GoFiler includes a function to preview your XBRL report by downloading and installing the SEC’s XBRL previewer software. This function will handle the set up of the XBRL previewer software for you by downloading the necessary components from the SEC and installing it. In addition to the SEC's previewer software, if you do not have the Python Scripting Language installed on your computer, this function will also download and install the Python Scripting Language.
Proofing with the SEC’s previewer will provide you (and your clients, if applicable) with a good approximation of what the final XBRL report will look like when viewed as interactive data in the EDGAR filing archive. (As a side note, on the GoFiler proof generated by the SEC’s previewer software, the navigation sidebar is created completely by GoFiler so may not precisely match the SEC’s sidebar. All other portions of the proof are created strictly by the previewer software.)
To preview your report, follow the steps below.
- Make sure your XBRL or iXBRL report is the active window in the software.
- Press the Publish button on the File Ribbon.
- Choose the Proof with SEC Previewer menu item.
- Follow the prompts to create your proof. If the SEC's XBRL previewer software has not been previously installed on your computer, the prompts will walk you through the installation process.
The proof will be created inside the folder containing your XBRL or iXBRL document. In the case of XBRL, the XBRL files will also be created from your .xfr working document. Inside the folder, the Reports sub-directory will be created and the proof files placed inside it. Note that if the Reports directory already exists due to a previously previewed report, the proof files will be overwritten when creating the new proof.
