📚 Help Center

Get reading dimensions in under 5 minutes:

Step 1: Prepare Your PDF

1. Click "PDF Splitter" link in the menu bar
2. Upload your multi-page PDF
3. Download the ZIP file with individual pages
4. Return to main app and upload the specific page you need

Step 2: Load Your PDF

1. Click "PDF UPLOAD" button (Row 2 in toolbar)
2. Select your PDF file
3. Wait for it to load in the canvas area

Step 3: Choose Your Workflow

Option A: Automatic Reading (AI/OCR)

Use when you want the app to read dimension text for you.

1. Click "DIMENSION" button (turns blue when active)
2. Choose your mode:
   • "AI OCR" (blue button) = Best accuracy, counts against your subscription limit
   • "OCR" (gray button) = Unlimited usage, good for clear text
3. Click and drag to select dimension text (tight selection works best)
4. Balloon auto-places near your selection
5. Table auto-fills with the reading
6. Verify and edit if needed

Option B: Manual Entry

Use when you prefer to type dimensions yourself, or the PDF resolution or dimension fonts are not compatible with the OCR.

1. Click "BALLOON" button
2. Click where you want the balloon on your drawing
3. Click into the table and type dimension manually
4. No AI/OCR calls used - completely free

Step 4: Export Your Work

• "EXPORT PDF" → Annotated drawing with balloons
• "EXPORT TABLE" → CSV spreadsheet for Excel

Step 5: Save Your Work (Important!)

Before closing the app:

1. Click "SAVE" button → Downloads [filename]_ANNOTATIONS.json
2. Move this file from Downloads into a project folder
3. Keep it WITH your original PDF file in the same folder

My_Projects/
├── Part_12345/
│   ├── Part_12345_drawing.pdf          (original PDF)
│   ├── Part_12345_ANNOTATIONS.json     (saved balloons)
│   └── Part_12345_BALLOON.pdf          (exported result)

Returning to Saved Work

You must load BOTH files manually:

1. Load Annotations First:
   • Click "LOAD" button
   • Select your .json file
   • Balloons and table data appear
2. Then Load PDF:
   • Click "PDF UPLOAD" button
   • Select the SAME PDF you originally worked on
   • Now everything is properly loaded

Toolbar Overview

Row 1: Navigation & Status

• Welcome message - Shows your name
• Help - Links to this page
• Account - Subscription management
• Sign Out - Log out of your account
• PDF Splitter - Split multi-page PDFs
• Trial status - Days remaining in trial
• AI counter - Shows usage (e.g., "AI: 25/75")

Row 2: File Operations

• PDF Upload - Load drawing file
• ⟲ LEFT / ⟳ RIGHT - Rotate PDF 90° at a time
• Zoom - 10%-200% magnification control
• SAVE - Save annotations as .json file
• LOAD - Load previously saved annotations
• EXPORT PDF - Generate annotated PDF with balloons
• EXPORT TABLE - Download dimension table as CSV

Row 3: Drawing Tools

• SELECT - Move, edit, or delete objects
• DIMENSION - AI/OCR dimension reading mode
• BALLOON - Manual balloon placement
• TEXT - Add text annotations/notes
• NEXT number - Set custom balloon number
• PAUSE # - Stop auto-incrementing balloon numbers
• Color picker - 9 colors available
• Shape selector - Circle, Square, or Diamond
• A⁻/A⁺ - Decrease/increase annotation size
• TOLERANCE - Standard tolerance calculator
• AI OCR / OCR - Toggle between AI and OCR modes
• CLEAR ALL - Remove all annotations

AI OCR Mode vs OCR Mode

AI OCR (Blue Button)

• ✓ Uses OpenAI Vision API for best accuracy
• ✓ Handles complex dimensions with tolerances
• ✓ Recognizes symbols (⌀, R, ±, °)
• ✓ Understands context and formatting
• ✗ Counts against your subscription limit
• Cost: 1 call per dimension read

