What You'll Learn

• How to capture photos and videos without running a diagnostic workflow
• When to use Documentation-Only Mode instead of a full project
• How to organize documentation by system component
• How to generate a photo/video report from documentation-only captures

What You'll Need

• Device: iPhone (iOS 15+), iPad, or Android phone/tablet (Android 10+) with measureQuick v3.6+
• Account: Active measureQuick Premier Services subscription
• Camera: Device camera for photo capture; video recording requires a device capable of recording (all modern phones and tablets)
• Time: 5 minutes to read; varies by documentation scope on site

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: What Documentation-Only Mode Is

Documentation-Only Mode lets you capture visual documentation - photos and 30-second video clips - tied to a location and equipment without connecting probes or running a diagnostic workflow. No manifold, no temperature clamps, no psychrometer. Just your phone and what you can see.

This is a standalone project type in mQ 3.6. It creates a record in measureQuick Cloud with timestamped photos, videos, and notes attached to a site and (optionally) specific equipment. The result is a shareable documentation report rather than a diagnostic report.

Think of it as a structured camera roll for HVAC work - organized, timestamped, and tied to a customer record instead of scattered across your phone's photo library.

Project type selection showing Cooling, Heating, and Visual Doc options

Step 2: When to Use It

Documentation-Only Mode fills the gap between "I need to take some pictures" and "I need to run a full diagnostic." Common use cases:

Sales visits and estimates. Walk through the existing equipment, capture photos of the indoor and outdoor units, data plates, ductwork, electrical panels, and access points. The documentation report becomes part of your proposal package.

Pre-install site surveys. Document the existing installation before the crew arrives. Capture clearances, mounting locations, electrical service, duct routing, and anything the installers need to see before they bring equipment.

Visual-only inspections. Maintenance visits where you inspect but do not measure - checking for visible damage, corrosion, water staining, biological growth, or physical deterioration.

Warranty documentation. Photograph equipment condition, installation quality, model/serial plates, and any defects. Timestamped photos from measureQuick carry more weight in warranty disputes than undated phone photos.

Before/after photos for non-diagnostic work. Duct sealing, insulation work, equipment cleaning, drain line clearing, or any service where the value is visual, not measured.

Tips:

• If you are going to connect probes and run diagnostics, use a standard project workflow instead. Documentation-Only Mode does not capture measurement data.
• You can always start with Documentation-Only and convert to a full project later if you decide diagnostics are needed.

Step 3: Starting Documentation-Only Mode

From the mQ+ main screen:

1. Tap to start a new project (or select Fresh Start if the app shows nearby projects)
2. From the project type options, select Visual Documentation (or Photo/Video Documentation-Only Mode, depending on your interface)
3. Choose how to organize your documentation:
   • Standard - a flat collection of photos and videos with notes
   • Organized by System Component - photos grouped by condenser, evaporator, air handler, ductwork, thermostat, electrical, and other categories

The component-organized option is useful for surveys and inspections where you want to separate outdoor from indoor documentation. Standard mode is faster for quick captures.

Photo Documentation screen showing Organized by System Component checklist with categories like Thermostat, Electrical System, Air Distribution, and more

Tips:

• Select Organized by System Component for pre-install surveys. This produces a cleaner report and makes it easier for installers to find what they need.
• Standard mode works well for quick warranty documentation or before/after captures where categorization is not necessary.

Step 4: Capturing Photos and Videos

The camera interface in Documentation-Only Mode works the same way as in diagnostic workflows. You have access to:

• Photo capture - tap the camera button to take a photo
• Video capture - switch to video mode to record clips up to 30 seconds each
• Library import - select existing photos from your device's camera roll (multi-select supported - choose several photos and tap Done to import them all at once)

For component-organized mode, navigate to the appropriate component category before capturing. Photos taken under "Condenser" stay grouped with the condenser; photos taken under "Ductwork" stay with ductwork.

The 30-second video limit keeps clips focused. For conditions that are difficult to convey in a still photo - unusual sounds, vibration, airflow patterns, water movement, the general state of an attic or crawl space - video adds context that photos cannot.

