> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.filed.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.filed.com/reference/products/binder/annotating-and-reviewing.md).

# Annotating and reviewing

## The annotation toolbar

The annotation toolbar appears above the center document viewer when a subdocument is open on the Docs tab. It is available on the web app and is not shown when the missing-documents checklist or observations panel is the active center view.

The toolbar contains two groups of tools. Primary tools are always visible:

| Tool             | Shortcut | Purpose                                                             |
| ---------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Select           | V        | Select, move, and edit existing annotations                         |
| Pan              | H        | Drag to pan around the page without placing annotations             |
| Note             | N        | Drop a timestamped, attributed note on a specific location          |
| Check (Tickmark) | C        | Place a checkmark to mark a location as reviewed                    |
| Flag             | F        | Mark a spot that needs attention, with an optional explanatory note |
| Highlight        | G        | Highlight a region of text or an area on the page                   |

Secondary tools appear in the overflow area on smaller screens or via the expanded toolbar:

| Tool            | Shortcut | Purpose                                                                   |
| --------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Textbox         | T        | Add free-form text directly onto the document surface                     |
| Stamps          | S        | Apply a pre-set stamp label to the document                               |
| Cross-Reference | X        | Link a figure on this document to its matching figure on another document |
| Calculator      | K        | Open a tape calculator in the right panel and save the result as a mark   |
| Eraser          | E        | Remove existing annotations                                               |

## Notes

A note is a timestamped, attributed mark dropped on a specific location on the document page. Notes are attributed to the team member who placed them and appear in the Notes & flags feed. Any note can grow into a conversation thread when teammates reply to it.

**Walkthrough: add a note**

1. Click the **Note** tool (N) in the toolbar, then click the spot on the document where the note belongs. A note marker is placed and a composer opens in the right panel.

![A note marker on the document with the note composer open](https://storage.googleapis.com/filed-prod-public-assets/walkthroughs/binder-note/image1.webp)

2. Type your note and click **Save**. The note appears in the Notes & flags feed, attributed to you with a timestamp, and a **Reply…** box lets you (or a teammate) open it into a thread.

![The saved note in the feed with a reply box to start a thread](https://storage.googleapis.com/filed-prod-public-assets/walkthroughs/binder-note/image2.webp)

## Tickmarks

The Check tool places a tickmark on the document to indicate that a specific location has been reviewed. A tickmark is a lightweight confirmation mark, not a formal sign-off. It signals to the team that the annotating reviewer has looked at a particular item. Tickmarks appear in the Notes & flags feed and can be filtered there.

## Flags

A flag marks a location that needs attention. It can carry an optional explanatory note. Open flags are visible in the Notes & flags feed and serve as a checklist of items still requiring resolution. Filed AI can also place flags automatically from the AI alerts panel.

Sign-offs and flags are independent signals: signing off a document does not automatically clear flags. A reviewer can sign off while leaving flags open for someone else to act on.

**Walkthrough: place a flag**

1. Click the **Flag** tool (F) in the toolbar, then click the spot on the document that needs attention. A red flag marker is placed and a note composer opens.
2. Type an optional explanatory note and click **Save**. The open flag appears in the Notes & flags feed and a flag indicator shows on the document in the Docs tree.

![A red flag placed on the document with its note shown in the feed](https://storage.googleapis.com/filed-prod-public-assets/walkthroughs/binder-flag/image1.webp)

## Highlights

The Highlight tool marks a region of text or an area on the page. It is useful for drawing attention to specific figures or passages without adding a full note or flag. Highlights appear in the Notes & flags feed and can be filtered there.

## Textboxes

The Textbox tool adds free-form text directly onto the document surface. Text placed with this tool appears as an overlay on the document and travels with the document in the downloaded PDF workpaper. Textboxes are distinct from notes: they sit on the document visually rather than appearing as a pin-style marker.

## Stamps

Stamps apply a pre-set label to the document. Six stamp types are available: Reviewed, Approved, Rejected, Draft, Copy, and Confidential. Stamps appear as visual overlays on the document and are included in the downloaded PDF workpaper.

**Walkthrough: apply a stamp**

1. Click the **Stamps** tool (S) in the toolbar to open the stamp palette, which offers Reviewed, Approved, Rejected, Draft, Copy, and Confidential.