OCR Mode (Gray Button)

• ✓ Unlimited usage (doesn't count against limit)
• ✓ Good for clear, simple dimensions
• ✓ Fast processing
• ✗ May struggle with special characters
• ✗ Less accurate with complex tolerances
• Best for: Conserving AI calls when readings are straightforward

Keyboard Shortcuts

Feature Type Keys (Hold During Selection)

• D key - Mark as Diameter (⌀)
  Hold D key down → Click-drag to select dimension → Release after balloon appears
• R key - Mark as Radius (R)
  Hold R key down → Click-drag to select dimension → Release after balloon appears
• A key - Mark as Angle (°)
  Hold A key down → Click-drag to select dimension → Release after balloon appears
• C key - Mark as Chamfer (C)
  Hold C key down → Click-drag to select dimension → Release after balloon appears
• T key - Mark as Threads
  Hold T key down → Click-drag to select dimension → Release after balloon appears

OCR Redo (Doesn't Count Against Limit)

• Ctrl + Click-Drag - Re-read last dimension
  • Replaces the most recent table entry
  • Use when AI misread something
  • Does NOT count as a new AI call
  • Only works on the last dimension read

Navigation & Editing

• Delete key - Remove selected balloon/text (SELECT mode only)
• Shift + Left Mouse Drag - Pan canvas around
• Shift + Mouse Scroll Wheel - Zoom in/out

Balloon Numbering

• Auto-increment (default): Balloons number 1, 2, 3... automatically
• PAUSE # button: Stops auto-increment, balloon number stays the same
• NEXT field: Type a custom number for the next balloon
• Edit in table: Click balloon number cell to change it
• Reordering: Renumber balloons by editing the table

Tolerance System

Click "TOLERANCE" button to configure standard tolerances.

Default Tolerances by Decimal Places:

• Whole numbers (1.0): ±0.1
• Two decimals (1.00): ±0.01
• Three decimals (1.000): ±0.005
• Four+ decimals (1.0000): ±0.0005
• Angles: ±1°

How to Use:

1. Set your standard tolerances in the dialog
2. Click "Save Settings" to remember them
3. Click "Apply Tolerances" to fill only blank tolerance cells
4. A popup shows how many dimensions were populated
5. Manually override any tolerance in the table as needed

Table Editing

• Click any cell to edit (all columns are editable)
• Press Enter to save changes
• Press Escape to cancel
• Overwrite anything: Type to replace OCR readings, balloon numbers, or any cell content
• Min/Max auto-calculate from Base Dimension + Tolerance
• Feature type: Add labels like "Diameter", "Radius", "Angle", etc.
• Notes field: Add any custom information, GD&T callouts, surface finish, inspection notes
• Delete button: Removes row and balloon from drawing

Tolerance Format Rules:

When manually typing tolerances in the table:

• .005 or 0.005 → Assumes ±0.005 (bilateral)
• +.005 → Only plus tolerance (+0.005/-0.000)
• -.001 → Only minus tolerance (+0.000/-0.001)
• +.010,-.005 → Unilateral tolerance (both values)
• -.002,-.005 → Both negative (valid for specific cases)
• +.003,+.001 → Both positive (valid for specific cases)

Alternative: Direct Min/Max Entry

You can skip the tolerance column entirely and just enter Min/Max values directly:

• Base Dimension: 1.500
• Tolerance: 0 (enter zero to preserve manual min/max)
• Max Value: 1.505
• Min Value: 1.495

This is useful when you have min/max specifications instead of base + tolerance format.

DIMENSION vs BALLOON vs TEXT

DIMENSION Button (Automatic Reading)

Enables click-and-drag selection for AI/OCR dimension reading.

