RFIs, submittals & drawings

Run the information flow with the architect — questions, shop drawings, and live plan markup.

Create an RFI

Open a request for information when you or a sub needs a decision from the architect.

  1. Open RFIsProject sidebar → RFIs. Summary cards show open, overdue, and urgent counts; the list below is every RFI in the project.
  2. Click New RFIFill in subject, the question, due date, priority, the right person to answer, and any links to a drawing or commitment.
  3. Write a specific questionInclude the drawing number, the detail or section, and exactly what decision you need. The architect’s answer is only as good as your question.
  4. Link the impactIf a late answer blocks schedule, link the affected schedule task — a chip appears on the Gantt so the team sees what is putting pressure on the date.
  5. Send to the architectThe architect gets an email with a one-click reply link. As soon as they answer, the RFI flips to Answered and a notification lands in your bell.
RFI list with open, overdue, and urgent summary cards
The RFI log with status at a glance.

Create a submittal

Submit shop drawings, product data, or samples to the architect for review.

  1. Open SubmittalsProject sidebar → Submittals. The list groups by status — Draft, Submitted, In Review, Approved, Approved-as-Noted, Revise & Resubmit.
  2. Click New submittalPick the type (product data, shop drawing, sample, O&M, closeout) and fill in the spec section, reviewer, and due date.
  3. Attach the packageDrop in the PDF, cut sheets, or sample photos. Each revision keeps its own attachments for a clean audit trail.
  4. Link the commitmentLinking the sub’s commitment surfaces this submittal in their drawer alongside their RFIs and pay apps.
  5. Submit and track dispositionsThe architect gets the package; when they return it, a new revision appears with their stamp and notes, and you get a notification.
A submittal showing multiple revisions with dispositions
Each revision keeps its own package and disposition.

Upload a drawing set

Add a PDF set, organize by discipline and revision, and publish to the team.

  1. Open DrawingsProject sidebar → Drawings. The list shows every sheet with its number, discipline, current revision, and publish state.
  2. Click UploadDrop the multi-page PDF. FieldsDesk splits it into individual sheets — each becomes its own row — and asks for discipline and revision.
  3. Pick discipline + revisionArchitectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, civil. Revisions stamp Rev 0 on first upload, Rev 1 next, and so on.
  4. Publish to the fieldThe team gets an email and subs see the new revision on their portal. Old revisions stay in the archive, so an RFI from six months ago still shows the drawing the sub actually had at the time.
Drawings module showing a sheet list with sheet number, title, discipline, revision, set, and publish status
The drawing set organized by discipline and revision.

Mark up a drawing

Add clouds, callouts, dimensions, and area takeoffs, and pin RFIs directly on the sheet.

  1. Open a sheetOn the Drawings list, click any sheet to open it full-screen in the markup viewer with a tool palette down the left.
  2. Pick a toolCloud for revision callouts, callout boxes, text, dimension, and area/perimeter takeoff.
  3. Calibrate first for takeoffsClick Calibrate, draw along a known length (say a 10-foot wall), enter the real measurement, and every takeoff scales correctly.
  4. Pin an RFIRight-click anywhere → Pin RFI. A pin lands on the spot; clicking it opens that RFI’s drawer, so the question lives right where it is on the drawing.
  5. Markups stay tied to the revisionThey save automatically per revision. A new revision starts clean, but you can toggle on the previous revision’s markups for context.
A drawing open in the markup viewer with clouds and callouts
Real PDF canvas with cloud, callout, dimension, and takeoff tools.