STEP BY STEP
The workflow
1
Compare the two versions
Drop in V1 (your sent version) and V2 (their returned version). AI Compare identifies every change — additions, deletions, substitutions — and classifies each as cosmetic, material, or critical.
2
Ask about specific changes
Open Chat with PDF on V2 and ask 'what changed in the indemnification clause?' or 'is the limitation of liability still capped?' Citations point you to the exact page.
3
Generate a redline summary for your team
Use Summarize → Action Items format to get a list of every changed obligation with severity ratings. Forward this to the deal team — they'll thank you.
WHY IT MATTERS
The case for doing this
Contract review used to mean Tracking Changes line-by-line in Word. Modern AI compare gives you the diff in under a minute and classifies severity, so the senior reviewer focuses on the 3 material changes instead of the 47 cosmetic ones. The hours saved compound across every deal.
COMMON MISTAKES
What to avoid
Comparing different formatting versions
If V1 was Times New Roman and V2 came back as Calibri, you'll get hundreds of false-positive 'changes' that aren't real. Normalize formatting before comparing.
Trusting the diff for legal certainty
AI Compare is an aid, not authority. For high-stakes contracts (M&A, multi-million-dollar agreements), have a senior lawyer review the diff and the full document.
Skipping the severity filter
If you read every change, you waste time on cosmetic ones. Filter to 'material changes only' for the first pass.
TIPS FOR THE BEST RESULTS
What works
Run on the unsigned versions only
Cryptographic signatures in V1 or V2 add visual noise to the diff. Compare unsigned drafts.
Export redline as DOCX for non-technical reviewers
Senior partners want Word redlines, not PDF redlines. Our export gives you both formats.
Save the diff alongside the contract
When the deal closes, file the diff with the executed agreement. Future you will thank past you when amendment season hits.
RELATED WORKFLOWS
Other jobs people do with pdfcraft ai
How to translate an employee handbook into 5 languages with consistent layout
One source PDF → 5 language-specific PDFs, layout preserved, terminology consistent.
How to redact a PDF properly before sending it externally
Permanently remove names, salaries, account numbers, and PII — not 'cover with a black box'.
How to combine thesis chapters into one submission-ready PDF
Cover, abstract, chapters, references, appendices — one file, with bookmarks, page numbers, and TOC.
FAQ
Questions about this workflow
Yes — but you must run OCR first on both. Without text layers, the comparison has no content to compare.
Try the workflow on a real PDF
Free tools run in your browser. No signup, no watermarks.
Start with step 1