SHADOW_DEBUG.md

SHADOW DEBUGGING GUIDE

The shadow removal is working correctly in our tests. Here's how to debug why you might still see shadows:

Step 1: Verify File Processing

1. Copy your problematic DOCX file to this directory
2. Rename it to 'user_test.docx'
3. Edit check-shadows.js and add 'user_test.docx' to the filesToCheck array
4. Run: node check-shadows.js

Step 2: Test the Full Workflow

1. Upload your file through the frontend
2. Download the remediated version
3. Check if the downloaded file has shadows using the tool above

Step 3: Visual vs XML Shadows

The shadows we remove are XML-level text shadows (<w:shadow/>). If you're still seeing visual shadows, they might be:

• CSS shadows from the document viewer
• Theme-based formatting
• Different shadow types (drawing objects, shapes, etc.)

Step 4: Common Issues

• Browser caching: Clear cache and re-download
• Wrong file: Make sure you're opening the remediated file, not the original
• File corruption: Check if the file opens correctly in Word
• Different shadow types: Some shadows might be in drawing objects, not text runs

Test Files Available:

• test_problematic.docx: Has shadows (for testing detection)
• test_remediated.docx: Shadows removed (for testing removal)

Contact Info:

If shadows persist after these checks, please:

1. Share the specific file you're testing
2. Describe where you see the shadows (which text, which page)
3. Confirm you're opening the downloaded/remediated file