Test Report Ingestion & Batch Submittal Guide

Follow these instructions when transmitting compressive strength break packets (Terracon, ECS, PSI, or third-party labs) into OnlineQC to guarantee 100% PDF linkage and immediate QA queue verification.

⭐ The #1 Golden Rule: Wait for the Green Checkmark

Always keep your browser tab open until the progress bar reaches 100% and displays the green confirmation badge: "✅ Successfully transmitted X test report(s) to TCA QA Queue! Safe to close."
If you close or refresh the window while files are still transferring over Wi-Fi, background cloud uploads can get interrupted.

1. The 3 Supported Upload Options

OnlineQC provides three flexible ways to transmit test reports depending on your batch size:

📄

A. Loose PDFs

Drag and drop multiple individual PDF test reports directly into the upload area.

Best for: 1 – 25 reports

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B. Entire Folder

Click "📁 Select Folder of Reports" to select a whole desktop folder at once without zipping.

Best for: Daily batches

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C. .ZIP Archive

Right-click your folder, compress to a single .zip file, and drop it in one simple click.

Best for: 50 – 300+ reports

2. Recommended Batch Sizes (If Not Zipping)

If you are transmitting loose, unzipped PDFs, please adhere to the following recommended batch sizes to ensure your browser finishes uploading in seconds:

Batch Size	Approx. Number of Reports	Typical Transfer Time	Status / Recommendation
Under 35 MB	20 to 25 reports	15 – 30 seconds	🟢 Recommended Sweet Spot: Fastest, instant cloud linkage.
35 MB – 50 MB	25 to 40 reports	35 – 60 seconds	🟡 Standard: Ensure you keep your browser tab active.
Over 50 MB	50 to 300+ reports	2 – 8+ minutes	🔴 Use .ZIP Option: Avoids browser network throttling on large drops.

3. How to Create and Drop a .ZIP File (Windows 10 & 11)

For quarterly submittals, yearly archives, or large project transfers (50+ reports), zipping your files takes less than 5 seconds and guarantees that every single file transfers cleanly:

Collect Your PDF Reports in a Folder

Ensure all your compressive strength test report PDFs for the project or date range are in one folder on your computer.

Right-Click → Compress to ZIP

• Windows 11: Right-click the folder → click "Compress to ZIP file".
• Windows 10: Right-click the folder → select "Send to" → click "Compressed (zipped) folder".

Drop into OnlineQC Upload Zone

Open the OnlineQC upload modal and drag the single .zip file onto the drop zone (or click "📦 Select .ZIP Archive"). The system automatically unzips and extracts all reports.

4. PDF Formatting Best Practices

Prefer Native Digital PDFs Over Paper Scans:
Whenever possible, download the original digital PDF report directly from the testing laboratory's client portal (Terracon, ECS, Froehling & Robertson, PSI). Digital PDFs feature crisp vector text, ensuring 100% optical character recognition (OCR) of ticket numbers, slump, air content, and cylinder load values.
Ensure Upright Document Orientation:
If physical sheets must be scanned on an office multi-function printer (MFP), ensure sheets are placed face-up and upright in the document feeder. Inverted or upside-down scans can prevent automated ticket detection.
Multi-Page Reports Are Fully Supported:
OnlineQC automatically scans every page of multi-page lab packets. Each individual pour and set of cylinders within a multi-page document will be split and linked to its exact corresponding page.

Notice on Ticket Revisions (Rev1, Rev2):
When an updated laboratory report is issued for 28-day or 56-day breaks on an existing pour, simply upload the revised PDF. The system automatically locates the existing ticket in your queue and updates the break values without creating a duplicate record.

5. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happens if my internet connection drops during an upload?
A: OnlineQC has built-in pre-binding. If an upload is ever interrupted, simply re-drop the batch. The portal automatically recognizes previously verified items and only uploads missing documents.

Q: Can I close my laptop right after dragging the files?
A: No. Please wait until the HUD shows the green checkmark "✅ Ingestion Complete". The portal has an active upload lock that will warn you if you attempt to leave prematurely.

Q: Can I email my reports directly instead of uploading?
A: Yes! You or your laboratory can email PDF reports directly to your assigned inbound email (e.g., feltonQC@theconcreteadvantage.com), which is listed inside your OnlineQC portal.