How it works:

1. Click "DIMENSION" button (turns blue)
2. Canvas objects become non-selectable
3. Click and drag to select dimension text
4. App reads the text automatically
5. Balloon auto-places near selection
6. Table auto-populates with reading
7. Verify and correct if needed

Best for: Complex dimensions, tolerances, multiple readings

BALLOON Button (Manual Placement)

Places numbered balloons without OCR reading.

How it works:

1. Click "BALLOON" button
2. Click anywhere on drawing
3. Balloon appears with next number
4. Table creates blank row
5. Type dimensions manually in table

Best for: Manual entry, OCR not working, conserving AI calls

TEXT Button (Annotations)

Adds text notes/labels to your drawing.

How it works:

1. Click "TEXT" button
2. Click where you want text
3. Text box appears with default text
4. Type your note
5. Click outside to finish

Best for: Notes, labels, reminders, instructions

Text Extraction to Notes (AI Feature)

Extract text, notes, and specifications from your drawings using AI vision and append them to balloon notes.

How It Works

Text extraction mode allows you to capture handwritten notes, typed specifications, material callouts, or any text from your drawing and add it to the Notes column of your dimension table.

Activating Text Mode

1. Click "DIMENSION" button (must be in dimension mode)
2. Hold down X key while making your selection
3. Click and drag to select the text area
4. Release mouse to capture
5. Release X key when done

Two Usage Modes

Mode 1: Create New Balloon with Text (No row selected)

• Hold X key + drag to select text
• Balloon appears in upper-left of selection
• New table row created
• Text appears in Notes column
• All dimension columns remain blank
• Perfect for capturing material specs, notes, or instructions

Mode 2: Append to Existing Row (Row selected)

1. Click "Select" button in any table row (turns blue)
2. That row is now highlighted in light blue
3. Hold X key + drag to select additional text
4. Text appends to existing notes with semicolon separator
5. Balloon is NOT moved or duplicated
6. Perfect for adding supplementary information to dimensions

Multi-Line Text Handling

When the AI reads text spanning multiple lines:

• Each line break converts to ; (semicolon + space)
• Example: "Line 1\nLine 2\nLine 3" becomes "Line 1; Line 2; Line 3"
• Keeps notes readable in single-row table cells
• Easy to parse when exported to CSV

Appending Multiple Text Selections

You can capture text from multiple areas and add it all to one balloon:

1. Select target row with "Select" button
2. Hold X + select first text area → text added to notes
3. Hold X + select second text area → appends with "; " separator
4. Hold X + select third text area → appends with "; " separator
5. Result: "First text; Second text; Third text"

Example Use Cases

Material Callout:

Balloon #5 - Base Dimension: [blank]
                    Notes: "Material: 6061-T6 Aluminum; Finish: Clear Anodize Type II"

Surface Finish:

Balloon #8 - Base Dimension: 2.500
                    Notes: "Ra 32; Break all sharp edges .005-.015"

Thread Specification:

Balloon #12 - Base Dimension: [blank]
                    Notes: "1/4-20 UNC-2B; Thread depth .500 MIN"

Special Instructions:

Balloon #3 - Base Dimension: 1.250
                    Notes: "Critical dimension; CMM inspection required; Must maintain perpendicularity"

Tips for Best Results

1. Select text cleanly: Include only the text, avoid dimension lines
2. Zoom in first: 150-200% zoom for small handwritten notes
3. One section at a time: Multiple small selections work better than one large cluttered area
4. Review AI output: Click into Notes cell to edit if needed
5. Deselect when done: Click "Select" button in row again to deselect (or select different row)

Editing Text Notes

• Click into any Notes cell to edit manually
• Add your own semicolons to separate items
• Press Enter to save, Escape to cancel
• Notes export to CSV and appear on dimension table page of PDF export

Troubleshooting Text Extraction

"Feature Restricted" Error:

• You're on Standard plan - upgrade to Pro for text extraction
• Go to Account page → Manage Subscription

AI Reads Extra Quotes (""):

