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Summary of Update Methods

It's important to select the update method that fits your firm standards. Listed are the various cases and how each of the update methods will function during the Check for updates process. For some cases, each method will act the same way, while some do not – consider the differences when deciding on the update method for your engagement teams. Refer to each item below for details on how the update method is applied under each firm option:

The firm author updates an existing procedure owned by the firm author
The firm author adds a new procedure that does not currently exist
The firm author deletes a procedure permanently from the content library and from the standard work program/checklist
The firm author deletes a procedure from the standard work program/checklist
A new procedure is added to a work program or checklist at the engagement level
A procedure is deleted from a work program or checklist at the engagement level
A procedure or document is signed off as complete
A procedure is made unavailable by the firm author
The document properties are updated by the firm author

For each of the cases involving a procedure being updated, note that the Version of each procedure must be updated for each modification.

Note: These examples are all procedures that have not changed ownership when firm author modified the procedure. When you modify a procedure you do not own, you will be asked if you want to change ownership of the procedure. When you change ownership, consider it to be two procedures – the original procedure is made unavailable to the user (hence it will be deleted during check for updates) and a new procedure is created by you that the user will have to add to replace the original procedure. The firm author is responsible for notifying the engagement teams of this change.

The firm author updates an existing procedure owned by the firm author:

Case	User interactively updates individual documents	Update all existing procedures and document properties	Update all existing procedures, add new procedures
The firm author marks the procedure as Required or the procedure was already set as Required.	Procedure is always updated at the engagement level as firm has marked it as Required.
The firm author makes modifications to an existing Required procedure.	Procedure shows as “Out of Date” when Check for updates is selected at the engagement level. User can elect to update as required or keep customizations previously made and modify accordingly.		Procedure is updated automatically at the engagement level.
The firm author updates a procedure that is NOT Required and NO modifications were made to the original procedure at the engagement level.	In the client file update process, if the user does not use the Procedures dialog to indicate that this document is to be ignored, all procedures in the document are updated. If the document is not updated as part of the client file update process, the procedure shows as “Out of Date” when the Check for updates is selected at the engagement level. User can elect to update as required or keep customizations previously made and modify accordingly.	Procedure is updated automatically at the engagement level.
The firm author updates a procedure that is NOT Required and modifications were made to the original procedure at the engagement level.	In the client file update process, if the user does not use the Procedures dialog to indicate that this document is to be ignored, all procedures in the document are updated. Procedure shows as “Out of Date” when the Check for updates is selected at the engagement level. User can elect to update as required or keep customizations previously made and modify accordingly.

The firm author adds a new procedure that does not currently exist:

Case	User interactively updates individual documents	Update all existing procedures and document properties	Update all existing procedures, add new procedures
The firm author marks the new procedure as Required.	Procedure is always added at the engagement level as firm has marked it as Required.
The firm author marks the procedure as NOT Required.	Added to firm content library but is not automatically updated to the engagement. Dialog will appear to select procedures from content library. Click on each procedure to preview content before selecting.		Procedure is added automatically at the engagement level.

The firm author deletes a procedure permanently from the content library and from the standard work program/checklist:

Case	User interactively updates individual documents	Update all existing procedures and document properties	Update all existing procedures, add new procedures
The firm author deletes a Required procedure and NO modifications were made to the original procedure at the engagement level.	Procedure status highlights that procedure is removed from content library.
The firm author deletes a Required procedure and modifications were made to the original procedure at the engagement level.	Procedure status highlights that procedure is removed from content library.
The firm author deletes a NOT Required procedure and NO modifications were made to the original procedure at the engagement level.	Procedure status highlights that procedure is removed from content library.
The firm author deletes a NOT Required procedure and modifications were made to the original procedure at the engagement level.	Procedure status highlights that procedure is removed from content library. Delete button is available first time in check for updates. After the first time, the procedure becomes a user procedure.

The firm author deletes a procedure from the standard work program/checklist:

Case	User interactively updates individual documents	Update all existing procedures and document properties	Update all existing procedures, add new procedures
The firm author deletes a procedure from the work program/checklist.	Procedures remain in the engagement document.
The firm author deletes a procedure from the work program/checklist that was not included in the document.	Procedures can be deleted from an engagement file. No automatic notification is available. Firms must ensure users are advised if this situation occurs.

A new procedure is added to a work program/checklist at the engagement level:

Case	User interactively updates individual documents	Update all existing procedures and document properties	Update all existing procedures, add new procedures
A new procedure is added at the engagement level that doesn't exist in content library.	Engagement procedure is retained on update process.

A procedure is deleted from a work program/checklist at the engagement level:

Case	User interactively updates individual documents	Update all existing procedures and document properties	Update all existing procedures, add new procedures
A procedure set as Required is deleted.	Required procedures can never be deleted at the engagement level.

A procedure or document is signed off as complete:

Case	Update individual procedures manually	Update all existing procedures and document properties	Update all existing procedures, add new procedures
A procedure is signed off as complete.	User can elect to remove the sign off on the procedure prior to the update process. Update depends on state of procedure as outlined in Cases 1-6.	User can elect to remove the sign off on the procedure prior to the update process. Update depends on state of procedure as outlined in Cases 1-6.	User can elect to remove the sign off on the procedure prior to the update process. Update depends on state of procedure as outlined in Cases 1-6.
An entire document is signed off as complete.	The Check for updates options is disabled if the document is signed off as completed.	The Check for updates options is disabled if the document is signed off as completed.	The Check for updates options is disabled if the document is signed off as completed.

A procedure is made unavailable by the firm author:

Case	Update individual procedures manually	Update all existing procedures and document properties	Update all existing procedures, add new procedures
A procedure is made unavailable by the firm author and it is NOT included in a document at the engagement level.	Procedure will appear in the client file as Removed from Content Library.
A procedure is made unavailable by the firm author and it is included in a document at the engagement level.	Procedure will be treated as a procedure the engagement team has added, if they decide to keep the procedure.

The document properties are updated by the firm author:

Case	Update individual procedures manually	Update all existing procedures and document properties	Update all existing procedures, add new procedures
The document properties are updated by the firm author.	Document properties are updated in each work program or checklist when Check for Updates is performed.	Document properties are automatically updated in the client file.

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Summary of Update Methods

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