Sections is a major enhancement to Web Report Writer, giving inspectors more flexibility in organizing their reports. With Sections, inspectors can fully customize templates, inspections, and report outputs to better match their workflows. We are excited to open the new feature Sections for Beta Testing.
Quick Look: What to Expect
Library
- No Major Changes: The Library functions as before. Inspectors can still modify Property-level Disclaimers and Descriptions, Section-level Disclaimers, and Item-level Comments, Disclaimers, and Descriptions.
Template
- New Options: Inspectors can Add, Edit, Delete, and Reorder Sections within the Template and manage items within each Section.
- Create Comments, Descriptions, and Disclaimers from Template: Inspectors can now create new comments, descriptions, and disclaimers directly from the Template view for each Section and Item. This allows inspectors to tailor the Template text as needed without leaving the Template editor.
Inspections
- New Options: Inspectors can add, edit, and delete items within the inspection and manage items within each section or location. Currently, Reording is not available in inspections, but it will be soon.
- All Items View: A new view has been added to Inspections, where you can see all of your items in alphabetical order.
- Search Items: Inspectors can now search items and navigate between Sections, Locations, and All Item views to find the item quickly.
Report Output
- Inspectors will have access to a new Report Print Format, “Sections,” that will match the Inspection. The report structure will match how you structure the inspection.
Templates
In Templates, Inspectors will see the “Systems” tab replaced with “Sections”:
Add a Section
- Open Web Report Writer.
- Go to your Template.
- Click "Add Sections" to launch the Add Sectionswindow.
- Enter a unique Section name.
- Click "Add"—the new Section will appear at the bottom of the list.
Rename a Section
- Select the Section you want to rename.
- Click the Edit Section button
- Select Rename and enter the new name.
- Click "Save" to apply the change.
Duplicate a Section
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- Select the Section you want to rename.
- Click the Edit Section button
- Select Duplicate.
- Choose whether to Copy Items to the New Section.
- Enabled: Creates new items without sharing status/comments.
- Disabled: The items will share comments and the status of the existing section.
- Click "Duplicate" to finalize.
Delete a Section
Permanent Deletion
When a Section is deleted, all items associated with it are also deleted. These cannot be recovered.
- Click the Edit Section button next to the Section.
- Select Delete.
- Confirm by clicking "Delete Section".
Reordering Sections
- Click and drag the Reorder icon next to a Section.
- Move it to your preferred position.
Adding Items to a Section
Library Item Types vs Template Item
The Sections feature highlights the difference between Item Types in the Library and Items in Templates and Inspections.
- Item Types (Library): Organized by Systems, these serve as global containers for Comments, Descriptions, and Disclaimers.
- Template & Inspection Items: When an inspector adds an item to a Template or Inspection, they choose an Item Type, which automatically loads its associated Comments, Descriptions, and Disclaimers.
Templates also allow customization—specific comments linked to an item can be hidden to streamline available options.
While default template Sections mirror Library Systems initially, inspectors have full flexibility. They can pull any item from any Library System into a Section, allowing for more customization in Templates and Inspections.
Mobile App Known Issue: When using the Mobile App and adding an item, you may need to leave the items window and return for it to display properly. This is a known defect and is being worked on.
- Click "Add Item" next to the Section.
- Use the search bar or browse items by category.
- (Optional) Include a Location for the item.
- Click "Add" button.
Changing Section
When creating an item, you can change the Section that it’s associated with. This can be changed for any item, at any time in the Template or Inspection
Inspections
A redesigned Items Page includes three tabs:
- Sections: View your inspection organized by Sections.
- Locations: No functional changes—just a new look.
- All Items: See every item in the inspection in one place.
Searching for Items
A new inspection-wide item search at the top of the page lets you filter items across Sections, Locations, and the All Items tab.
Editing Sections in an Inspection
Sections in the Inspection behave almost exactly as they do in the template, with the following differences:
Inspection Only Changes
Changes to Sections in the inspection are not reflected in the template. The changes will only impact the inspection report being worked on.
All Items
The All Items page displays every item in the Inspection. Here, inspectors can make mass updates to items without having the Sections or Locations categorize them. Items can be sorted using the column headers.
Report Output: Sections Print Format
A new Sections-based Print Format lets you generate reports that match your inspection structure.
To use Sections format in a report:
- Go to Report Print Settings.
- Select Section as the print format.
- Generate your report—items will now be grouped under Sections instead of Systems.
Join the Beta Today!
Want to try Sections and provide feedback? Join the Beta by opening Web Report Writer and clicking "Join The Beta" in the left-side panel.
We’re excited for you to experience the improved flexibility of Sections and look forward to your feedback!