Sideways and Upside-Down Pages in a Client Scan: Logging Them Before the AI Pass

Jane Doe scans her bank statement in a hurry. Some sheets go in sideways, and the last numbered page goes in upside down. That's the case here: the sideways pages client documents can carry, and upside-down ones, where a file page's printed words run sideways or upside down in a client's scan or upload. In this method, the Preparer logs each turned page by its file page, by hand, and reads it upright by hand before any drafting pass. Then the Preparer runs the drafting pass.

The plugin drafts; the Firm's preparer prepares; the Reviewer signs off. Every step here is one the Firm writes and keeps, in whatever systems the Firm already uses, and the Firm can adapt the document-handling steps; the Reviewer's sign-off on the whole file stays as it is.

This piece gives a turned-page log, a count line, a citation pattern, a client message, a marking table, a pre-review check, a Doe example and an AI-instructions line. It states no rule about what a turned page means for the document.

Turned pages, pages out of order and pages that can't be read

Pages that came in out of sequence are covered in pages out of order in a client upload.

A page with something on it that can't be read is covered in a source page that can't be read.

What counts as a turned page, in this method

In this method, the Preparer logs a file page as turned when all of these are true:

• The Preparer has looked at the whole page as the scan shows it.
• Its printed words, headings or page number run sideways or upside down.
• The Preparer can tell from what's printed which way is up.

If the Preparer can't tell which way is up, the Preparer logs the page "Can't tell", and it stays open for the Reviewer's decision. If the page can't be read once upright, the Preparer follows the unreadable-page steps linked above. Where pages may also sit out of sequence, the Preparer follows the out-of-order steps linked above.

The turned-page log

In this method, the Preparer looks at every file page and logs each turned or can't-tell page on the file index, by hand.

Under the log, the Preparer writes a count line by hand. A pattern the Firm can adapt:

"File pages in the scan: [count] = upright [count] + sideways [count] + upside down [count] + can't tell [count]"

The Preparer copies printed page numbers word for word, reading them upright.

In this method, the Preparer keeps the scan as it came in, turned pages included. Any further document steps follow the Firm's own policy.

Citing by file page and printed page

In this method, the Firm's instructions ask each drafted entry to cite the document, file page and printed page or "none printed"; the Preparer checks each citation against its page by hand, reading that page upright. A pattern the Firm can adapt:

"[document], file page [file page], printed page [printed page or none printed]"

A line for the Firm's AI instructions

In this method, the Firm adds a line, in its own words, to its instructions for the drafting pass on a scan with turned pages. A version to adapt:

"Turned pages: [document]. The turned-page log lists each file page logged turned or can't tell. Cite each entry by document, file page and printed page or none printed; the Preparer checks by hand."

The line is the Firm's wording, not a promise about what any drafting software does. The Preparer still checks each entry by hand.

Asking the client about a can't-tell page

In this method, the Preparer asks the client about each page logged "Can't tell". The Firm can adapt this message:

Hi Jane Doe, thanks for your scan of [document]. File page [file page] shows [plain note of what shows], and we can't tell which way up it goes. Could you look at that page in your copy and tell us which edge is the top? Thanks, [Preparer name] at [Firm]

Marking entries drafted from a scan with turned pages

In this method, the Preparer marks by hand, in the entry's note, every entry drafted from a scan with turned pages.

When the client answers

If the client says which edge is the top, the Preparer quotes the answer on the log line and in each citing entry's note, marked "Client answer noted", and reads the page upright that way by hand. The log line stays "Can't tell", with the answer quoted. Each page and citing entry stays open for the Reviewer's decision.

If the client says the page can't be read in their copy either, the Preparer follows the unreadable-page steps linked above. Each page and citing entry stays open for the Reviewer's decision.

If the client can't say or doesn't answer, the Preparer notes that on the log line. Each page and citing entry stays open for the Reviewer's decision; any further document steps follow the Firm's own policy.

The pre-review check

In this method, the Preparer reads the file against this check, then sends it to the Reviewer.

• The Preparer checks each scan with turned pages has a file-index log naming its author.
• The Preparer checks each turned page's log line names who read it upright.
• The Preparer checks each "Can't tell" note describes what shows and names the client question.
• The Preparer checks the count: file pages equal upright, sideways, upside-down and can't-tell pages.
• The Preparer checks printed page numbers on turned pages were copied word for word, read upright.
• The Preparer checks the Firm's instructions include each scan's turned-pages line.
• The Preparer checks each entry cites document, file page and printed page or "none printed", with the Preparer's mark, set by hand.

Who logs and who decides

The Firm names people for the document-handling steps; the Reviewer decides on entries and on each page logged "Can't tell", and signs off.

A mark or a log line tells the Reviewer where to look. It isn't a sign-off and doesn't stand in for one. The Reviewer sees every marked entry and the log, decides on each entry, and the Reviewer signs off on the whole file, turned-page log included. No file is done without the Reviewer's sign-off.

A Doe example

The names and file below are made up for illustration.

Jane Doe is a synthetic client of the Firm. Alex Doe is the Preparer and Pat Doe is the Reviewer. Jane scans her Doe Bank statement in a hurry.

Alex looks at every file page. Some numbered pages sit sideways, and the last numbered page sits upside down. The file also holds a page with a printed chart and no words or page number; Alex can't tell which way up it goes.

Alex reads each sideways page and the upside-down page upright, by hand, logs each by file page as "Turned" and copies its printed page word for word. Alex logs the chart page "Can't tell", with "None printed" and a note of the chart. Alex's count line adds up: the file pages are the upright pages, the sideways pages, the upside-down page and the chart page, with nothing left over.

Alex adds the Firm's turned-pages line to the instructions and runs the drafting pass. Alex checks each citation against its page by hand, reading turned pages upright, and marks each entry "Cited by file page" or "Cites a turned page, read upright". No entry cites the chart page. Each entry stays open for the Reviewer's decision.

Alex sends Jane the message and logs it. Jane tells Alex which edge is the top. Alex quotes her answer on the log and reads the chart page upright that way, by hand; the chart page stays open for the Reviewer's decision.

Alex runs the pre-review check and sends the file to Pat. Pat reviews the marked entries and the log, decides on the chart page and on each entry, and signs off on the whole file.

Where TracePrep fits

We've built a TracePrep plugin that drafts these steps in your Firm's workflow, while your preparer decides and your Reviewer signs off. Join the waitlist and we'll tell you when plugin access opens.

Get on the list for plugin access

This is general information, not tax or legal advice. In TracePrep's workflow, the plugin drafts, the Firm's preparer prepares, and the Firm's Reviewer signs off. Access to the plugin is by waitlist. Keep client data inside the systems your Firm has approved.