Frequently asked questions
Common questions about DocCite. If you cannot find what you need, email hello@doccite.com.
1. Who is DocCite for?
DocCite is for clinical research professionals who work with study documents. This includes CRCs, research nurses, site staff, PIs and sub-investigators, CRAs, medical monitors, patient recruiters, clinical project managers, regulatory coordinators and managers, QA managers and auditors, research pharmacists, and other clinical research professionals who need to find and verify source passages.
2. What kinds of documents can I use with DocCite?
DocCite works with common clinical study documents, including protocols, synopses, schedules of assessments and visits, informed consent forms (ICFs), investigator brochure excerpts, site manuals, pharmacy manuals, protocol amendments, protocol clarifications, FAQs, and related study materials. You can also use DocCite with other document sets when you want the source material organized, searchable, and easy to reference.
3. How is DocCite different from manually searching documents?
Manual search tools like Find or Ctrl+F work one document at a time and rely on exact text matches. DocCite searches across your loaded documents, supports keyword and concept-based search, returns cited passages with document name, page number, and section, and lets you jump directly to the source. It also warns you when evidence is weak instead of guessing.
4. Can I use ChatGPT or another AI assistant with my documents?
Sometimes, for non-sensitive material, that may be fine. General-purpose AI assistants can help with summarizing, rephrasing, and answering broad questions. Many clinical research teams still need a more conservative workflow for study documents. In some settings, document uploads may not be allowed by policy. And even when an answer sounds polished, a generated response can smooth over ambiguity or state more than the source clearly supports. DocCite has a narrower job. It keeps documents local, searches across them, shows the cited passage behind the result, and says when it could not find enough evidence for an answer.
5. Is DocCite an AI chatbot?
No. DocCite is a private, local document search and review tool. It searches your own files and shows the source passage behind each answer.
6. Does DocCite send my documents to the cloud?
No. DocCite keeps your documents on your device. There is no cloud upload, no server-side processing, and no external transmission of your documents for search or answers.
7. Does DocCite work offline?
Local document processing works offline in the installed apps. DocCite Web needs its program files to finish caching before offline use. See the web-app guide for browser storage and backup guidance.
8. Can DocCite answer questions without citations?
No. DocCite provides answers only when specific passages from your loaded documents support them. If it cannot find sufficient evidence, it will say so instead of guessing. Every answer includes the supporting excerpt.
9. What file types does DocCite support?
DocCite supports text-native PDFs, scanned PDFs through on-device OCR, .docx, .txt, .rtf, and .md files. Camera capture is available in native apps where supported. You can create notes directly in DocCite.
10. Does DocCite require an account?
No DocCite account is required. You can import documents into the installed app or use the browser app's local library without registering.
11. Is DocCite free?
Yes. DocCite is free to download and use.
12. How can I support DocCite?
The best way to support DocCite is to use it and share it with others in clinical research. The clinical research books linked from the footer's More from David Lew section are another optional way to support the independent work behind it.
13. What devices and platforms does DocCite support?
DocCite is available for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, and Windows. Apple Watch can send a question or note to its paired iPhone. The Wear OS companion sends captures to its paired Android phone. Document search and cited-answer review take place in the main apps.
14. Is DocCite only for Apple devices?
No. DocCite works across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, and Windows. Download it from the App Store for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, Google Play for Android, or Microsoft Store for Windows. A direct Android installer is also available from the DocCite website. If a Mac or Windows device cannot use its store, email hello@doccite.com with the device and deployment details.
15. Are watch companion capture features available?
Yes. On Apple Watch, you can queue a question or short note for the paired iPhone. On Wear OS, you can send the same kind of capture to the paired Android phone. The watch companions do not open documents, run searches, or display cited answers.
16. What is the minimum OS for the native apps?
DocCite supports iOS 16 or later, iPadOS 16 or later, macOS 14 or later, Android 12 or later, and Windows 10 or later. Watch companion capture requires watchOS 9 or later on Apple Watch and Wear OS 3 or later on Wear OS watches.
17. Where can I find the current version and release notes?
Each store listing shows its current release. See the release notes for changes and the separately versioned Android installer.
18. Can I move my DocCite library between platforms?
Offline Transfer works within compatible native app versions. Cross-platform routes have limits, and web backups use a separate format. Check the version-specific compatibility table before moving a library.
19. Can I use DocCite in a browser?
DocCite Web 1.3 beta is available. Keep an encrypted backup of your browser library. Read the web-app guide for supported browsers before importing documents.
20. How can I report a bug or share feedback?
If you find a bug, spot an issue, or have a suggestion, email hello@doccite.com. David reviews feedback from clinical research professionals when deciding what to fix or build next.
For another question, email hello@doccite.com.
Read the blog for more writing on clinical research documents and study workflows.
View release notes for recent website and app updates.