# Review and flags

What Mestra's review notes mean and what to do about them.

After building each format, Mestra checks it and notes anything worth a look. It first checks the layout against the rules. It then looks at the exported image. Fixes that are clearly safe are applied automatically, and the format then reads "Review changes applied". A change that would make the page worse is thrown away.

A **flag** is a note that something still needs a person. A format with a flag shows **To check** in the web app and **Needs a look** in the design plugins. In the web app, a format with no flag shows "Reviewed" or "Built". A format that couldn't be built shows "Failed".

Flags fall into groups. Each group below says what to do.

| Group             | Example                                              | What to do                                                                                                          |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Text              | "Some text doesn't fit"                              | Shorten the copy (a format's **Copy overrides** can do it for one size), then run again.                            |
| Position          | "A shape sits on text or the logo"                   | Nudge the shape or the text in the file.                                                                            |
| Brand             | "No logo for this brand; the master's logo was kept" | Upload the brand's logos in **Setup** > **Brands**. (InDesign: set the logo paths on the brand's **Advanced** tab.) |
| Size and units    | "Built at {n} dpi (page size limit)"                 | Very large formats are built at a lower dpi or pixel size, and the flag says so. Check the export before printing.  |
| Master or rebuild | "A source element wasn't found in the master"        | Check the master for the missing element, then run again.                                                           |
| Review            | "Review didn't complete"                             | Press **Try again** in the design app.                                                                              |

The full list is in the app.

A failed format gives one reason: no layout worked for this size, the layout took too long, or the layout service had a problem. Press **Try again** in the design app. The first three re-plans of the same format in a run are free. A retry that succeeds on a format that never built counts as one format.

## Why it works this way

Mestra fixes what is safe and flags the rest. Some problems need a judgement call, such as whether to cut a headline. Those are yours to make, so Mestra tells you instead of guessing.

A flag stays on the format. There's no way to dismiss a flag yet. Fix the file in your design app. If the format failed or its review didn't finish, press **Try again**.

## Review notes in the plugins

In the design plugins, each format has a **Show review notes** link. It lists what the visual review found. Each note has a severity of Minor, Medium or Major, and a kind such as "Overlap" or "Orphaned word". Only Medium and Major issues are applied automatically. Minor ones are listed but left alone.

The web app doesn't show severity or kinds. It shows the flag notes and "Review changes applied". The layout-rule flags have no severity.

You can set a format's review to **Always** or **Skip when clean**.

## How it fits with other parts of Mestra

- Flags come from [runs](https://withmestra.com/docs/concepts/masters-formats-runs/). Home lists formats that need a look.
- Brand flags are fixed in [brand setup](https://withmestra.com/docs/concepts/brands/).
- Viewers can see flags. Editors and owners can retry.

## Related

- [Fix a flagged format](https://withmestra.com/docs/how-to/fix-a-flagged-format/)
- [Masters, formats and runs](https://withmestra.com/docs/concepts/masters-formats-runs/)
- [Brands](https://withmestra.com/docs/concepts/brands/)