> This is the Markdown of a Backed Help Centre page, https://admin.backed.giving/help/news/2026/2026-10-18-product-news.md. Every page is listed at https://admin.backed.giving/help/llms.txt. This roundup covers what changed since the [October 2026 Product News](/news/2026/2026-10-17-product-news), module by module. Each line links the help guide that explains the change in full. Screens use Backed's default words; if your organisation has renamed any of them under `Settings > Organisation > Terminology`, you see your own words instead. ## Assessments - **Blind review.** An assessment round can conceal chosen fields from its Assessors and turn on `Anonymise attachments`, so uploaded files reach them as `Attachment 1`, `Attachment 2` and so on, in the form, the PDF and the bulk download alike. The round's `Concealed information` panel shows what is hidden, previews the Assessor's view, and lifts concealment with a reason. See [Assessment rounds](/administrator/assessments/assessment-rounds). - **Review panels.** A round's `Panels` tab groups Assessors into panels with a convenor view. Panel members see each other's scores and comments on the panel tab of `My Assessments` once their own is submitted, and the panel lead records the panel's outcome. Only members assessing the application are offered as deputy lead. See [Assessment rounds](/administrator/assessments/assessment-rounds) and [Review panels](/assessor/review-panels). - **Leaderboard and shortlist.** The round's `Leaderboard` tab ranks applications, draws a cut line and saves a shortlist; the application pickers gain a tag filter. See [Assessment rounds](/administrator/assessments/assessment-rounds). - **Equal-merit draw.** Where applications tie at the cut line, mark the equal-merit band and `Draw` a partial lottery across it, or `Void draw`; the draw's result can be exported. See [Assessment rounds](/administrator/assessments/assessment-rounds). - **Assign by rule.** `Assign by rule` assigns Assessors to applications by a rule you can save and `Re-apply` later; a pool too small for the rule says what to do instead. See [Assignments](/administrator/assessments/assignments). - **Accepting an assignment.** A round can ask Assessors to accept or decline each assignment, with a reason when they decline, and can reassign declined work automatically. Administrators see each Assessor's counts and filter by acceptance. See [Assignments](/administrator/assessments/assignments) and [Deciding whether to assess](/assessor/deciding-whether-to-assess). - **Download a whole round.** Assessors can `Download all` for a round on `My Assessments` and are emailed when the bundle is ready; applications they are no longer assigned to are left out. See [Assessor home](/assessor/assessor-home). - **Criteria library.** Keep reusable scoring criteria in the `Criteria library`, insert them into an assessment form and update them to a newer version. Assessors see each scored field's scale, anchors and guidance. See [Assessment forms](/administrator/assessments/assessment-templates). ## Funding rounds and grant management - **Start from a round starter.** `New grant` asks how you want to start: blank, or from a round starter with its stages already set. See [Create a grant round](/administrator/funding-rounds/create-a-grant-round). - **Duplicate a round, with choices.** The duplicate dialog can also copy the round's assessment rounds and, with `Include letter choices`, its `Offer letter` and `Decline letter`. See [Duplicate a round](/administrator/funding-rounds/duplicate-a-round). - **Late access.** A closed round's `Late access` tab gives one applicant a personal deadline with a reason; their application carries a `Late` mark, and they see `Late submission allowed until …` on the Grants card, the Landing Page and the form. Late access also shows during the grace period. See [Allow a late submission](/administrator/funding-rounds/late-access). - **Decision date and countdown.** Set a decision date on a round. Applicants see a countdown to the closing date in days and hours, and `Decision expected by …` once they have submitted. See [Create a grant round](/administrator/funding-rounds/create-a-grant-round) and [Applicant home](/applicant/applicant-home). - **A PDF with the confirmation.** `Attach PDF to submission confirmation` (on by default) attaches the submitted application to the confirmation email, and the email log keeps the attached file's name. Applicants can also `Download PDF` of their application. See [Create a grant round](/administrator/funding-rounds/create-a-grant-round) and [After you submit](/applicant/after-you-submit). - **Form preview.** `Show form preview on the Landing Page` lets people read the whole form, and download it blank, before they start. See [Landing pages](/administrator/funding-rounds/landing-pages) and [Applying for a grant](/applicant/applying-for-a-grant). - **Duplicate applications.** A round's `Duplicates` tab finds applications that may be the same request made twice: keep one as the primary and archive the others, or dismiss the group. Assessors see a `Possible duplicate` badge only where one is flagged. See [Duplicate applications](/administrator/funding-rounds/duplicate-applications). ## Applications and forms - **Application numbering.** `Settings > Organisation` gains an `Application numbering` group with a preview, and each round can set its own `Number prefix`. If you hide application numbers from applicants, the applicant screens and submission responses show none. See [Organisation settings](/administrator/organisation/organisation-settings). - **Start from a previous application.** A round can let applicants copy a previous application (and, optionally, its uploaded files) into a new one. Fields marked `Do not copy` in the builder stay blank, copied answers are marked, and `Refresh from profile` re-reads profile answers. See [Create a grant round](/administrator/funding-rounds/create-a-grant-round) and [Applying for a grant](/applicant/applying-for-a-grant). - **Standard fields.** The form builder's palette has a `Standard fields` group; these fields carry a badge and a read-only block, and the tags screen explains why they can't be changed. See [Form builder](/administrator/applications/form-builder). - **Reading level.