• Vertical lines near text can be interpreted as quotation marks
• This is normal AI behavior - edit manually if needed
• Click into Notes cell and remove quotes

Text Not Captured:

• Handwritten text may be unclear - try tighter selection
• Very small text - zoom in before selecting
• Low-quality scan - AI may not recognize characters
• Complex background - select clearer area if possible

Keyboard Shortcuts Summary

• X key (hold during selection) - Text extraction mode
• X key (release) - Exit text mode
• Works in DIMENSION mode only
• Must have DIMENSION button active (blue)

"Could Not Read Dimension"

Common Causes:

• Selection area too cluttered with other elements
• Text too small or blurry in the PDF
• Poor image quality or low-resolution scan
• Complex tolerance notation AI couldn't parse
• Handwritten dimensions (not supported)

Solutions:

1. Make tighter selection: Include ONLY the dimension text, avoid lines/arrows
2. Try OCR mode: Switch from AI to OCR or vice versa
3. Zoom in first: Set zoom to 150-200% before selecting
4. Use keyboard shortcuts: Hold D/R/A/C/T to help identify feature type
5. Manual entry: Switch to BALLOON mode and type it yourself
6. Ctrl+Drag: Try OCR redo on the same area

"AI Usage Limit Reached"

What it means:

You've used all AI calls for this billing period.

Solutions:

• Switch to OCR mode - Unlimited usage, doesn't count against limit
• Use BALLOON mode - Manual entry, no AI/OCR needed
• Upgrade plan - Get more AI calls per month
• Wait for reset - Subscription users: Next billing cycle
• Trial users: Subscribe to continue using AI features

Balloon Positioned Incorrectly

Quick Fix:

1. Click "SELECT" mode button
2. Click the balloon to select it
3. Drag to new position
4. Or press Delete to remove and create new one

Table Shows Wrong Min/Max Values

Cause:

Tolerance format not recognized or incorrect.

Fix:

1. Click into the Tolerance cell
2. Correct the tolerance format (e.g., "±0.005" or "+0.010/-0.005")
3. Press Enter
4. Min/Max recalculates automatically

PDF Export Missing Annotations

Likely Causes:

• Browser compatibility issue
• Very large PDF file (>50MB)
• Network timeout during export
• Too many annotations (>200 balloons)

Try This:

1. Click "SAVE" button first (backup your work)
2. Refresh the page
3. Reload PDF and annotations
4. Try export again
5. If persists: Contact support with PDF details

Loaded Annotations But PDF Appears Wrong

Why This Happens:

Your browser's security prevents websites from automatically accessing files on your computer. The .json file contains your balloon positions and table data, but NOT the actual PDF file itself.

Solution - The Two-Step Load:

1. Step 1: Click "LOAD" button → Select .json file → Balloons appear
2. Step 2: Click "PDF UPLOAD" button → Select the SAME PDF you originally used → PDF properly loads

Annotations Don't Line Up?

Likely cause: You loaded a DIFFERENT PDF than the original, or rotation doesn't match.

Fix:

• Make sure you're loading the exact same PDF file
• Check rotation (⟲ LEFT or ⟳ RIGHT) matches your original session
• If wrong PDF: Start over with correct file

Prevention:

Keep your files organized together:

Project_Folder/
├── Part_12345_drawing.pdf
└── Part_12345_ANNOTATIONS.json

This way you always know which PDF goes with which annotations.

