Draft auto-save is a Pro subscription feature that works alongside your existing saved completed forms. Drafts save your work-in-progress automatically, while saved forms store completed and downloaded forms.
How draft auto-save works
When enabled, the draft auto-save feature:- Automatically saves your form data every few seconds as you type
- Creates one draft per form session
- Updates the same draft rather than creating multiple versions
- Works across devices - start on desktop, continue on mobile
- Preserves your work if you accidentally close your browser or lose connection
- Requires no manual action - everything happens automatically in the background
Save timing
The system uses intelligent saving intervals:- Edit saves: Automatically saves a few seconds after you stop typing
- Periodic saves: Additional safety net saves every 15 seconds
- Real-time feedback: Save status indicator shows when drafts are being saved or have been saved
Enabling draft auto-save
Draft auto-save is available to Pro subscribers and must be enabled in your account preferences.1
Upgrade to Pro (if needed)
Draft auto-save requires a Pro subscription. If you’re on the free plan, upgrade to Pro first.
Upgrade to Pro
Get draft auto-save and other Pro features
2
Access your account settings
Click on your profile picture in the top right corner and then click Manage account to open your account settings.
3
Navigate to Draft Forms
In the account settings modal, click on Draft Forms in the navigation menu.
4
Enable cloud draft auto-save
Toggle the Save draft form data switch to enable the feature.
Once enabled, any new forms you start will automatically save drafts to your account every few seconds.
5
Configure retention (optional)
Set how long drafts should be kept before automatic deletion. Options range from 1 day to 90 days (default is 30 days).
Managing draft retention
You can control how long draft forms are stored before being automatically deleted.Available retention periods
- 1 day - For temporary work
- 3 days - Short-term projects
- 7 days - Weekly projects
- 14 days - Bi-weekly workflows
- 30 days - Monthly projects (default)
- 90 days - Long-term storage
Setting retention preferences
1
Go to Draft Forms
Open your account settings and navigate to Draft Forms.
2
Locate retention settings
Below the auto-save toggle, find the Draft retention dropdown (visible when auto-save is enabled).
3
Select your preferred timeframe
Choose how long drafts should be kept. Drafts older than your selected timeframe will be automatically deleted.
Changing retention settings affects all existing drafts. Drafts older than your new setting will be removed.
Viewing and managing drafts
When you have drafts saved, they appear in a table in your Draft Forms section.Draft information displayed
Each draft shows:- Updated: When the draft was last saved
- Customer: Customer name from the form (if entered)
- Suburb: Installation or customer suburb (if entered)
- Serial: Installation serial number (if entered)
- Actions: Options to load or delete the draft
Drafts are automatically sorted by last update time, with the most recently modified drafts appearing first.
Loading draft forms
To continue working on a saved draft:1
Access your drafts
Go to your account setting’s Draft Forms section.
2
Find your draft
Locate the draft you want to continue in the Draft forms table.
3
Click to load
Click the pencil icon in the Actions column.
The form will open with all your previously entered data, and auto-save will continue from where you left off.
Deleting individual drafts
To remove a specific draft:1
Locate the draft
In your Draft Forms section, find the draft in the table.
2
Click delete
Click the trash icon in the Actions column.
3
Confirm deletion
Click Delete in the confirmation dialog.
This permanently removes the draft and cannot be undone.
Cross-device synchronisation
One of the key benefits of draft auto-save is the ability to work on forms across multiple devices.How it works
- Start on any device: Begin filling out a form on your computer, tablet, or phone
- Automatic sync: Your progress is automatically saved to the cloud
- Switch devices: Open CCEW on another device and sign in to your account
- Continue seamlessly: Load your draft and continue exactly where you left off
Privacy and data handling
Your draft data is handled with the same security standards as completed forms:- Encrypted storage in secure cloud infrastructure
- Private to your account - only you can access your drafts
- Automatic cleanup based on your retention settings
- Immediate removal when you delete your account
Disabling draft auto-save
When you disable draft auto-save:- New forms stop auto-saving to the cloud (local storage continues)
- Existing drafts remain accessible until you choose to delete them
- Confirmation dialog lets you keep existing drafts or delete them all
Troubleshooting
My drafts aren't auto-saving
My drafts aren't auto-saving
Check that:
- You have a Pro subscription
- Cloud draft auto-save is enabled in your Draft Forms preferences
- You’re signed in to your account
- Your internet connection is stable
I can't see my draft on another device
I can't see my draft on another device
Ensure that:
- You’re signed in to the same account on both devices
- The draft was created after enabling cloud auto-save
- The draft hasn’t exceeded your retention period
- You’re looking in the Draft Forms section of your user profile
My old drafts disappeared
My old drafts disappeared
This is likely due to:
- Retention settings automatically deleting old drafts
- Accidentally bulk-deleting drafts when disabling the feature
- The drafts exceeding the maximum retention period
The auto-save seems slow or inconsistent
The auto-save seems slow or inconsistent
Auto-save uses intelligent timing:
- Waits 2.5 seconds after you stop typing to avoid constant saves
- Performs safety saves every 15 seconds regardless of typing
- May be delayed by slow internet connections
Can I manually save drafts?
Can I manually save drafts?
No, draft saving is fully automatic. Manual saves aren’t needed or available. The system automatically detects changes and saves them using optimized timing.
Differences from saved forms
It’s important to understand how drafts differ from the existing saved forms feature:| Feature | Draft Forms | Saved Forms |
|---|---|---|
| When saved | Automatically while filling out | When completing and downloading PDF |
| Subscription | Pro only | Available to all users |
| Status | Work-in-progress | Completed forms |
| Retention | 1-90 days (configurable) | Indefinite (until account deletion) |
| Purpose | Prevent work loss, cross-device editing | Form history and re-editing completed forms |
| Storage | One current version per form session | Multiple completed forms |
Best practices
Set appropriate retention
Choose a retention period that matches your typical project timeframes. Electrical contractors might prefer 30-90 days for ongoing jobs.
Use across devices
Take advantage of cross-device sync by starting forms on your computer and finishing them on-site with a mobile device.
Watch save indicators
Keep an eye on the save status to ensure your work is being preserved, especially in areas with poor connectivity.
Regular cleanup
Periodically review and delete draft forms you no longer need to keep your workspace organized.