Press play on the video above to see the editing experience in action.
The guide below walks through the key features and layout so you have a quick reference whenever you need it.
A Simpler Editing Experience for BIM and Information Management Documents
If you’ve ever opened a document editor and felt overwhelmed by rows of buttons you’ll never use, you’re not alone. Complex interfaces slow teams down – especially when all you need to do is update a section of a BIM execution plan (BEP) or tweak a deliverable description. The editing experience should get out of your way, not add friction.
That’s the thinking behind the editing interface in Plannerly. Rather than packing every possible formatting option onto the screen at once, the toolbar is designed around what you actually use day to day. When you click into a section to start editing, a clean, simplified toolbar appears instantly – grouped logically so you can find what you need without hunting through menus.
The toolbar is organised into three clear groups. The first handles text formatting – bold, italic, underline, and the essentials you reach for most often. The second group covers paragraph-level controls like alignment, lists, and indentation. The third is where you’ll find rich content features, including smart fields and AI tools that can speed up how you write and structure your documents.
Each group also includes a more button (the three dots icon) that reveals additional options when you need them. So the advanced features are always there – they just don’t clutter your view until you ask for them. This keeps the interface lightweight for everyday editing while still being fully featured when the task demands it.
Two features make collaborative editing much less stressful. First, autosave runs during every editing session, so you never lose work if you forget to click a save button. Second, every time you click outside a section, Plannerly saves a new version automatically. You can view your version history through the three-dot menu, compare changes, and restore earlier edits if something goes wrong. Combined with undo and redo buttons available inside each session, this gives teams the confidence to make changes without worrying about breaking something.
For teams working with ISO 19650 processes and structured documentation, a comfortable editing experience matters more than people think. When the tool feels intuitive, people actually use it – which means better document quality, fewer bottlenecks, and less time spent on training people on the software itself.
How to use the Plannerly editing toolbar
- Click into a section – select any editable section of your document and the toolbar appears automatically at the top.
- Use the main toolbar groups – find text formatting on the left, paragraph controls in the middle, and rich features including smart fields and AI on the right.
- Expand additional options – click the three-dot “more” button within any group to reveal advanced formatting tools you need less frequently.
- Scroll while editing – the toolbar sticks with you as you scroll up the page, so you always have access to your tools without jumping back to the top.
- Let autosave do its job – your changes are saved automatically during each editing session, so just keep working without worrying about manual saves.
- Use undo and redo – if you make a mistake, hit undo or redo directly within your editing session to step backward or forward through your changes.
- Review version history – click the three-dot menu on any section, select “Versions”, and browse the edits that have been saved each time you clicked out of the section. You can restore any previous version from here.
What you’ll learn
- Simplified toolbar layout – how the three toolbar groups organise editing tools for speed and clarity
- Smart fields and AI features – where to find rich content tools that help you write and populate documents faster
- Autosave behaviour – how Plannerly saves your work automatically during each editing session so nothing gets lost
- Version history – how to view, compare, and restore previous versions of your edits through the section menu
- Undo and redo – how in-session controls let you step through changes with confidence
Common questions
Do I need training to use the Plannerly document editor?
No. The interface is designed to feel familiar from the first click. The most common tools are visible by default, and advanced options are tucked behind a “more” button so they don’t get in the way. If you’ve used any modern text editor, you’ll feel at home. That said, free training courses are available if you want to explore every feature in depth.
How does autosave work in Plannerly?
Every editing session saves your changes automatically as you work. When you click outside the section you’re editing, Plannerly also creates a new saved version. This means you always have a recoverable history of your edits without doing anything extra.
Can I undo changes after I’ve saved?
Yes. Within an active editing session, you can use the undo and redo buttons to step through your recent changes. If you’ve already clicked out and a new version has been saved, you can open the version history from the three-dot menu and restore any earlier version of that section.
What are smart fields in Plannerly’s editor?
Smart fields are dynamic placeholders you can insert into your documents that automatically pull in project-specific information – things like project names, dates, or roles. They’re part of the rich content toolbar group and help you create ISO 19650 compliant documents that stay accurate without manual updates.
Is this editor suitable for ISO 19650 documentation?
Absolutely. The editor is built with structured documentation in mind, which is exactly what BIM execution plans, exchange information requirements, and other ISO 19650 deliverables need. The combination of smart fields, version history, and a clean editing experience makes it practical for teams managing information to the standard.
Explore further
- Using SmartFields – learn how to insert smart fields into your documents in this hands-on lesson
- Simple document editing in Plannerly – a closer look at the design thinking behind the editing experience
- Document management – building a structured foundation – take your document workflows further in the advanced course
- BIM Boot Camp – an intensive programme covering end-to-end BIM and ISO 19650 workflows