File types
Older Office formats are not cleaned
Draftable Clean cleans Word (.docx, .docm), Excel (.xlsx, .xlsm), PowerPoint (.pptx, .pptm), PDF, images (.jpg, .jpeg, .png, .tiff, .gif, .bmp, .webp) and ZIP archives. It does not clean the older binary formats .doc, .xls and .ppt.
Instead: open the file in Word, Excel or PowerPoint, save it in the current format (.docx, .xlsx or .pptx), then clean the new copy. See Supported file types.
Digitally signed PDFs are skipped
If a PDF carries a cryptographic digital signature, Draftable Clean does not clean it, because changing the file would break the signature. Visual signatures, such as those added with Adobe Fill & Sign, do not count and do not stop cleaning. Instead: if you need the PDF cleaned, the signature has to be removed outside Draftable Clean first. Otherwise send it as it is, signed.JPEG 2000 images inside PDFs are not cleaned
Images in the JPEG 2000 format (JP2 or JPX) embedded in a PDF are reported as unsupported rather than cleaned. Where a profile can only partly clean a file, Draftable Clean tells you which metadata could not be removed.Password-protected files need the password
Draftable Clean can open password-protected files, such as Word and PDF files, but only once you enter the password. Until then the file shows a PASSWORD status and is not scanned. Instead: enter the password and click Check Password. See Troubleshooting: Cleaning issues.Microsoft Purview protected files are off by default
Files protected by a Microsoft Purview sensitivity label are recognized but not cleaned unless your administrator turns on protected file support. Even when it is on, older Office formats (.doc, .xls, .ppt), generic protected wrappers (.pfile) and protected emails (.msg, .rpmsg) are not supported, and an unprotected cleaned copy cannot go into a PDF or ZIP bundle.
Instead: ask your administrator about Cleaning files protected by Microsoft Purview.
What cleaning changes, and what it does not
Each profile keeps some things on purpose
Even Standard Clean, the default, keeps content that documents need to work, such as bookmarks, content controls, formulas and charts. Clean Share also keeps tracked changes, and Clean Draft also keeps tracked changes and comments. Instead: if something you expected to be removed is still there, check which profile was used, or create a custom profile. See Metadata cleaning profiles for the full list.Removing tracked changes accepts them
When a profile removes tracked changes from a Word document, Draftable Clean accepts every change. It never rejects changes. Instead: if the other side should see your proposed edits, use Clean Share or Clean Draft, which keep tracked changes.It does not fix improper redactions
Draftable Clean warns you when a PDF contains text that has been covered visually, for example by a black box, but not removed. The warning is advisory. Cleaning does not remove the covered text. Instead: redact the document properly in your PDF tool, then clean it again.Undo does not change copies already saved or sent
Undo in the toolbar restores the uncleaned state of selected cleaned files in the current session. Saving a copy does not disable Undo, but Undo does not change copies you have already saved or sent. Instead: keep your original file. Once you remove a file from the session or close Draftable Clean, add the original again if you need to clean it differently.The Outlook add-in
It cleans attachments, not the email itself
The add-in cleans files attached to the email you are writing. It does not clean the text of your email; the only change it makes to the body is the attachment summary you add with Insert Attachment Summary. It also leaves these alone:- Images in the email body, such as your signature logo, are not treated as attachments to clean.
- Attached emails (an email attached to another email) cannot be cleaned and are shown as unsupported.
- Cloud attachments, where Outlook shares a link to a file in OneDrive or SharePoint instead of attaching a copy, are not cleaned.
Attachments over about 24 MB cannot be cleaned in Outlook
Microsoft limits the size of a file an Outlook add-in can attach to about 24 MB. A larger attachment that needs cleaning shows Failed, and sending is held. Instead: clean the file in the desktop app and share it through your document management system or a link. See Troubleshooting: Outlook Add-in.There is no Skip button for a single email
Skipping cleaning is set by rules, not by a button on each email. You (or your administrator) can assign Skip Cleaning to the no-recipient default or to domain rules. Skipping applies only when every recipient resolves to a skip rule. Instead: set up domain rules for the recipients you never need to clean for, such as your own firm. See Metadata cleaning profiles.Classic Outlook needs the pane open
In Classic Outlook, attachments are cleaned only while the Draftable Clean pane is open. New Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web can clean in the background. Instead: pin the pane so it opens every time you write an email. See Using the Outlook Add-in.New Outlook for Windows is in beta
Support for New Outlook for Windows is in beta, and cleaning there can be turned off in Settings or by policy. See System requirements.Where Draftable Clean runs
Windows only
Draftable Clean is a Windows application for Windows 10 and later. There is no Mac or Linux app. It runs on Windows on ARM devices under Windows’ built-in emulation.The add-in needs the desktop app on the same computer
The add-in sends attachments to the desktop app on the same computer to be cleaned. It therefore does not work in Outlook on a Mac, phone or tablet, or on a computer where Draftable Clean is not installed and activated. The add-in is built for Outlook on desktop computers only. Instead: on those devices, send documents that need cleaning from a Windows computer with Draftable Clean installed.Administrator deployment uses a Microsoft 365 work or school account
The administrator deployment guide covers work or school accounts using the Microsoft 365 admin center. If you use a personal Microsoft account, use the desktop app to clean supported files and contact support@draftable.com to confirm your deployment options. See Set up Draftable Clean on your own with Microsoft 365.Document management systems
- The desktop app opens files from and saves to iManage, NetDocuments and SharePoint (including OneDrive for Business). The Outlook add-in can also save to Epona 365.
- NetDocuments appears only when ndOffice is installed and running.
- SharePoint needs a Microsoft work or school account. Personal Microsoft accounts are not supported.
Administration
- There is no Group Policy setting that installs the Windows 11 right-click menu for all users. It is turned on for each user. See Enable the Windows 11 right-click menu.
- Deactivating a license in the app does not by itself free the activation for another computer. See Licensing Draftable Clean for administrators.