📚 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 the "EXTRACT" button (turns blue when active)
2. Choose your mode using the OCR-AI toggle:
   • AI mode (Claude Vision) = Best accuracy, counts against your subscription limit
   • OCR mode (Tesseract) = 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 → PDF+TABLE → Annotated PDF with dimension table appended
• EXPORT → TABLE CSV → CSV spreadsheet for Excel

Step 5: Save Your Work (Important!)

BalloonifyIQ has two save options — how they behave depends on your browser:

SAVE button — Chrome & Edge (Recommended)

1. Click SAVE — the first time, your OS "Save As" dialog opens so you choose exactly where the file is saved
2. On every save after that, clicking SAVE writes directly to that same file — no dialog, no Downloads folder
3. The button tooltip updates to show the filename so you always know what file you're saving to

▾ Save As dropdown (Chrome & Edge)

Click the small ▾ arrow next to the SAVE button to always open the OS dialog — useful for saving a copy under a new name or saving to a different folder.

SAVE button — Firefox & Safari

These browsers do not support the File System Access API, so every save downloads the file to your Downloads folder. Move it into your project folder after each save to keep things organized.

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

Step 6: Generate an Inspection Report (Optional)

Once your balloons and dimension table are complete, you can generate a formatted inspection report without leaving the app.

1. Click the REPORT button in the toolbar
2. Fill in the Setup tab — report title, inspector info, part details, and sampling plan
3. Use the Balloon Filter to choose which balloons are included
4. Go to Preview & Export to review and export a blank report (PDF, Excel, or CSV)
5. Go to Inspection Data to enter measured values — cells auto-highlight pass/fail
6. Use Export with Data to produce the completed inspection report

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 to a .json file. In Chrome and Edge, the first save opens a native OS "Save As" dialog so you choose where the file lives. After that, clicking SAVE writes directly to that same file — no dialog, no Downloads folder. In Firefox and Safari, every save downloads the file to your Downloads folder.
  • ▾ (dropdown arrow next to SAVE) — Save As. Always opens the OS dialog, even if a file was already saved. Use this to save a copy under a new name or in a different location.
• LOAD - Load previously saved annotations
• EXPORT - Export button with three sub-options:
  • PDF - Annotated drawing with balloons only
  • PDF+TABLE - Annotated PDF with dimension table appended
  • TABLE CSV - Dimension table as a CSV spreadsheet

Row 3: Drawing Tools

• SELECT - Select and move existing annotations
• BALLOON - Place a numbered balloon on the drawing
• TEXT - Add a freeform text annotation
• CLOUD - Draw a cloud callout around an area (right-click finished cloud to toggle cloud/dashed style)
• EXTRACT - Read dimension values and text from your drawing using AI and populate the dimension table
• OCR-AI - Toggle between Claude Vision AI and Tesseract OCR for extraction
• NEXT number - Set the next balloon number
• PAUSE # - Pause auto-incrementing of balloon numbers
• Color picker - Annotation color (9 colors available)
• Shape selector - Balloon shape: Circle, Square, or Diamond
• A⁻/A⁺ - Decrease/increase annotation size
• TOLERANCE - Configure standard tolerance settings (saved between sessions)
• CLEAR ALL - Remove all annotations from the current page

OCR-AI Toggle: AI Mode vs OCR Mode

The OCR-AI button toggles between two extraction engines. Click it to switch modes — the button label updates to show the active mode.

AI Mode (Claude Vision)

• ✓ Uses Claude Vision AI 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 (Tesseract)

• ✓ 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

Multipage PDF Navigation (Trial, Pro & Enterprise)

Load a multi-page PDF and annotate every page without leaving the app. Each page is fully independent — its own balloons, table rows, and canvas objects.

How It Works

1. Click "PDF UPLOAD" and select a multi-page PDF
2. Page tabs appear above the canvas, one per page
3. Click any tab to switch to that page
4. Annotate normally — balloons and table entries are tied to the active page
5. Switch pages freely; each page's work is preserved automatically
6. The dimension table shows all pages at once, with a "Page" column identifying which page each row belongs to

Saving & Loading Multipage Work

• SAVE — saves all pages into a single .json file
• LOAD — restores all pages; then reload the original PDF to see the backgrounds
• Load order doesn't matter — annotations snap to the correct pages

Exporting Multipage Work

• EXPORT → PDF or PDF+TABLE — each page of the annotated PDF includes its own balloons
• EXPORT → TABLE CSV — all pages exported together, sorted by page then balloon number

Keyboard Shortcuts

Feature Type Keys

• D key - Toggle Diameter mode (⌀)
  Press D → status shows "Diameter mode active" → drag to select dimension → mode auto-clears after capture
  Press D again before capturing to cancel
• R key - Toggle Radius mode (R)
  Press R → status shows "Radius mode active" → drag to select dimension → mode auto-clears after capture
• A key - Toggle Angle mode (°)
  Press A → status shows "Angle mode active" → drag to select dimension → mode auto-clears after capture
• C key - Toggle Chamfer mode (C)
  Press C → status shows "Chamfer mode active" → drag to select dimension → mode auto-clears after capture
• T key - Toggle Threads mode
  Press T → status shows "Threads mode active" → drag to select dimension → mode auto-clears after capture
• X key - Toggle Text Extraction mode
  Press X → status shows "Text mode active" → drag to select text area → mode auto-clears after extraction
  See Text Extraction section below for full details

OCR Redo (Doesn't Count Against Limit)

• Ctrl key - Toggle OCR Redo mode
  • Press Ctrl → status shows "OCR Redo Mode active" → drag to re-read the last dimension
  • Replaces the most recent table entry with the new reading
  • Does NOT count as a new AI call
  • Only works on the last dimension read
  • Press Ctrl again before capturing to cancel

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.

