Review & Redact PII from Plans

Overview

After uploading a plan PDF to the marketplace, you're automatically redirected to the Review page where you can manually redact any personally identifiable information (PII) before publishing. Use the white pen tool to draw over names, addresses, phone numbers, or any other sensitive details. If the plan looks good as-is, click "Looks Good" to skip redaction and return to your plans list.

How It Works

Automatic Redirect After Upload

1. Upload a plan PDF to the marketplace
2. You're automatically redirected to the Review page
3. The PDF viewer opens with your plan loaded page-by-page at high resolution (1400px)

Reviewing Pages

• Use arrow buttons or swipe to navigate between pages
• Zoom and pan to examine details
• Look for PII - owner names, property addresses, phone numbers, builder info
• Click "Looks Good" if no redaction needed - returns to plans list
• Use the white pen to cover any sensitive information you find

Using the White Pen Tool

Drawing on the PDF

1. Click and drag on the PDF to draw white strokes
2. Coverage is smooth - strokes are rendered as overlapping circles with rectangles between points
3. Adjust pen size using the slider (percentage of page width)
4. Click "Undo" to remove the last stroke if you make a mistake
5. Draw as many strokes as needed across any pages

Pen Controls

• Brush size slider - Adjust stroke width (default: 3% of page width)
• Undo button - Remove the most recent stroke
• Page navigation - Move between pages to redact across the entire PDF

Saving Your Redactions

When You're Done

1. Review all pages to ensure you've covered everything
2. Click "Save & Finish" to apply your redactions
3. BlueClerk processes the PDF:
   • White strokes are permanently drawn onto the PDF using pdf-lib
   • Original file is replaced with the redacted version
   • You're redirected back to your plans list
4. Your plan is ready to price and publish to the marketplace

If No Changes Needed

• Click "Looks Good" at any time to skip redaction
• You're returned to your plans list immediately
• No changes are made to the original PDF

What Gets Redacted

The white pen tool permanently covers information by drawing white shapes directly onto the PDF. Common items to redact:

• Owner names - Homeowner or client names on title blocks
• Property addresses - Street addresses of built homes
• Phone numbers - Builder or owner contact info
• Builder company details - Your company name if you want to stay anonymous
• Email addresses - Any contact information
• Custom notes - Any handwritten or typed notes with identifying info

Tips

• High resolution rendering - Plans render at 1400px width for clear detail
• Review every page - PII can appear on any page, not just the first
• Larger brush for headers - Use a wider stroke for covering title blocks
• Smaller brush for inline text - Use a narrow stroke for covering specific words
• Zoom in to verify - Check that your strokes completely cover the text
• Can't undo after saving - Make sure you're done before clicking "Save & Finish"

Questions

Q: What if I accidentally redact something I shouldn't have?
A: Click "Undo" before saving to remove the last stroke. Once you click "Save & Finish", changes are permanent and can't be undone.

Q: Can I redact plans after publishing?
A: No - redaction must be done before publishing. If you need to fix a published plan, unpublish it, re-upload a clean version, and redact again.

Q: What happens to the original PDF?
A: When you click "Save & Finish", your redactions are drawn permanently onto the PDF and the original is replaced. The white pen strokes become part of the PDF itself.

Q: Do I have to redact every plan?
A: No - if your plan doesn't contain any PII, click "Looks Good" to skip redaction. You're redirected back to your plans list immediately.

Q: How big should my brush strokes be?
A: Adjust the slider based on what you're covering. Title blocks and headers need wider strokes (5-10%), while inline text needs narrower strokes (2-4%). The size is a percentage of the page width.