"Let us know what you like about Backboard, and if there is anything we could do to make it better for you."
Backboard automates the process of getting feedback and approval on all your projects—it can handle almost any type of file, but it's especially good with mixed graphical and text media.
It only takes a minute to start a Backboard. Upload the file you would like feedback on, choose a security level, and select the email addresses of one or more reviewers.
Each reviewer will receive a link to your file, where they can come and leave feedback on your document. Every kind of document can be annotated and marked up in the same way, so reviewers do not have to learn several commenting systems. Better yet, feedback appears in real time and you can view all reviewers' feedback in the same place, so you'll never again find yourself merging several documents with different "tracked changes."
You will receive an email when your reviewers have left feedback, giving you the opportunity to make the suggested changes and upload a new version for review.
Backboard is different from wikis and other collaborative editing software you may have seen. Your documents belong to you, and your reviewers only provide their comments and suggestions—no need for them to actually make changes to the document itself.
Backboard makes it faster than ever to produce top-quality work. Happy Backboarding!
Leaving feedback on a Backboard is quick and easy. Click on the "Leave Feedback" button to the right of the document and a pane will open with a text box for general comments. Hover your mouse over the document for a red pen tool that allows you to annotate freehand. If you place your mouse over text content, you will see a cursor that allows you to highlight text. When you're finished with an annotation, a text box will pop up, allowing you to explain with a sentance or two. Press enter, or press OK to close this box and your feedback will appear in the right hand bar. Once you save, viewers will see these comments connected to your annotation with a thin line.
Note: You can draw straight lines and circles with the annotation red pen. To draw a straight line, hold down the Shift key. To draw a circle, hold down the Alt key (on PCs) or the Option key (on Macs).
No. You do not need a user account to leave feedback on most Backboards. Backboards with our highest level of security, however, require all viewers to create and sign in to a Backboard account.
Every once in a while you have feedback you want to share privately with the document creator. The most common case is giving feedback regarding confidential information that would affect a document. To leave hidden feedback (seen only by you and the document creator), open the feedback form, select "More..." and check the "Hidden" checkbox. Note that other reviewers will be able to see that you left hidden feedback but will not see the contents of your message.
Backboard can gather feedback on documents (Word (DOC/DOCX), Excel (XLS/XLSX), PowerPoint (PPT/PPTX), WPD, ODT, ODP, ODS, RTF, PDF, TXT, HTML, SQL and JS), images (GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, BMP and PSD), vector graphics (AI, EPS, PS), web pages or other URLs, and free-form text.
Backboard also works with iWork documents (Pages, Keynote, and Numbers) by using the Backboard Plug-in for iWork '09.
Once you create a Backboard, you will be taken to a form where you can enter email addresses of teammates. We will send them an email with a link to your Backboard. Anytime you view your Backboard, click the invite reviewers button near the top of the screen to access this form and send additional invitations.
You need a user account to upload a new version to your Backboard. When you are logged in, you can upload new versions of the document by choosing the '+' button next to the Backboard's title. All the versions will display as tabs on the main Backboard so reviewers can see changes from one version to another. You can delete a version by selecting the X on that version tab. Note you cannot delete the last version from a Backboard.
You can specify a deadline when you create a Backboard and each time you add a new version. We offer easy access to a number of common deadline options (such as "Tomorrow at 9am"), and you can set a different date and time by selecting the "custom" option.
The deadline is included in the invite email that Backboard sends, printed on the Backboard, and an alert is added to each contributor's My Backboards page as the deadline approaches. Backboard will send automatic reminder emails to everyone who has not yet left feedback on the Backboard one day and two hours before the deadline. We don't close off access to the Backboard after the deadline passes, so latecomers may still contribute at their discretion.
Yes. Click on My Backboards and then click the X next to the Backboard you would like to delete.
Backboard makes it easy to ask for input when considering two different versions of a logo or other document. Simply upload one document when you are creating the Backboard and upload the alternative document as a new version (see How do I upload a new version of my document?). You can give the new version a title, and prompt reviewers to choose between the two options. Note: you need a user account to upload a new version to your Backboard.
The technologies used to convert documents to view in your browser occasionally have trouble with PPTX files. You can get around this by saving the file in PPT format or by downloading and using the PowerPoint Plug-in for Office 2007.
