> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://learn.withessential.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://learn.withessential.com/field-operations/inspection-reports/save-a-draft-and-publish-an-inspection-report.md). # Save a draft and publish an inspection report An inspection report is a Draft while you fill it out. Save Draft saves your answers without finishing it (enabled once you have unsaved changes). When it's ready, Publish finalizes it - shown as Save and Publish when you have unsaved changes to save first. Publishing moves the report to Submitted: it records the deficiencies (they become follow-up items) and the service completions (which reset the recurring-service schedule), and generates the PDF; it needs the required fields filled in and the asset group active. If your role has inspection-report write access and **Email inspection reports** is on in Settings -> Tasks -> Task Documents, publishing opens a **Publish and Email Inspection Report** step. You can email the report as you publish it with **Publish and send**, or finish without emailing with **Publish without emailing**. The same setting controls **Send Report** after the PDF is generated, and is separate from Job Summaries. If the email step is missing but you need it, ask your administrator to check both your role and that setting. A draft you don't want can be removed with Delete, which returns you to the Inspection Reports list; Delete is only available while the report is a draft. > **Where to find it:** On the open report, the action bar: Save Draft, then Publish (shown as Save and Publish when there are unsaved changes); Delete removes a draft ## Related guides * [What the inspection report page shows](/field-operations/inspection-reports/what-the-inspection-report-page-shows.md) * [Download or email an inspection report](/field-operations/inspection-reports/download-or-email-an-inspection-report.md) * [Working with the assets on an inspection report (bulk pass, skip, delete)](/field-operations/inspection-reports/working-with-the-assets-on-an-inspection-report-bulk-pass-skip-delete.md) * [Answer a question on many inspection assets at once](/field-operations/inspection-reports/answer-a-question-on-many-inspection-assets-at-once.md) --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://learn.withessential.com/field-operations/inspection-reports/save-a-draft-and-publish-an-inspection-report.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.