Purpose Statement
The Bulk Action: Print feature allows users to generate and print multiple completed inspection reports simultaneously from the Inspections List.
This functionality streamlines the process of creating hard copies for record-keeping, compliance documentation, court proceedings, or distribution to property owners and other stakeholders. Bulk printing eliminates the need to generate and print each inspection individually.
Background Information
The Print bulk action is designed for fire prevention officers, inspectors, and administrative staff who need to generate physical or PDF copies of completed inspection reports.
This feature is particularly useful for departments that:
- Maintain paper records for compliance or record-retention purposes.
- Provide completed inspection documentation to property owners or stakeholders.
- Require hard copies for court proceedings or other official purposes.
- Need to print multiple completed inspections efficiently.
Bulk printing reduces administrative time while helping departments maintain consistent inspection documentation.
Required Permissions
Access to inspections and available Bulk Actions is dependent on the user's configured role and permissions.
Users must have sufficient access to view the applicable inspection records and use the available printing functionality.
Note: Verify the user's role and permissions if the Print option is unavailable. Specific permission names should be confirmed against your department's current First Due permission configuration.
Video
Step-by-Step Guide
Eligible Inspection Statuses
Inspections must be in one of the following statuses for Bulk Action: Print to be available:
- Completed
- Completed with Fails
- Completed with Citations
1. Filter the Inspections List
Use Advanced Search to filter the Inspections List as needed.
In this example, the list is filtered using:
- Completed, Completed with Fails, and Completed with Citations
The Inspection Printed = No and Inspection Emailed = No filters can also be useful for locating inspections that still need to be printed or distributed.
2. Select the Inspections
Select all inspections or choose several individual inspections that you want to print.
3. Open Bulk Actions
Select Bulk Actions.
4. Select Print
From the available bulk actions, select Print.
5. Configure the Print Options
The print options modal opens.
Configure the applicable options:
- Select whether to include Linked Invoices.
- Select whether to include Linked Permits.
- Toggle Multi-Permit Form as needed.
- Select Double-Sided Print as needed.
- Select Print to generate the document.
6. Download and Print the PDF
A PDF containing the selected inspection reports is downloaded.
Open the downloaded PDF, review the document, and use your PDF viewer's Print option to send the reports to your printer.
Best Practices
- Filter strategically: Use Inspection Printed = No to locate inspections that have not yet been printed and help prevent duplicate printing.
- Review your selections: Confirm the selected inspections before generating the PDF.
- Verify inspection statuses: Ensure selected inspections are Completed, Completed with Fails, or Completed with Citations.
- Include relevant documentation: Include linked invoices or permits when those documents are required as part of the inspection packet.
- Use double-sided printing when appropriate: This can reduce paper usage and create smaller documentation packets.
- Review the generated PDF: Verify that the expected inspections and supplemental documents are included before printing or distributing the file.
- Use manageable batches: If you experience issues generating a large PDF, reduce the number of selected inspections and try again.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Why can't I see the Print option under Bulk Actions?
Confirm that the selected inspections have an eligible status: Completed, Completed with Fails, or Completed with Citations. Also verify that your user account has the appropriate access to the inspections and printing functionality.
The PDF isn't downloading. What should I do?
Check your browser's download settings and verify that downloads are not being blocked. Refresh the page and attempt the bulk print again. If the issue continues, try generating the PDF with a smaller number of inspections.
Can I bulk print inspections that are still in progress?
No. The selected inspections must be in an eligible completed status for Bulk Action: Print to be available.
What should I do if a large group of inspections doesn't generate successfully?
Reduce the number of selected inspections and generate the reports in smaller batches.
How can I find inspections that haven't been printed yet?
Open Advanced Search and use the Inspection Printed = No filter to locate inspections that have not yet been printed.
Can linked invoices and permits be included with the inspection reports?
Yes. When the print options modal opens, select the applicable options to include Linked Invoices and Linked Permits in the generated documentation.
Can I generate a double-sided print document?
Yes. Select the Double-Sided Print option in the print configuration modal before generating the PDF.