Camera interface in Documentation-Only Mode showing photo and video capture buttons, with component category tabs visible

Tips:

• Capture the data plate (model and serial number) first. This becomes the equipment identifier in the documentation record.
• Use the flashlight (available from the Navigation Drawer in mQ+) for dark attics, crawl spaces, and equipment closets.
• Video is useful for showing movement or scale. A 10-second pan across ductwork in an attic communicates condition faster than six still photos.

Step 5: Adding Notes and Descriptions

Each photo and video supports a text note. Use notes to add context that the image alone does not convey:

• Dimensions and clearances ("18 inches between unit and wall, need 24 for code")
• Observations ("Visible rust on drain pan, not yet leaking")
• Recommendations ("Replace flex duct run - 15 feet of sag, no support strapping")
• Location details ("Supply register in master bedroom, second floor")

Notes appear alongside their associated photos in the generated report. They are searchable in measureQuick Cloud.

[Visual Reference] Below a captured photo, the notes field is open and editable. The technician has typed a description of observed conditions (e.g., "Visible rust on drain pan, not yet leaking" or "18 inches between unit and wall, need 24 for code"). These notes appear alongside their associated photos in the generated report and are searchable in measureQuick Cloud. The text field supports multiple lines and accepts any descriptive detail that the photo alone does not convey.

Step 6: Generating a Documentation Report

When you have captured all the documentation you need:

1. Complete the documentation project
2. Tap Generate Report (or the report icon)
3. The app produces a PDF containing all captured photos and videos, organized by component if you chose that mode

The documentation report includes:

• Cover page with your company branding, technician name, date, and site information
• Photos organized by component category (if component mode was used) or in capture order (if standard mode)
• Notes displayed alongside their associated photos
• Videos represented as QR codes - the customer scans the code with their phone camera to watch the video via measureQuick Cloud

The report does not contain diagnostic data, Vital Scores, or measurement tables. It is a visual documentation package.

Share the report the same way as a diagnostic report: email, text, AirDrop, Save to Files, or print. See Report Generation and Report Sharing & Email for sharing details.

Tips & Common Issues

I started Documentation-Only Mode but now I need to run diagnostics

You can convert a documentation-only project to a full project. From the project screen, look for the option to convert or upgrade the project type. Your existing photos and notes carry over into the full project.

Videos do not play in the PDF

Videos cannot be embedded directly in PDF files. Each video appears as a QR code in the report. The customer (or anyone with the report) scans the QR code with a phone camera to open the video for playback via measureQuick Cloud. No measureQuick account is required to view the video.

My photos are not organized by component

If you selected Standard mode instead of Organized by System Component, photos appear in capture order without categories. To switch modes, you need to start a new documentation project. There is no way to reorganize after capture.

The report file is very large

Photo count and resolution drive file size. If you captured 30+ high-resolution photos, the PDF may be 15+ MB. Consider reducing your device's camera resolution for documentation work, or select only the most relevant photos before generating the report.

Can I use Documentation-Only Mode without a Premier Services subscription?

Documentation-Only Mode is a Premier Services feature. It requires an active subscription at $49/user/month. Basic and free-tier users do not have access to this mode. See Subscription Plans for details.

Best practices for documentation efficiency

• Develop a standard capture sequence for common visit types. For pre-install surveys: data plate, electrical panel, indoor unit, outdoor unit, thermostat, supply registers, return grille, attic/crawl space access.
• Use multi-select from library if you prefer to take photos with the native camera app first and import afterward.
• Add notes as you go rather than after the fact. On-site observations are more accurate than notes written from memory in the truck.
• For warranty claims, capture the data plate, the defect, the installation date sticker, and any visible code violations in the installation. Four photos with notes are more persuasive than twenty photos without context.

Related Articles

Prerequisites (you may need these first):

• Photos & Documentation - Photo capture fundamentals in measureQuick
• Subscription Plans - Premier Services subscription required

Follow-up articles (next steps after this one):

• Report Generation - Full diagnostic report generation (for comparison)
• Video Documentation - Video capture details and QR code playback

Related in the same domain:

• Service History Timeline - Viewing past service records on equipment
• A/C Installation Workflow - When to use a full project instead of documentation-only

Need Help?

If you get stuck or this article doesn't answer your question:

• Check the Related Articles section above
• Contact measureQuick support: support@measurequick.com
• Schedule a training session with our support team