EXTRACT vs BALLOON vs TEXT vs CLOUD

EXTRACT Button (Automatic Reading)

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

How it works:

1. Click "EXTRACT" 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 the "EXTRACT" button (must be active/blue)
2. Press X key once — status bar shows "Text mode active - Select text to extract"
3. Click and drag to select the text area on the drawing
4. Release mouse — AI extracts the text automatically
5. Text mode auto-clears after each extraction (status returns to "Ready")

Two Usage Modes

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

• Press X → 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. Press X → 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. Press X → select first text area → text added to notes → mode auto-clears
3. Press X → select second text area → appends with "; " separator
4. Press 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 (press once) - Activate text extraction mode
• X key (press again) - Cancel text mode before making a selection
• Mode auto-clears after each extraction — no need to manually exit
• Works in EXTRACT mode only — EXTRACT button must be active (blue)

Cloud Annotation Tool Trial, Pro & Enterprise

The CLOUD tool lets you draw revision cloud outlines on your engineering drawings — useful for flagging changed areas, marking up drawings for design review, or calling out regions that need attention.

How to Draw a Cloud

1. Click the CLOUD button in the toolbar (Row 3)
2. Click on the drawing to place the first corner point
3. Continue clicking to place additional points around the area you want to enclose
4. Double-click to close the shape and finish the cloud
5. The finished cloud appears as a bumpy revision-cloud outline (no fill — drawing is always visible underneath)

Clockwise vs Counter-Clockwise

The direction you click points controls the shape of the cloud bumps:

• Clockwise — bumps face outward, creating the classic convex revision cloud shape
• Counter-clockwise — bumps face inward, creating a concave cloud shape

Switching Styles

• Right-click any finished cloud to toggle between:
  • Cloud style — bumpy arc outline (classic revision cloud)
  • Dashed style — straight dashed polygon outline

Editing and Deleting Clouds

• Switch to SELECT mode to click and move a finished cloud
• Press Delete in SELECT mode to remove a selected cloud
• CLEAR ALL removes clouds along with all other annotations

Multipage Support

Cloud annotations are page-specific — each page has its own clouds, just like balloons and text. Clouds on all pages are saved in your .json file and exported in the annotated PDF.

Exporting Clouds

Clouds are included in EXPORT → PDF and EXPORT → PDF+TABLE output. They do not appear in the dimension table or CSV export (they are drawing markup, not dimensional data).

Enterprise Team Management

Enterprise admins can manage team seats directly from the Account page.

As an Admin

1. Go to your Account page
2. Scroll to the Team Members section
3. Enter a team member's email and click Invite
4. They receive an email with a link to set their own password and activate their seat
5. Seat status shows as Pending until they accept, then changes to Active
6. To remove a seat, click the remove button next to the member's name

Shared Usage Pool

• All seats (admin + members) draw from a single shared pool of 2,000 AI reads per billing cycle
• The Account page shows the current shared usage (e.g., "450 of 2,000 used")
• Usage resets on the subscription renewal date (not the calendar month)

As a Seat Member

• You see the Enterprise plan in your Account page with a note that you are a member of your admin's organization
• No billing controls are available to you — only the admin manages the subscription
• You can change your own password via the normal "Forgot Password" flow
• The AI usage counter shows the shared org pool, not individual usage

Smarter Session Loading

When you click LOAD and select a saved .json annotation file, BalloonifyIQ now reads the PDF filename stored in the file and guides you to select the right PDF.

How It Works

1. Click LOAD and select your .json annotation file
2. If the PDF is not already loaded, the status bar shows: "Please select '[filename.pdf]' to load this session"
3. Click PDF UPLOAD and select the matching PDF
4. Annotations apply on top of the loaded PDF automatically

The Inspection Report forms let you build a formatted inspection report directly from your ballooned drawing and dimension table. Open them by clicking the REPORT button in the toolbar. The report has three tabs: Setup, Preview & Export, and Inspection Data.

Report Profiles

A single job can have multiple reports — for example, Report 1 for dimensional inspection and Report 2 for a specific customer. Each report is an independent profile with its own setup, balloon selection, and inspection data.

