Who is this article for?

Users wondering how long a document should take to prepare.

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When documents are uploaded to Please Review, they must be prepared before being accessible for review. Preparation time varies, and this article explains why and how long it may take.

1. Content

Document complexity affects preparation time. Simple Word files with text and images process quickly, but added elements like tables, word art, and embedded content increase processing time due to hidden raw code.

Files are often compressed, so small file size doesn’t always mean quick processing. Large files with high-resolution images but simple content can be processed faster. File size alone does not determine preparation time.

2. Format

Different formats require different processing. PDFs often process faster than Word documents, but only one PDF is prepared at a time, whereas two Word documents can be processed simultaneously. PowerPoint preparation focuses only on visible content, not comments or downloads.

3. Queue

Please Review processes a maximum of two items simultaneously. New documents enter a queue and are processed within a minute if the service is free; otherwise, they wait. There is no indication of queue status in older versions, but the new UI shows if documents are queued or being prepared.

High queue volume or slow processing of other documents can cause delays.

4. Preparation time

Preparation time depends on many factors: document format, queue length, and document complexity. There is a 90-minute timeout for preparation failures.

Documents are prepared twice if needed—first with a modern method, then an older method if the first times out. Most documents take minutes once processing starts, but complex Word files can take longer.

5. Challenges

Repeatedly adding the same document if it’s slow or fails worsens delays for all users. If documents consistently fail or get stuck, support should be contacted to investigate possible issues like the queue service stopping or problematic documents.

For troubleshooting, refer to the Troubleshooting Document Preparation guide.