---
source_url: https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/disclosure-management/configure-document-disclmgmt/layout-check
language: en
last_updated: 2026-08-03
---
# Layout Check

## Overview

In Lucanet **Disclosure Management**, the **Layout Check** automatically monitors the text and formatting consistency of a Word chapter. As soon as a chapter is checked out or updated in Word, the Layout Check checks the content for deviations from the stored text and formatting rules – without requiring any additional work step. The Layout Check also runs automatically when a result document is created.

Violations found are shown on the **Layout violations** tab of the Messages window in Word (see [Reviewing Layout Check Violations](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/disclosure-management/work-with-msoffice/reviewing-layout-check-violations.md)).

On the **Layout check** tab in the **Configure document** workspace, you define which rules are monitored.

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The **Layout check** tab and all related functions require an **Advanced** license or higher. Without a sufficient license, the tab is displayed but disabled.
{% /warning-box %}

## Opening the 'Layout Check' Tab

To open the **Layout check** tab, proceed as follows:

{% stepper %}
{% stepper-step %}
Open a document and click **Configure document**.
{% /stepper-step %}
{% stepper-step %}
Open the **Layout check** tab. It is displayed as follows, for example:

The 'Layout check' tab in the 'Configure document' workspace
{% /stepper-step %}
{% /stepper %}

## Enabling and Disabling Text Rules

The Layout Check rules are divided into two groups in the **Text rules** area: **Characters** and **Formatting**.

Each rule has its own toggle switch that lets you enable or disable the rule individually.

Some rules depend on each other:
- **'Spacing' font-size adjustment** can only be enabled if **Custom font size** is active.
- **'Spacing' color highlight** can only be enabled if **Highlight** is active.
Disabling the parent rule also disables the dependent rule.

The header of **Text rules**, as well as of each of the two groups, shows the number of active rules, for example **15 of 15 active**.

{% info-box %}
The Layout Check settings apply document-wide, regardless of the document language – unlike the [Typography Rules](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/disclosure-management/configure-document-disclmgmt/manage-typography-rules.md), which are managed per document language.
{% /info-box %}

The following rules are available:

**Characters**

| Rule | Description |
|---|---|
| Duplicate punctuation | Flags identical punctuation marks that appear immediately next to each other. |
| Missing punctuation at end of paragraph | Flags paragraphs that do not end with a period, question mark, or exclamation mark. |
| Duplicate quotation marks | Flags duplicated quotation marks. |
| Missing or misordered brackets | Flags missing brackets or mismatched bracket pairs (for example, round, square, or curly brackets). |
| Duplicate whitespace | Flags spaces that appear immediately next to each other. |
| Repeated words | Flags words that are immediately repeated. |

**Formatting**

| Rule | Description |
|---|---|
| Custom font size | Flags characters with a manually set font size (not inherited from the style). |
| 'Spacing' font-size adjustment | Checks whether font size adjustments were made through the configuration on the 'Spacing' tab, and flags them as separate layout violations. |
| Custom font | Flags characters with a manually set font. |
| Custom font color | Flags characters with a manually set font color. |
| Custom shading | Flags manually set shading. |
| Highlight | Flags manually set highlighting. |
| 'Spacing' color highlight | Checks whether highlight color adjustments were made through the configuration on the 'Spacing' tab, and flags them as separate layout violations. |
| Changed values | Flags text passages with highlighted, changed values. |
| Unlisted style | Flags styles that are not stored in the [Style Guide](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/disclosure-management/configure-document-disclmgmt/style-guide.md). |

{% info-box %}
Graphics are not monitored by the Layout Check. Table content is currently covered by the **Changed values** and **Unlisted style** rules.
{% /info-box %}

## Impact on Existing Chapters

When the Layout Check is activated for a document for the first time, all existing violations of the active rules appear at once the next time a Word chapter is checked out. How many there are depends on the respective chapter.

You can mark intentional deviations as **Approved** directly on the **Layout violations** tab with a single click (see [Reviewing Layout Check Violations](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/disclosure-management/work-with-msoffice/reviewing-layout-check-violations.md)) – this is a one-time but necessary effort. After that, these spots are no longer flagged as an active violation.