Profile Bar

The profile bar at the top of the modal shows all reports for the current job. Use the dropdown to switch between them. Four buttons manage profiles:

• + New — creates a blank report profile
• ⧉ Copy — duplicates the current report's setup (part info, sampling plan, balloon filter) into a new profile. Inspection data is not copied.
• ✎ Rename — renames the current profile
• 🗑 Delete — removes the current profile (disabled when only one profile exists)

Tab 1 — Setup

Report Settings

• Report Title — the title that appears at the top of the exported report (e.g. "FAI Report — Rev A")
• Report Type — a label describing the report type (e.g. "First Article Inspection (FAI) Report", "Dimensional Inspection Report"). This is informational only — it appears as a header field on the report and does not change any behavior.
• Units — Inches or Millimeters. Sets the units label shown on the report.
• Inspector Company — your company name. Auto-saved to your profile so it pre-fills on future reports.
• Inspector — the name of the person performing the inspection.
• Date — inspection date, defaults to today.
• Notes — optional freeform notes that appear as a header row on the exported report (spec references, drawing notes, general remarks).

Part Info

• Customer Company — who the parts are being made for
• Part Number — the part number from the drawing
• Part Name — descriptive name of the part
• Revision — drawing revision level
• Drawing Number — drawing document number
• Material — material specification
• PO Number — purchase order number

Sampling Plan (ANSI/ASQ Z1.4)

The sampling plan determines how many parts (samples) need to be inspected from a production lot. It follows the industry-standard ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 table — the same table used in most quality systems.

• Lot Size — the total number of parts in the production run. Enter this and the sample size calculates automatically.
• Inspection Level — controls how closely the lot is scrutinized:
  • General Level I — reduced scrutiny, smaller samples. Use when past quality history is strong.
  • General Level II — standard level, default for most inspections.
  • General Level III — tightened scrutiny, larger samples. Use when there is a history of quality issues or the parts are higher risk.
• AQL Value — Acceptable Quality Limit. The maximum defect rate considered acceptable:
  • 0.65 — critical or safety-critical features, near-zero defects expected
  • 1.0 — high precision, functionally critical dimensions
  • 1.5 — important functional dimensions
  • 2.5 — standard general manufacturing (most common default)
  • 4.0 — minor or non-critical features
  • 6.5 — wide tolerance, non-functional areas
• Sample Size — calculated automatically from lot size, inspection level, and AQL. Shown as a read-only result.
• Manual checkbox — check this to override the calculated sample size and enter a custom number directly. Useful when your customer specifies a fixed sample count or when you are doing a 100% inspection.

Balloon Filter

The balloon filter controls which balloons from your drawing are included in this report. Each balloon from your smart table appears as a numbered chip — blue means included, gray means excluded.

• Click any chip to toggle it in or out of the report
• Select All — includes every balloon
• Clear All — removes all balloons from this report

Tab 2 — Preview & Export

Tab 2 shows a formatted preview of your report header using all the data entered in Setup. Review it to confirm everything looks correct before exporting.

Export Buttons

• Export PDF — generates a formatted PDF report with the header info, part details, and dimension table (without measurement data)
• Export Excel (.xlsx) — same report as an Excel spreadsheet
• Export CSV — same report as a comma-separated values file for import into other tools
• ← Edit Setup — returns to Tab 1 if you need to make changes

Tab 3 — Inspection Data

Tab 3 is where you enter actual measured values for each part sample. The table is pre-populated from your balloon filter and sampling plan — one row per balloon, one column per sample.

Notes (read-only)

If you entered text in the Notes field on Tab 1 (Setup), it appears here as a read-only gray banner above the table — a quick reference while you're entering measurements.

Inspection Notes

A separate editable text area for notes specific to the inspection session — things that come up during measurement that aren't part of the report header. For example: "Sample 3 had a burr on the edge and was re-measured" or "Samples 4–5 measured after heat treat". These notes are saved with the report.

The Measurement Table

The table has fixed left columns and scrollable sample columns to the right:

• # — balloon number from your drawing
• Nominal — base dimension from the smart table
• Tolerance — tolerance from the smart table
• Min — calculated minimum acceptable value
• Max — calculated maximum acceptable value
• S1, S2, S3… — one column per sample. Enter the measured value for each part. Cells turn green when the value is within min/max, and red when it falls outside.
• Result — automatically shows PASS or FAIL for each row based on all sample values

Export Buttons (with Data)

• Export PDF with Data — exports the full report including all entered measurement values and pass/fail results
• Export Excel with Data — same report with data as an Excel spreadsheet
• Clear All Data — wipes all entered measurement values for this report (prompts for confirmation). Does not affect setup data or balloon assignments.

"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 the other mode: Click OCR-AI to toggle between Claude Vision AI and Tesseract OCR
3. Zoom in first: Set zoom to 150-200% before selecting
4. Use keyboard shortcuts: Press 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 team@balloonifyiq.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

• Multipage navigation: Pro and Enterprise plans support full multipage navigation with tabs. Standard plan shows page 1 only — use the PDF Splitter for other pages.
• 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: Press 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
• Enterprise plan (2,000 calls/month, shared across up to 5 seats): Approximately 80-100 drawings per month across the whole team

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