After you invite a reviewer to a Backboard you created, he or she will receive an email with a link to access the Backboard (and an Access Key, if necessary). Once a reviewer has viewed a Backboard, he or she will be notified every time there is new feedback on that Backboard. To limit the volume of mail reviewers receive, Backboard sends only one notification of new feedback until the reviewer visits the Backboard again. Reviewers are always notified of new versions or direct replies to their feedback. Note reviewers will not be required to sign up for a Backboard account to view and leave feedback on a Backboard unless you select the highest security level for that Backboard.
Backboard will notify you of new feedback on your Backboards via the email address associated with your account. To limit the volume of mail you receive, Backboard sends only one notification of new feedback until you visit your Backboard again. You can also view recent activity on your Backboards on your My Backboards page or by visiting the Backboard directly via the link sent when you created your Backboard.
If the creator has enabled printing for the Backboard, you can print by selecting the print icon in the document viewer. Backboard will offer three printing options:
If you do not see the print icon in the document viewer, the creator has restricted printing for the Backboard.
If the creator has enabled downloads for the Backboard, you can download the original file by selecting the download icon in the document viewer. If you do not see the download icon in the document viewer, either the creator restricted downloading or the Backboard was created from a website or entered text and a file is not available.
Backboard Express is a desktop application available for Mac OS X that makes it quick and easy to create a Backboard.
Start by downloading the lightweight Backboard Express application. To create a Backboard, simply drag your file to the Backboard Express desktop icon. Backboard Express will launch your browser and walk you through customizing and sharing your Backboard.
For your security, Backboard Express uploads your files with industry-standard SSL Encryption. Backboard Express supports the following operating systems: Mac OS X Tiger and later.
At this time, Backboard Express only supports Backboards created from uploaded files. You will need to visit the Backboard website to create Backboards from URLs or entered text.
The Backboard Bookmarklet makes it quick and easy to create a Backboard from any URL you visit. Start by adding the bookmarklet to your bookmarks menu. To create a Backboard from a URL you visit, select "Create a Backboard from this URL" from your bookmarks menu. Backboard will open another window and walk you through customizing and sharing your Backboard.
A project is a simple organizational tool for your Backboards, displayed on your My Backboards page. You may want to have projects for work and home or a different project for each client.
You can create projects on your My Backboards page by selecting the Create Project button and specifying a title.
There are three ways to add Backboards to your projects:
Your projects are private to you.
A user account saves your name and email address so that you don't have to enter it every time you leave feedback on a Backboard. It also helps you keep track of your Backboards and your contacts, so you can quickly get feedback on all your projects. A user account is also required for some features such as uploading new versions of a document. For more information on what type of user account is right for you, see our plans and pricing.
We do our best to determine your time zone correctly, but if you are travelling or we guess incorrectly, you can always set it manually under your "Account Settings".
We use the term "premium account" to refer to any of the paid plans: Individual, Team, Enterprise, or Proofing. These plans offer additional functionality over free Backboard accounts.
Individual plans are for those people who require a little more security and want to upload files that are up to 20MB in size.
Team accounts are for small workgroups of up to 5 people who want to create backboards. They also have SSL Encryption as a security precaution and can upload files that are up to 50MB in size.
Proofing plans are for people that routinely interface with clients (design firms, consulting boutiques, etc.). Proofing plans include custom branding of your Backboard page, custom URL and optimized emails and terminology for client work.
Enterprise plans are for large companies which may have many workgroups. This plan allows for file sizes up to 100MB, custom branding, fully encrypted file storage, and HIPAA and SOX compliant licensing terms.
Premium Backboard plans are pay-as-you-go, so you are never stuck in a contract or long-term commitment. Select Account Settings, choose your new plan, and we will adjust your rate for the next billing cycle. If you no longer want a premium Backboard account, you can downgrade your account to the Basic plan (though you will lose the benefits of your premium plan).
Once you sign up for a plan that supports additional user accounts, you can designate the rest of your teams' email addresses on the Account Settings screen. Once you add an email address, Backboard will notify that person of your sponsorship. If the email address is already associated with a Backboard account, we will automatically upgrade that account. Otherwise, we will send an email inviting that person to sign up for their sponsored account.
If you try to downgrade your premium account and you have more active users than the new account supports, you cannot downgrade until you reduce the number of active users on the Account Settings screen. Users you remove from your account will be notified and their accounts will automatically be downgraded to free Basic accounts. Once you are under the limit for the new plan, you will be allowed to downgrade.
Since you have already tried Backboard, you will need to decide between a premium account and a free Basic account. We limit free trials to one per user.
If you need to cancel your paid account, please change your account type to the Basic plan. You will still be able to access your old Backboards, but you will no longer be able to create new Backboards with premium features.
