ePlans FAQs

• 1. What is electronic plan review?
• 2. Why is DCA moving toward electronic plan review?
• 3. What are the benefits of electronic plan review?
• 4. Can project applications and payments be made online?
• 5. What happens to existing paper projects that are already in progress?
• 6. Is electronic plan review mandatory?
• 7. Can exceptions be made for certain projects?
• 8. Is training or reference material available?
• 9. Are the instructions available on how to us the ePlans Review software?
• TECHNICAL FAQs
• 1. How do I return a Project to DCA?
• 2. What should go into the “Applicant Responses” text box on the eForm?
• 3. How can I see comments/changemarks?
• 4. Can I share changemarks with someone who does not have access to ePlans Review?
• 5. Why do I not see any tasks?
• 6. How can I change my password?
• 7. How can I change my email address?
• 8. When I click on the Drawing or Documents folder it says there are no files.
• 9. Why do drawings have to be in landscape/horizontal format?
• 10. Why does there have to be a blank space in the upper right corner of each drawing?
• 11. Can I scan printed drawings and upload them into ePlans?
• 12. Why do I still have a task even though I uploaded files?
• 13. I need to have more than one person view my projects. Can “view only” access be given?
• 14. Who has access and gets notified of tasks?

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• 1. What is electronic plan review?
  
  A: Electronic plan review is a method by which the existing plan review process is conducted using digitized files. Plans, corrections, approvals, storage, etc. are all done electronically via the internet.
  
• 2. Why is DCA moving toward electronic plan review?
  

  A: With most architects and engineers already working with digital plans, having paper copies printed and shipped is an unnecessary cost and step. Additionally, storage of digital plans is more cost effective and is easier to manage for archive and disaster recovery purposes.

  
• 3. What are the benefits of electronic plan review?
  

  A: The primary benefits of electronic plan review are cost and time savings. Paper plans will no longer need to be printed, shipped or stored.

  
• 4. Can project applications and payments be made online?
  
  A: Yes,  applicants can submit applications and make payments through ePlans at https://dcaplanreview.nj.gov/portal.
  
• 5. What happens to existing paper projects that are already in progress?
  
  A: Any projects that are already in progress will remain paper based. There are currently no plans to convert them to electronic plans.
  
• 6. Is electronic plan review mandatory?
  
  A: Electronic plan review will become mandatory on January 1, 2016.
  
• 7. Can exceptions be made for certain projects?
  
  A: Exceptions can be made under certain circumstances, but approval has to be sought from the Bureau Chief at DCA.
  
• 8. Is training or reference material available?
  
  A: NJ DCA will hold online training sessions. Recorded instructions will also be made available through the DCA website.
  
• 9. Are the instructions available on how to us the ePlans Review software?
  
  A: Yes, there is a User Guide available on the DCA website: www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/codes/offices/ePlans.html.  A link is also available on the ePlans login page: www.dcaplanreview.nj.gov/projectdox.
  
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• TECHNICAL FAQs
  
  Below are some frequently asked technical questions about ePlans.  If you have questions, a dedicated technical support specialist will be available from 9am to 5pm. Please contact the DCA Help Desk.
  
• 1. How do I return a Project to DCA?
  
  A: In order for a Project to be returned to DCA, you must complete your "task." This is accomplished by clicking on your task and then clicking on the appropriate button at the bottom of the eForms page. Depending on what task is being completed you will see one of the following buttons: "Upload Complete" when uploading files for the first time; or "Corrections Complete" when making corrections during Prescreen Review process; or "Complete" when making corrections and addressing review comments during the Plan Review process.
  
• 2. What should go into the “Applicant Responses” text box on the eForm?
  
  A: A brief answer of what has been done to correct a drawing or answer a reviewer’s question. It’s important that something be entered into this field so that reviewers know that the associated change mark has been addressed.
  
• 3. How can I see comments/changemarks?
  
  A: As the Applicant, when you accept your "task" the eForm will open and should display any changemarks made by the reviewer. If changemarks don’t appear, click on the Load Changemarks link.
  A: As a view only user, click on the Project Reports Button and select the report titled "Current Project - Project Markups Listing". This will produce a report that displays all comments/changemarks for the project.
  
• 4. Can I share changemarks with someone who does not have access to ePlans Review?
  
  A: Yes, there are a couple of options. 1. Changemarks can be exported as an Excel file and then sent to someone. To do this, click on the Excel icon on the eForm page. 2. PDF files of drawings with changemarks can be saved and sent to someone. To do this, open a drawing with changemarks displayed and then select "Publish" from the menus at the top of the Brave Viewer window; export the file as a PDF and make sure to have "Burn-In current markups" selected; then click the Publish button.
  
• 5. Why do I not see any tasks?
  
  A: If you don’t see a Task, it is either because one has not been assigned to you; or you have read-only permissions and there are no Tasks for this role.
  
• 6. How can I change my password?
  
  A: Click on the "Profile" button at the top of the screen.
  
• 7. How can I change my email address?
  
  A: Email addresses which also serve as your username can only be changed by a system administrator. If you need to change your email address please contact the DCA Help Desk at: HelpDesk@dca.nj.gov.
  
• 8. When I click on the Drawing or Documents folder it says there are no files.
  
  A: Make sure to click on the [+] next to either the Drawing & Specifications or the Documents folders. This will expand to show a list of subfolders. Files should be in the subfolders.
  
• 9. Why do drawings have to be in landscape/horizontal format?
  
  A: The software is configured to place the release stamp in the upper right-hand corner of a landscape drawing. If a drawing is in a portrait/vertical orientation, the stamp will be in the wrong place.
  
• 10. Why does there have to be a blank space in the upper right corner of each drawing?
  
  A: The blank space in the upper right corner is for the release stamp.
  
• 11. Can I scan printed drawings and upload them into ePlans?
  
  A: Please do not do this if it is avoidable. Scanned documents tend to be larger files and they do not retain the same level of detail as files that are exported as PDF from the native design program.
  
• 12. Why do I still have a task even though I uploaded files?
  
  A: After you upload drawings and documents, make sure you have completed the task by clicking on the task name and then clicking "Upload Process Complete" button on the eForm.
  
• 13. I need to have more than one person view my projects. Can “view only” access be given?
  
  A: Yes, "view only" access can be given to multiple people as "Applicant View." The Intake Unit will need a list of names and email addresses for anyone who needs access.
  
• 14. Who has access and gets notified of tasks?
  
  A: Only the "Applicant" will receive notifications that a task has been assigned. The Applicant serves as the project coordinator on the client side of the project and is responsible for uploading files, making corrections, entering applicant responses, etc. Anyone assigned with the role of "Applicant View" will not be assigned any tasks, but they can see projects, comments, reports, etc.
  
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