Q: What does the Submit for Review button on the Apparity Ribbon do?
The Submit for Review button on the Apparity Ribbon will automatically save, close, and re-open the file that you are currently working in, which will create a new modification within Apparity and compare that modification against the last approved version in Apparity. If there is not a previously approved version, the change log will automatically generate against the original version of the file that was onboarded.
The Submit for Review button is meant to streamline the compare process and automate the steps to run a comparison against the current version of the file.
Q: Does the Default Approver entered during the onboarding process have to be the Selected Reviewer when submitting a change log for review?
No. Users are able to replace the Default Approver with another individual responsible for reviewing the change log. The Default Approver can be replaced by moving them to the left box and adding a new approver by searching for his or her name, selecting the contact, then click on the arrow to add him or her to the Selected Reviewer box.
Q: Can the user who is submitting a change log for review also put himself/herself as the reviewer?
No. The submitter cannot also be the reviewer. The user will receive an error message preventing this from occurring.
Q: Can I enter more than one Selected Reviewers?
No. You can only enter one Selected Reviewer.
Q: Does the Selected Reviewer have to be a registered user of Apparity with the add-on installed on his or her computer?
Yes. The Selected Reviewer must be a registered user and have the add-in installed.
Q: How do I know the status of change logs that I sent for review?
Users can check the status of all of the change logs that they have sent for review by selecting the Reviews icon from the Apparity ribbon. From there, the user can click on the Reviews you have requested tab to see a list of all of the files that were sent for review along with the corresponding status (approved, rejected, pending). In addition, after the reviewer addresses a pending change log, an automated email is sent to the reviewer providing an update on the action taken.
Q: How can I cancel a change log?
Two people can cancel a pending change log: the Submitter and the Reviewer. To cancel, click the Reviews icon in the Apparity ribbon and navigate to the review. Right-click on the review and select "Cancel".
Q: When should I use Rapid Review vs. Change Log review?
Rapid Review allows users to submit files for review without first having to generate a change log. This is particularly useful for large, data-heavy files that may not have significant formula or data processing changes (e.g., macros, queries).
In instances where there are significant data processing changes, it is recommended to utilize a Change Log review as this will provide a supplemental tool to the reviewer to show all changes, down to the cell level.