---
title: "Observations"
description: "Record, classify, find and edit observations and recommendations in the Shine Forms tablet app, and attach photos to them."
source: "tablet"
---

:::info{title="Coming soon"}
The Shine Forms tablet apps will be available soon. Follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/shine-forms), watch [our blog](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/blog), or [sign up to our newsletter](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/newsletter) for updates.
:::

# Observations

The **Observations** tab of the Main Form lists every observation in the certificate, whether you added it yourself, it was raised from the [inspection schedule](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/tablet-app-inspection-schedule), or [Intelligence](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/tablet-app-intelligence) raised it from your test results.

![The Observations tab listing the observations in the certificate](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/spectrum-tablet-observations.png)

At the top:

- The **overall condition** toggle records whether items adversely affecting safety were found. The [Declaration](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/tablet-app-main-form#declaration) warns you if this disagrees with the codes you have recorded.
- The **code chips** count the observations of each classification: **C1** danger present, **C2** potentially dangerous, **C3** improvement recommended and **FI** further investigation required.

Each card shows the observation's number and code, its board and circuit or *No board*, its location, where it came from (*added by you* or *from Intelligence*) and the text. The buttons at the right of a card open its photos and a menu to **Copy** or **Delete** it.

## Adding an observation

Tap **Add Observation** in the ribbon. The editor opens at the right of the screen.

![The observation editor](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/spectrum-tablet-observations-editor.png)

- **Classification** — tap **C1**, **C2**, **C3** or **FI**.
- **Details** — the wording of the observation.
- **Location** — the **Board / circuit** the observation relates to, such as *DB1-4*, and a free-text **Description** such as *Kitchen*. Linking a board or circuit lets you filter and sort by location later. The app suggests matching boards and circuits as you type.
- **Corrective action** — what should be done, and whether corrective action is recommended or urgent remedial work is required.

Tap **Save** to keep the observation, or **Delete** to remove it. Cancelling a brand-new observation discards it.

## Editing observations raised for you

Observations raised by the schedule or by Intelligence carry standard wording that is kept in step with the code. When you edit one of these the editor gives you three choices:

![The editor on an observation raised by Intelligence, with the wording choices shown](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/spectrum-tablet-observations-editor-intelligence.png)

- **Use standard** prints the standard wording as it is.
- **Append note** keeps the standard wording and adds your own note after it.
- **Override** replaces the standard wording with your own text.

The **Prints on certificate as** box shows exactly what will appear on the report as you make your choice.

![The editor with a note appended to the standard wording](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/spectrum-tablet-observations-editor-append.png)

## Copying and deleting observations

The **⋮** menu on a card copies or deletes that observation. The same actions are in the full ribbon for the observation open in the editor. Observations managed by Intelligence cannot be deleted by hand; suppress the statement in the [Intelligence Manager](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/tablet-app-intelligence) instead.

## Finding and sorting observations

Use the tools row above the list:

![The observations filtered by a search and sorted by location](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/spectrum-tablet-observations-find.png)

- **Search** by location or wording. Typing *DB1* finds everything on that board, and *DB1-1* narrows to one circuit.
- The **board chips** show one observation count per board. Tap a chip to see only that board's observations, or **No board** for the ones not linked to a board.
- **Sort** by the order you added them, by **Location** (board then circuit) or by **Code** (most serious first).

## Photos

Tap the photo button on a card, or **Photos** in the editor, to open the photo manager for that observation.

![The photo manager for an observation](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/spectrum-tablet-observation-photos.png)

Tap **Take Photo** to use the tablet's camera, or **Select from Gallery** to pick a photo already on the tablet. Each photo shows when it was taken and has a **×** button to remove it. Photos print with the certificate alongside the observation.

Tap a photo to open it in the **photo editor**, where you can draw arrows and rings on it, crop, rotate and straighten it, enhance it, and give it a title, location, details and the date it was taken. Tick **Exclude from report** to keep a photo for reference without printing it.