
- Select: Grab a single annotation and move it around the page
- Multi-select: Strikethrough to select multiple markups
- Cloud: Create a cloud-shaped markup
- Arrow: Create an arrow markup
- Pen: Markup using a free-form line
- Highlight: Markup using a free-form highlighter
- Text: Create a text box markups
- Shapes: Add circles, squares, lines, or ‘X’ shapes
- Callout: Create a callout shape that combines a box for text with an arrow—frequently used to point out changes or important information
- Stamp: Upload a picture of a stamp that can be dragged and dropped into the submittal document (more information on stamps below)
- Default color: Select the color to use for markups
After you create a markup, a detail drawer will appear on the right-hand side of the screen. Here you can select the color, opacity, line weight, line style, and shape fill for individual markups. When you add a markup and adjust these characteristics, PlanGrid remembers your choices for when you create similar markups later on.
You can delete an annotation by selecting the trash can icon in the upper right-hand corner of the detail drawer.
Bookmarks
If your submittal PDFs are extremely long, it can be difficult to find exactly what you’re looking for. With Bookmarks, you can quickly navigate through large submittal PDF documents. PlanGrid brings in bookmarks created in other markups software and also automatically creates bookmarks when combining multiple PDFs.
Using Bookmarks
Access bookmarks by toggling between thee page view and bookmark view on the left-hand side of the viewer. Any pre-existing bookmarks will be listed in the viewer.
To add a new bookmark, navigate to the page that you want to bookmark. Then select the “add bookmarks” button and give your bookmark a name. Press enter to create the bookmark.
To create a child bookmark, select a parent bookmark, navigate to the page you’d like to bookmark, and then click the child bookmark icon and give the bookmark a name.
To navigate using bookmarks, open the bookmarks view and click on any bookmark. You’ll be taken to the bookmarked page in the PDF document.
Stamps
To create a stamp, first click on the “Stamp” icon in the toolbar and then select “Add a new stamp.” From here, you can choose to upload a stamp image or create a new stamp. Uploaded stamps can be in any picture file format (such as .JPEG or .PNG).
To make a new smart stamp, select “Create a stamp” and click “Next.” Add a stamp name, choose whether to include your company name and logo, and select a color. You can also add any legal disclosures that are necessary. Finally, click “Create Stamp.”
Shortcuts
You’re able to use the following shortcuts in the markups tool:
- Delete (Delete button)
- Copy (Mac: Command + C, Windows: Cntrl + C)
- Paste (Mac: Command + V, Windows: Cntrl + V)
Page management
Add transmittals or cover pages
You can add pages within the markups tool by selecting the add page icon in the upper left-hand corner:
Here, choose whether to add the PlanGrid transmittal sheet or import a custom transmittal sheet created outside of PlanGrid. When you add a transmittal, the PDF will appear at the beginning of the package.
Reorder pages
Reorder pages within the markups tool by selecting a single or multiple pages and then clicking the reorder icon in the upper left-hand corner:
After you click the icon, you can choose how you’d like to reorder your selected pages—move them to the top of the document (the beginning), to the bottom of the document (the end), or put them before or after a specific page.
Delete page(s)
If you need to delete a page from your PDF, you can do that within the markups tool. Select the page or pages you’d like to remove and then click the delete icon on the upper left-hand corner of the screen:
After you click the delete icon, you’ll be asked to confirm the deletion.
Saving the document
When you’ve made all of the changes you want on your PDF, click on the save button on the upper right-hand corner of the screen. This brings up a dialog allowing you to rename the document.
Once you click “Save & exit” your PDF is saved and your changes are registered in the package’s History log. Your markups will be flattened in the document so that they can’t be edited later on by anyone else.