![The Stamps palette with the six stamp types](https://storage.googleapis.com/filed-prod-public-assets/walkthroughs/binder-stamps/image1.webp)

2. Select a stamp type, then click the spot on the document where it should go. The stamp appears as a visual overlay on the page and is included when the Binder is downloaded as a PDF workpaper.

![A "Reviewed" stamp placed on the document](https://storage.googleapis.com/filed-prod-public-assets/walkthroughs/binder-stamps/image2.webp)

## Cross-references (tie-outs)

A cross-reference links a figure on one subdocument to its matching figure on another, creating the digital equivalent of a pencil tie-out line. Two linked anchor marks are created: one on each document. Clicking either anchor jumps directly to the paired document and page.

Cross-references connect marks across two different subdocuments. The two halves of a cross-reference remain linked; removing one removes both.

**Walkthrough: link a cross-reference (tie-out)**

The Cross-Reference tool lives in the **More tools** overflow (the **⋯** at the end of the toolbar), alongside Textbox, Calculator, and Eraser.

![The More tools overflow showing the Cross-Reference tool](https://storage.googleapis.com/filed-prod-public-assets/walkthroughs/binder-cross-reference/image1.webp)

1. Open Document A, activate the **Cross-Reference** tool (X), and click the source figure. Name the reference and save. An anchor mark is placed on Document A.
2. Open Document B, activate the **Cross-Reference** tool again, click the matching figure, and link it to the existing reference. A paired anchor is placed on Document B.
3. The two anchors are now linked: clicking either anchor jumps directly to the paired document and page. Removing one anchor removes both.

## Editing and removing annotations

The Select tool (V) allows existing annotations to be moved or edited in place. Clicking an annotation with the Select tool opens its edit state.

The Eraser tool (E) removes an annotation permanently. Removing an annotation that has a comment thread attached also removes the thread.

**Walkthrough: edit and remove annotations**

1. Click the **Select** tool (V), then click an existing annotation to select it. You can drag it to reposition it, or open its edit state to change the text.
2. To remove an annotation, open **More tools** (the **⋯** at the end of the toolbar) and choose the **Eraser** (E), then click the mark you want to delete. The annotation is removed from the document and disappears from the Notes & flags feed (removing an annotation that has a thread also removes the thread).

![A flag removed with the Eraser — the marker is gone from the document and the feed](https://storage.googleapis.com/filed-prod-public-assets/walkthroughs/binder-select-eraser/image1.webp)

## The tape calculator

The Calculator tool (K) opens a tape calculator in the right panel. Entries can be labeled and the result is saved as an annotation mark on the document. The saved mark stores the expression, individual labeled entries, and the result. Calculator marks appear in the Notes & flags feed and travel with the document in the PDF workpaper.

## Annotations in the PDF workpaper

When the Binder is downloaded as a PDF workpaper, all annotations are embedded in the output. Notes, flags, highlights, textboxes, stamps, and cross-reference anchors all appear in the PDF at their placed positions. Output-category documents are excluded from the PDF workpaper automatically.

## Acting on Filed AI observations

Filed AI observations are flags and notes surfaced automatically during document processing. They appear both in a dedicated panel (accessed via the observations row at the top of the document tree) and as anchored marks on the document pages they reference.

The observations panel displays a count of active observations broken down by flags and notes. Each observation can be dismissed once reviewed. A dismissed observation appears struck through in the list and its document anchor is removed from the page. Dismissed observations can be restored.

From any observation, a human flag can be added to the same document location. This is useful when the AI has surfaced something worth tracking formally in the team's review workflow.

**Walkthrough: act on AI observations**

1. Click **Observations** at the top of the document tree to open the consolidated observations panel. Each observation shows the document it came from, the AI's finding, and actions: **View in source doc**, **Dismiss**, and **Comment**. The note icon on an observation lets you add a human flag at the same document location.

![The observations panel listing active AI observations with their document anchors](https://storage.googleapis.com/filed-prod-public-assets/walkthroughs/binder-observations/image1.webp)

2. Click **Dismiss** on an observation once you have reviewed it. It appears struck through with a "Dismissed by …" line and its document anchor is removed. A **Restore** button lets you bring it back.

![A dismissed observation shown struck through, with a Restore button](https://storage.googleapis.com/filed-prod-public-assets/walkthroughs/binder-observations/image2.webp)


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