Email Verification Not Received

Check These:

1. Spam/junk folder - Email may be filtered
2. Email address typo - Verify on Account page
3. Email provider blocks - Some providers filter verification emails
4. Wait 5-10 minutes - Delivery can be delayed

Actions:

• Click "Resend Verification Email" button
• Add help@kowalskiprecision.com to your contacts
• Try alternate email address if available
• Contact support if still not received after 30 minutes

App Runs Slow or Freezes

Common Causes:

• Very large PDF file (>100MB)
• Too many balloons (>500)
• Browser memory full
• Old/slow computer

Solutions:

1. Optimize PDF: Reduce file size in PDF editor before uploading
2. Work in sections: Use PDF Splitter for multi-page drawings
3. Close other tabs: Free up browser memory
4. Use Chrome/Edge: Best browser performance
5. Clear browser cache: Settings → Privacy → Clear browsing data

What the AI Can Read Well

• ✓ Standard dimension formats (1.250, 0.500, 2.00)
• ✓ Bilateral tolerances (±0.005, ±0.010)
• ✓ Unilateral tolerances (+0.010/-0.005, +0.000/-0.010)
• ✓ Diameter symbols (⌀1.500, Ø.750)
• ✓ Radius indicators (R.250, R0.50)
• ✓ Angle dimensions (30°, 45°, 90°)
• ✓ Clear, printed text (8pt or larger)
• ✓ Min/max format (MIN_MAX:1.505,1.495)
• ✓ Simple chamfers (C.125, C0.50 x 45°)

What the AI Struggles With

• ✗ Handwritten dimensions (not supported)
• ✗ Very small text (<8pt font size)
• ✗ Severely cluttered areas with overlapping text
• ✗ Dimension text overlapping drawing lines
• ✗ Unusual or non-standard dimension formats
• ✗ Faded, low-quality, or low-resolution scans
• ✗ Dimension text on dark/shaded backgrounds
• ✗ Complex thread callouts (use manual entry)
• ✗ Dimension text rotated at odd angles
• ✗ Multiple dimensions stacked very close together

Selection Best Practices

1. Zoom in first: For small text, zoom to 150-200% before selecting
2. Minimal selection: Draw the smallest rectangle that captures the dimension
3. Avoid including: Drawing lines, arrows, leaders, other dimensions, notes
4. One dimension at a time: Don't select multiple dimensions together
5. Clear area preferred: Avoid areas with overlapping elements if possible

Good Selection Examples:

• ✓ Tight box around "1.250 ±0.005" only
• ✓ Just the "⌀0.500" text, no leader line
• ✓ Only "R.375" text, no dimension line

Bad Selection Examples:

• ✗ Including dimension line + arrow + text
• ✗ Selecting two dimensions at once
• ✗ Large area with other text/graphics included

Why OCR Mode Exists

OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is a different technology than AI Vision:

When to Use OCR Mode:

• Simple, clear dimensions without tolerances
• Conserving your AI call limit
• Whole numbers or basic decimals (1.5, 2.0, 0.75)
• Clean, high-contrast printed text
• Running low on AI calls for the month

When AI Mode is Better:

• Dimensions with tolerances (±, +/-, min/max)
• Special symbols (⌀, R, °, C)
• Complex formats (multiple decimals, fractions)
• Slightly blurry or lower quality scans
• When accuracy is critical

PDF Limitations

• First page only: BalloonifyIQ displays only page 1 of any PDF
• Multi-page solution: Use the PDF Splitter tool first
• File size limit: Maximum 100MB per PDF upload
• Format support: PDF files only (no DWG, DXF, or image files)
• Rotation: PDFs must be manually rotated to correct orientation

Browser Requirements

Recommended browsers:

• ✓ Google Chrome (best performance)
• ✓ Microsoft Edge (best performance)
• ✓ Firefox (good performance)
• ✓ Safari (acceptable performance)

Not supported:

• ✗ Internet Explorer (deprecated)
• ✗ Very old browser versions

For Maximum Accuracy

1. Use high-quality PDFs: 150+ DPI resolution, clear text
2. Work with originals: Not scans of printouts (avoid double-scanning)
3. Select precisely: Tight, minimal selection areas around text only
4. Use keyboard shortcuts: Hold D/R/A/C/T keys to help AI identify feature types
5. Verify all readings: Always check AI results before exporting
6. Try both modes: Test AI vs OCR to see which works better for your drawings
7. Zoom before selecting: 150-200% zoom for small text