** The builder shows a grade chip on each question, a `Readability` panel and the reading level of File Uploads. Set your `Reading level target` under `Forms` in `Settings > Organisation`; publishing advises on anything above it. See [Form builder](/administrator/applications/form-builder). - **Translate a form or email.** Edit a template's translations beside the form, or export and import them; unsaved translations ask before you leave. See [Form builder](/administrator/applications/form-builder) and [Organisation emails](/administrator/organisation/organisation-emails). - **File versions and the viewer.** File controls show `Version n of m`, `History` and `View`, which opens a PDF or image in the app without downloading it; the builder's File Uploads list does the same. See [An application](/administrator/applications/an-application) and [Form builder](/administrator/applications/form-builder). - **Export one application.** The applications list's row menu has `Export Application`. See [Applications list](/administrator/applications/applications-list) and [Exporting applications](/administrator/applications/exporting-applications). - **Referee requests (first part).** Backed can now email a referee a private link to a Referee Form, remind them, and expire the link; an application waiting on a reference says so when `Submit` is unavailable, and an Administrator can reopen a reference. The screens for asking a referee arrive in the next release; no help guide covers referee requests yet. ## Registration management - **Check against your register.** Choose a register identifier on a registration type and Backed checks each application against your register, with an eligibility banner and a status option on the lists. ABNs match with or without spaces and dashes. See [Registration templates and types](/administrator/registrations/registration-templates). - **Possible duplicate applicants.** Set a possible-duplicate threshold under `Registrations`; mark a pair `Not a duplicate`, and groups re-form after a transfer. See [Applicants](/administrator/registrations/applicants). - **Email domains and requests to join.** An Applicant record lists its email domains and requests to join. People signing up with a matching address are offered `Join `, and an applicant's members page shows the requests and domains. See [Applicants](/administrator/registrations/applicants) and [Your organisation's members](/applicant/your-organisation-members). - **Funding history.** The Applicant record's `Applications` tab lists every application the applicant has made, and a person drawer shows one person's standing. See [Applicants](/administrator/registrations/applicants). ## Setting up your organisation - **Sandbox.** `Settings > Organisation > Sandbox` creates a sandbox copy of your organisation's configuration (rounds, forms, registration, communications and contracts) to rehearse a round, train staff or test an integration. Open, refresh it from live, or delete it; a sandbox nobody opens for 90 days is deleted. A `SANDBOX` band sits above the top bar on every screen, and email a sandbox would send is captured and labelled in the email logs instead. See [Your organisation's sandbox](/administrator/organisation/sandbox) and [Email logs](/administrator/communications/email-logs). - **Onboarding.** `Settings > Onboarding` shows your onboarding plan, sessions and recordings. See [Onboarding sessions](/administrator/getting-started/onboarding-sessions). - **Language and formats.** Each person chooses their language, date format and clock under `Language and formats` on their profile, in the Administrator and Applicant portals and on the sign-in account pages; organisations set their defaults in a `Localisation` group. See [Your account](/administrator/users/your-account) and [Organisation settings](/administrator/organisation/organisation-settings). - **Password policy.** `Settings > Security` states the password policy under `Two-factor authentication`. See [Security settings](/administrator/organisation/security-settings); the guide does not describe the new line yet. ## Administrator permissions and users - **Search from anywhere.** The search button in the top bar (or `/`, `Ctrl+K`, `Cmd+K`) finds a record from any page, with your recent records before you type. Assessors search only the applications assigned to them. See [Getting started as an administrator](/administrator/getting-started/getting-started-as-an-administrator) and [Assessor home](/assessor/assessor-home). - **Access expiry and access reviews.** Give an administrator `Access expires on` a date, and export an access review or login history from `Users > Admins`. See [Administrators and permissions](/administrator/users/administrators-and-permissions). ## Privacy - **Privacy requests.** `Settings > Privacy` logs a person's request to see, correct, export or erase their information, finds what you hold about them, and tracks it to its due date. See [Privacy requests](/administrator/organisation/privacy-requests). - **Erasure.** `Erase this person` shows what an erasure changes, deletes and keeps, and what stops it, then replaces the person's name and contact details across your organisation's records. Everywhere a name appears (applications, assessments, decisions, contracts, communications, outcomes, API credentials and join requests) an erased person now shows by their replacement name. See [Privacy requests](/administrator/organisation/privacy-requests). ## Fixed - An Assessor's uploaded files in a blind round reach them by `Attachment n` names, in the bulk download's PDFs too. See [Assessment rounds](/administrator/assessments/assessment-rounds). - The `Assign by rule` drawer's scope labels read in the singular. See [Assignments](/administrator/assessments/assignments). - The Assessor search marks concealed results; the template view no longer loses unsaved translations when you select `Edit`; the emails page has no empty actions area; and the page outline follows the sandbox band. See [Form builder](/administrator/applications/form-builder).