Backboard supports gravatars (globally recognized avatars). Visit the Gravatar website to associate a gravatar with your email address.
Whenever you share a Backboard, the email addresses you enter are saved as contacts in your address book. The next time you begin typing those emails, we will automatically complete the address. You can also import contacts from Outlook, Gmail, LinkedIn, Yahoo and Hotmail. You can organize your contacts into groups, which allow quick sharing with several contacts at once.
You can import contacts from Outlook, Gmail, LinkedIn, Yahoo and Hotmail as you are sharing a Backboard by selecting the appropriate service under "Import Addresses From…". Enter your username and password (or, for Outlook, follow the directions on the screen to upload your contacts). We do not save your login information. After import you will see a list of contacts with check boxes. All your contacts will be saved to your account (if you have one), but only the contacts you check will be invited to view the Backboard you are sharing. You may also access the Import Contacts screen from your Address Book.
To make it convenient to share Backboards with the same group of contacts (such as a project team) repeatedly, use Backboard Groups. By saving a list of contacts as a group, you can share a Backboard with that group by selecting the group name under "All Groups" or "Recently Used". Think of groups as a shortcut for typing emails into the share screen: one contact can be in several groups, you can share the same Backboard with multiple groups, and it’s easy to fine-tune a group (adding or excluding members) when you are sharing a Backboard. You can edit your groups and manage your contacts in your Address Book.
All of your documents are protected by url obfuscation--we locate your backboard at an extremely difficult-to-guess url. When you create your Backboard, you can choose more advanced security settings such as "Requires a secret Access Key" or "Restricted to people I invite".
All of your documents are protected by url obfuscation--we locate your backboard at an extremely difficult-to-guess url. This security level makes it quick and easy to get feedback from collaborators. Invitees can share your Backboard with others by selecting "Share this Backboard". URL obfuscation does not require you or your invitees to have an account.
This security level makes it easy to get feedback from large groups. When associates arrive at your Backboard’s URL, they are required to either enter an Access Key that was sent to them by email or log in to their confirmed, password-protected Backboard account. You, the creator, will never see this key; you automatically have access to your Backboard when you are logged in to your Backboard account. Invitees who have entered the correct key can share your Backboard with others by selecting "Share this Backboard". This is perfect for large groups where you might not know in advance everyone that needs to approve or review your work. This security level requires you to have a (free) account, but it does not require your invitees to have one.
This security level provides the maximum security for your Backboards. Only you can grant access to your Backboard to another person — great for a small team working on sensitive documents. We protect your Backboard by requiring all viewers to log into their own confirmed, password-protected Backboard accounts, and then allowing access only to the people you've chosen to access your Backboard. This security level requires you to have a paid Backboard account, and your invitees to have or sign up for a (free) account.
When we create your account, we look for Backboards you have created with that email address in the past, and add those Backboards to your account. We need to make sure you really are the owner of that email address before we show you these Backboards, or let you access restricted Backboards.
We use your email address to identify you within our system, and communicate with you specifically about your Backboards. We respect your email privacy, as detailed in our Privacy Policy. Please note that each Backboard participant will be notified when there is new feedback, but we make every effort to make email notifications non-obtrusive.
We bill most accounts by credit card, and you have the option of paying by monthly or yearly. If you upgrade your plan, you'll see the benefits immediately. If you downgrade, you will be charged the lower rate at the next billing cycle. We work hard to keep things simple for you, so please understand that we cannot issue refunds and do not prorate for partial months or years of use.
Larger enterprise clients can inquire about custom billing arrangments.
We want you to have every opportunity to experience what Backboard has to offer. Your first premium plan is absolutely free for the first 14 days. After your trial you will have the option to continue using your premium plan or downgrade to a free plan.
You can change your billing information at any time by clicking on the link on the Account Settings screen, located beside your next billing date.
We evaluate discounts for non-profit or educational groups on a case by case basis. We encourage you to evaluate Backboard's free offerings and see if those meet your needs. If you need the security or file size capabilities of a premium Backboard account, contact us with more information about your organization and proposed use of Backboard.
Backboard supports Internet Explorer 6 or later, Safari 2 or later, and Firefox 2 or later.
Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and later or Windows XP SP2 and later
Increo Solutions is a software company located in Mountain View, CA. We produce easy-to-use software to support teams as they work with documents online.
We are constantly working to make Backboard better. If you have found a problem or have a suggestion for Backboard please contact us.
