About the Lockdown Feature
The Engagement lockdown feature allows for better managing of documents that the auditor should prepare for the reporting period and retain at the end of the reporting period and the date financial statements are authorized for issue.
Using the Lockdown feature, you can do the following:
- Lock the client file so changes cannot be made to the file as of a predetermined date, typically after document completion date.
- Set the file to automate certain functions such as cleaning up the file, rolling forward to next year and copying or deleting files from the Document Manager.
- Unlock the client file if you are authorized with a password.
- See at a glance if an Archive or Year End Close operation has been performed.
- Find documents referenced by the client file but not located in the client directory.
- Continue to work on key documents and add tax entries.
How it works
With the Lockdown feature, you can lock documents in a client file as of a predetermined date, whether present or future. In a locked down state, most shared data in the documents is set to read-only. Changes cannot be made to the locked down file without unlocking and documenting the changes first. Each time a file is unlocked, a history event is automatically created so you can track the activities of the file in the Engagement History.
Locking down a file
Locking down documents in a client file uses the Engagement Lockdown Wizard. The wizard guides you through the lockdown process and allows you to make specifications for the lockdown. In the wizard, you can choose when to lock documents as well as the context, considerations, and passwords associated with the lockdown. Typically, engagement files can be locked down a specific number of days after financial statements are issued. You can wait until that time and then lock the file down immediately or you can set the lockdown to occur automatically based on the report release. Completing the wizard will lock down the selected documents in your file effective immediately if locking down now, or at midnight of the lockdown date in the future.>>How Do I?
Lockdown file state
Once a document has been locked down, it is in lockdown file state and will appear with a lock icon. When a lockdown occurs, certain actions are performed automatically while some become restricted or unavailable once the lockdown is complete.
- Actions Performed Automatically on Lockdown
- Available Actions in the Locked Down File
- Unavailable Actions in the Locked Down File
Note: Invalid sign off indicators 
are disabled while files are in a locked down state. Indicators will reappear when temporarily unlocked. Documents that were not locked or new unlocked documents added to the locked down file will appear when the file is temporarily unlocked.
Other Considerations
Lockdown and Maintenance Features
When you set a file to lock down, you have the chance to perform other file maintenance features like a Clean Up or Year End Close. The Lockdown Wizard runs a diagnostic which determines the maintenance features available in your client file. If you choose to perform any of the maintenance features, they will be run immediately after completing the Engagement Lockdown Wizard.
SmartSync
Some of the options for this feature are not available in Working Papers with SmartSync.
Tracker
When locking down files, it may take time for changes to reflect in Tracker. To speed up this process - resynchronize Data Store with Active Directory and resynchronize Tracker with the shared folder.
