Use the redaction tools

Use the Redaction Tool to remove confidential or supplier-related information from your documents before sharing them. This ensures that sensitive data stays protected while sharing technical files with customers or business partners.

Feature access

This feature is available to all ProductIP users and all plans.

Before you begin

• Upload your documents to a technical file.
• Get familiar with the ProductIP document viewer.
• Link the documents to the requirements before you start redacting. The links to requirements will then be copied to your redacted documents.

Steps

1. Open a technical file.

2. Go to the Documents tab.

3. Click on a document, it will open in the document viewer.

4. Select the Redaction tools from the toolbar.

5. Click and drag to create rectangular areas over the content you want to remove.

6. If needed, erase a redaction area or remove all redactions at once.

7. Click Save file.

8. Choose a redaction colour (Black or White) and enter a name for the redacted version.

9. Click Save.

10. The redacted document is automatically added as a copy of the original document in your technical file.

11. Every redacted document will receive a watermark on the left side of the document: “This document was redacted with the ProductIP redaction tool on xxx. At the time of generating the document, the original document was available also. The original can only be made available by the document owner.”.

Tips and best practices

• The redacted document automatically inherits the same requirement links as the original.
• Metadata such as for example “issuer” or “issued to” is removed automatically to prevent accidental disclosure of confidential information.
• Redacted documents are shareable by default. If you prefer to restrict sharing, clear the checkbox “Shares allowed” in the document metadata. Go to “Related articles” to learn more.
• You can also make a redacted document public via the Digital Product Passport. Go to “Related articles” to learn more.

FAQ

• Can I undo a redaction after saving?

You can undo redacted areas as long as you have not “burned” (= saved) a redaction. After that you have two options:

1. Re-start redacting with the original document
2. Continue redaction on top of the redacted document

ProductIP creates a document copy after you saved a redaction, but the redactions are permanent. Don’t delete your original document.

• Does redaction affect requirement links?
  No, the redacted document retains all requirement links from the original.

Related articles

Upload your documents

Review the received documents

Link your documents to the requirements

Use the Digital Product Passport Selector