Many permits as PDFs in one ZIP: the PDF package

An audit, an inspection or a period close often asks not for one permit but for all hot-work permits of plant A in the first half-year. The PDF package gives you that in a single ZIP: one PDF per permit, and next to them a manifest.csv that lists, for each file, the number, the status, the file name and the SHA-256 hash — so the package can be verified later.

Before you start

• Permission: the right to view permits — ptw:view. Anyone using a person filter also needs ptw:report_people (the filter is the same as in the tabular export).
• Limit: at most 200 permits per request. Drafts are not included in the package.

Steps

The PDF package card on the Export page. The same filter applies as for the tabular download.

1. Choose the permits — in one of two ways:
   • With a filter, on the Export page: set and update the filter on the Export tab (see the related article); the “PDF package (ZIP)” card uses the same filter.
   • With a selection, on the permit list: tick rows with the checkboxes (in the header, “Select all visible permits”), or in the list’s “List actions” menu choose “PDF package from the list — select N permits”. The selection bar reads “N selected”; “Clear selection” empties it.
2. Choose the view in the “View” list (when your organisation allows several PDF views; the default is the authoritative Compact view).
3. If needed, tick “Risk assessment as an appendix (where available)”.
4. Press the download button: “Download PDF package from the filter” (with a filter) or “Download PDF package — N permits” (with a selection). While it runs the button reads “Preparing the package…”.
5. Open the ZIP. When the download ends the page says: “Downloaded: …”.

If it worked

The ZIP has one PDF per permit, and next to them the manifest.csv with the columns Number · Status · File name · SHA-256 · Record / snapshot · View · Error. The Record / snapshot column tells you what you got:

• record — for a closed permit, the copy stored at closing: it does not change with a new render, and the manifest hash is the same as the stored record’s;
• snapshot — the PDF of a live permit at the moment of download, marked as a snapshot.

Every package request is written to the audit log — the PDFs’ content is not.

Worth knowing

• One bad PDF does not stop the package. If a permit’s PDF was not produced, the manifest’s Error column says so and the file is missing: “The PDF was not produced — download it individually or try again.” If a selected permit became unavailable meanwhile: “The permit is no longer available.”
• A selection does not widen. A draft, or a permit you can no longer see, is not included in the package; the page says so, it does not leave it out silently.
• Tailoring the paper (paper size, views, QR code) is covered in the PDF article; the package gives the same PDF as the single permit’s “PDF” button.

Common problems

What you see	Why	What to do
“At most 200 permit PDFs can be downloaded at once — this request covers … permits. Narrow the filter or the selection.”	The set is larger than the 200 limit.	Narrow to a period, plant or type, and download in several packages.
“Select at least one permit.”	The selection is empty.	Select rows, or use the Export page filter.
“There is no permit to download (drafts are not included).”	The set contains only drafts.	Choose another filter.
“… selected permits cannot be downloaded (draft, or no longer visible to you). Refresh the list and select again.”	The selection is out of date.	Refresh the list and select again.
“The package download was interrupted — please try again.”	The network or the download was interrupted.	Try again; with many permits, in smaller packages.
“Too many failed attempts. Please try again in a few minutes.”	The package download can be requested at most 10 times in 10 minutes.	Wait and try again.
The download button is grey, with “The settings are not applied yet …” beside it	The Export page filter was changed but not updated.	Update the preview on the Export page.

Related

Exporting permitsThe filter, columns and saved templates — the package uses the same filter.

Printing and PDFThe PDF views and paper settings.