---
title: "Drafts"
description: "How unfinished write-ups graduate into the sales log."
source: "https://docs.aplt.ai/docs/drafts"
updated: "2026-06-25T08:53:54.569+00:00"
product: Autopilot
content_type: documentation
---

# Drafts

How unfinished write-ups graduate into the sales log.

Drafts are write-ups that are not ready for the sales log yet. Use Drafts to find what is missing, finish the sign-off checks, and move deals into the live sales log.

## Where to find it

Use **Sales Log -> Drafts**.

## How it works

### 1. Review what is waiting

The Drafts page shows write-ups that have not graduated yet.

Use the status chips to filter by:

- **Almost ready**
- **Need customer**
- **Need deposit**
- **Need manager**
- **Customer signed**
- **Deposit paid**
- **Manager approved**

You can also group drafts by salesperson, channel, progress, or date, then search by customer or vehicle.

### 2. Complete the three checks

Each draft needs:

- **Customer signed**
- **Deposit paid**
- **Manager approved**

Customer signed and deposit paid can be ticked by people with access to the deal. Manager approved needs manager sign-off.

### 3. Use the draft menu for quick actions

Open the draft menu to:

- quick edit the draft
- duplicate it
- open the full deal page
- tick customer signed, deposit paid, or manager approved
- use **Mark all done & graduate**, when available
- cancel the deal or manage a pending cancellation

### 4. Let the draft graduate

When all three checks are complete, Autopilot moves the deal out of Drafts and into the sales log and pipeline.

## Important details

### Drafts are not live sales log deals

Drafts stay out of the sales log and pipeline until the three checks are complete.

### Approval rules can block graduation

If the dealership requires certain fields before a deal becomes sold, Autopilot shows the missing details instead of graduating the draft. Fill those details, then try again.

### Managers can return live deals to Drafts

If a live deal needs to be reviewed again, a permitted manager can use **Return to drafts**. This clears the manager approval check and records the change in history.

### View preference is saved

You can switch Drafts between table and card views, then pin your preferred view as the default.

## Troubleshooting

### A draft is not moving to the sales log

Check the three sign-off checks. If all three are complete, look for an approval-rule message showing missing required details.

### You cannot tick manager approved

Manager approval is permission-gated. Ask a manager or someone with manager sign-off permission to review the deal.

### You cannot clear a check after graduation

If the deal is already in the sales log, send it back deliberately before clearing graduation checks.