Documentation

PDF Checker User Guide

A practical guide to the application structure and review workflow. Exact screenshots and installation package details will be added as the application release process is finalized.

Documentation status: the workflow below reflects the current application structure. Screenshots and release-specific installation steps are intentionally left as placeholders until the distributable build is finalized.

Getting Started

What is PDF Checker?

PDF Checker is a Windows desktop QA/QC tool for comparing information found in engineering PDF drawings with expected data from a structured project source.

1. Documents

Load the PDF drawings to review.

2. Rules

Define what regions and values should be checked.

3. Compare

Connect reference data and review the results.

Installation

Install and launch

PDF Checker is built as a Windows WPF application. The public guide will include installer requirements and release-specific steps after the distribution package is finalized.

Pending: installer screenshots, supported Windows versions and deployment channel.

Projects

Create, save and reuse a checking setup

The application supports reusable project configuration so PDF, checker and reference settings can be restored rather than rebuilt for every session.

  1. Start a new project or load an existing project file.
  2. Add the required PDF documents.
  3. Configure checkers and reference data.
  4. Save the project configuration for reuse.

PDF Workspace

Load and review engineering drawings

The PDF workspace provides document loading, visual review and navigation. File status logic helps identify documents that are available or have changed externally.

PDF workspace screenshot

Checkers

Define the regions that need validation

Checkers represent areas of the drawing used during validation. The workspace supports creating, selecting, resizing and organizing checker regions, including tag-based organization and boundary-assisted workflows.

Checker geometry

Position and resize the region over the drawing area that contains the target information.

Tags & boundaries

Organize checker intent and use detected/available boundaries where applicable.

Excel Integration

Connect the expected project data

Select the workbook, sheet and range that contain the structured data used as the reference during validation. The application also supports choosing the reference header used to match PDF information with the expected record.

Running a Check

Prepare the project, then validate

  1. Confirm the required PDFs are available.
  2. Confirm checker configuration is ready.
  3. Confirm the Excel data source and reference mapping.
  4. Run PDF Checker.
  5. Review the generated comparison results.

Results

Focus on values that need attention

The results workflow distinguishes successful or available information from cases that require review, such as mismatched/missing values or references that cannot be resolved cleanly.

The exact wording of result states may evolve with the application UI; this guide will be updated together with each release.

Reports

Export a QA/QC record

The application includes report export to Excel so detected values, expected values and associated reference information can be captured for follow-up.

Settings

Application and project behavior

Settings related to application behavior and project configuration are documented here as they stabilize in the release build.

Troubleshooting

Common checks before reporting a problem

  • Confirm the PDF and Excel files still exist at their expected locations.
  • Reload files when an external file has changed.
  • Confirm the selected worksheet, range and reference header.
  • Confirm checker regions are inside the PDF page area.
  • Save the project before making major configuration changes.
Tip: when reporting an issue, include the application version, the step being performed and a screenshot with confidential project information removed.