Overview
Reports are the primary way inspections and observations are documented in SwiftComply Stormwater. Every report is based on a template that defines what fields appear on the form. Reports are created at the site level and progress through a status workflow.
Key concepts
Report templates
Report templates are managed by the SwiftComply team. Customers cannot edit or create templates from the admin panel. Contact your SwiftComply representative for template changes.
Each template defines:
The form fields (text, dropdown, date, checkbox, signature, GPS coordinates, photos, etc.).
Prepopulation rules: which fields auto-fill with site data, user data, weather data, or previous-report data.
Composite fields: complex elements like deficiency logging, BMP entries, enforcement actions, and monitoring data.
Output settings: PDF orientation, weather forecast attachment, and other rendering options.
Form field types
Templates can include any of these field types:
Text / String: free-form text input.
Date: date picker.
Time: time picker.
Select / Dropdown: choose from a list of options.
Boolean / Checkbox: yes/no toggle.
Signature: digital signature capture.
Geocoordinates: GPS coordinate capture.
Images / Photos: photo uploads.
Multi-value: multiple values in one field.
Groups: sections that organize related fields together.
Prepopulated fields
Templates can be configured so that some fields auto-fill with data the system already knows. Common sources include:
Site data: site name, address, owner contact info, coordinates, status, notes.
User data: inspector name, email, phone, title, certificate ID.
Date data: today's date, tomorrow's date, dates from a previous report.
Weather data: last storm start/end dates, latest storm since the previous report, ongoing storm data.
Instance data: organization name, Site Profile title.
Previous report: any field value from the most recent previous report can be carried forward.
Whether a prepopulated field is editable or locked depends on how the template is configured. Some prepopulated fields are meant as a starting point and can be changed in the form; others are locked. There is no visual color difference between prepopulated and non-prepopulated fields, all editable fields look the same in the form.
Composite fields
Composite fields integrate other parts of SwiftComply directly into the report:
Deficiencies: log and manage deficiencies inside the report. Can prepopulate with currently open deficiencies or deficiencies from the previous report.
BMP Implementation: document BMP conditions and tie them to deficiencies.
Enforcement Action: record enforcement actions within the report.
Monitoring Sites: enter monitoring data for designated sampling points.
Education Interaction: log education outreach interactions.
Report lifecycle
Reports move through a status workflow:
Draft: the report has been created and is being filled out. It shows as
[DRAFT]in lists. Use Save Draft to save your progress, including photos and other attachments.Published / Submitted: the report has been finalized and submitted. The publisher's user and timestamp are recorded.
Approved: if your workflow has approval enabled, an administrator reviews and approves the report. Approver and approval date are tracked.
Emailed (optional): the report can be emailed to stakeholders.
Not all instances use the approval workflow. If approval is not configured, reports go directly from Published to their final status.
FAQ
Q: Why are some fields already filled in when I open a report?
A: Templates can be configured to prepopulate certain fields automatically (for example, today's date, your name, the site address). Whether you can edit a prepopulated value depends on how the template was set up; some can be changed and some are locked.
Q: How do I save my progress on a report so I can come back later?
A: Click Save Draft while filling out the report. Your draft, including any uploaded photos, is preserved and you can return to it later from the site's report list.
Q: Can I use the same report template across multiple programs?
A: Templates are created per program. Similar templates can be set up for different programs by SwiftComply, but they are separate template records.
Q: Who can change report templates?
A: Report templates are managed by the SwiftComply team. Contact your SwiftComply representative if a template needs to be added or modified.