Efficient Workflow Tips

Starting Your Project:

1. Organize first: Create project folder before starting
2. Check orientation: Rotate PDF right-side-up immediately
3. Start with AI mode: Best accuracy for first pass on complex dimensions
4. Set tolerances early: Configure standard tolerances before reading dimensions

During Work:

1. Monitor AI usage: Check counter in header regularly
2. Switch to OCR: When running low on calls, use OCR for simple dimensions
3. Use manual entry: BALLOON mode for very simple dimensions conserves AI calls
4. Save frequently: Click "SAVE" every 10-15 balloons
5. Verify as you go: Check each reading immediately while fresh

Finishing Up:

1. Final review: Check all table entries for accuracy
2. Apply tolerances: Use TOLERANCE button for any blank cells
3. Add notes: Document any special requirements in Notes column
4. Save final version: Click "SAVE" before exporting
5. Export both formats: PDF (for distribution) + CSV (for records)
6. Organize files: Move everything into project folder

Managing Your Subscription

Understanding Your Limits:

• Trial users (60 calls): Approximately 2-3 typical drawings
• Standard plan (75 calls/month): Approximately 3-5 drawings per month
• Pro plan (250 calls/month): Approximately 10-15 drawings per month

Smart Usage Strategies:

1. Prioritize: Use AI calls on toleranced dimensions first
2. OCR for simple: Basic dimensions like "1.50" or "2.00" work fine with OCR
3. Manual for obvious: Very clear dimensions can be typed faster than selected
4. Batch similar work: Do all your drawings at once to optimize workflow
5. Monitor counter: Check "AI: X/Y" display regularly

File Organization System

Folder Naming:

Projects/
├── Customer_PartNumber/
│   ├── Customer_PartNumber_Rev_A.pdf
│   ├── Customer_PartNumber_Rev_A_ANNOTATIONS.json
│   ├── Customer_PartNumber_Rev_A_BALLOON.pdf
│   └── Customer_PartNumber_Rev_A_dimensions.csv

File Naming Conventions:

• Original PDF: ProjectName_drawing.pdf
• Annotations: ProjectName_ANNOTATIONS.json
• Exported PDF: ProjectName_BALLOON.pdf
• Exported CSV: ProjectName_dimensions.csv

Benefits:

• ✓ Easy to find matching PDF and annotations
• ✓ Clear file versioning (Rev A, Rev B, etc.)
• ✓ Everything organized by project
• ✓ Quick to archive completed projects

Table Management

During Data Entry:

1. Edit immediately: Correct misreads right away while fresh
2. Use feature types: Helps with sorting and organization
3. Add notes liberally: Document special requirements, GD&T, surface finish
4. Verify calculations: Check that Min/Max values make sense

Before Exporting:

1. Sort balloons: Ensure numbering is logical (top-to-bottom, left-to-right)
2. Fill blanks: Apply standard tolerances or manual entry
3. Spell check notes: Clean up any typos
4. Final accuracy check: Review critical dimensions

After Export to CSV:

• Open in Excel: CSV imports directly for further formatting
• Add columns: Status, Inspection Results, Inspector Name, Date
• Apply formatting: Borders, colors, conditional formatting
• Save as .xlsx: Preserve formatting for final inspection sheets

Quality Control Checklist

Before delivering your final output:

• ☐ All balloons numbered sequentially
• ☐ No duplicate balloon numbers
• ☐ All dimensions verified for accuracy
• ☐ Tolerances applied where needed
• ☐ Feature types assigned correctly
• ☐ Min/Max values calculated properly
• ☐ Special notes documented
• ☐ Balloons clearly visible on drawing
• ☐ No overlapping balloons
• ☐ PDF exports cleanly
• ☐ CSV opens correctly in Excel
• ☐ Files saved and organized