CalmCompliance gives you control over when document updates go live. Published versions are immediately visible to everyone who can access the document. Draft versions let you prepare updates privately, gather feedback, and refine changes before sharing them with your team. Use drafts when you need collaboration or review before going live; publish directly for small corrections or urgent updates. Drafts are only visible to users with Manager or Admin roles for Documents—regular users continue to see the current published version until you publish.

The draft is saved but doesn't replace the current published version. Only Managers and Admins can see that a draft exists.

If no approval workflow exists, the draft immediately becomes the current version. If the document has an approval workflow, the draft is sent to approvers and publishes automatically once approved.

Can regular users see drafts? No. Only users with the Manager or Admin role for Documents can see that a draft exists. Regular users (Member access) continue to see the current published version.

Can I have multiple drafts for one document? No. You can only have one draft at a time. Replace the existing draft by uploading a new draft version, or publish the current draft first, then create a new draft.

What happens if I publish a draft but it needs approval? The draft is sent to approvers and doesn't immediately become current. Once all approvals are complete, it publishes automatically.

Can I discard a draft without publishing? Yes. You can discard the draft to remove it and keep the current published version unchanged.