# Why do some shipment document flags disappear on their own and others need an automation step?

**URL:** <https://community.dockflow.com/t/why-do-some-shipment-document-flags-disappear-on-their-own-and-others-need-an-automation-step/161>\
**Category:** How-to Q&A\
**Tags:** area-automations, flags-and-alerts\
**Created:** [November 6, 2026, 3:18pm UTC](https://community.dockflow.com/t/why-do-some-shipment-document-flags-disappear-on-their-own-and-others-need-an-automation-step/161 "2026-11-06T15:18:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dockflow](https://community.dockflow.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@dockflow](https://community.dockflow.com/u/dockflow)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2026, 3:18pm UTC](https://community.dockflow.com/t/why-do-some-shipment-document-flags-disappear-on-their-own-and-others-need-an-automation-step/161/1 "2026-11-06T15:18:14Z")

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Two behaviours to expect:

**Document flags clear themselves.** Each required document has its own flag, and it disappears  
automatically as soon as that document is uploaded. Invoice, packing list, certificate of analysis  
and sea waybill each carry their own.

**Document flags do not need a container number.** They count from the planned departure date, so  
they work on a file that has no container assigned yet.

**Some flags are designed to expire.** An automation can include a step that removes a flag a fixed  
period after it was set, for example 24 hours. If a flag stays on a shipment longer than you  
expect, check whether the removal step is part of the automation.

**Example**  
A shipment file has no container assigned yet, but its invoice and packing list flags appear based on planned departure. After the packing list is uploaded, that flag clears while the invoice flag remains. The automation was meant to remove the invoice flag after a fixed period, but the removal step is missing, so it stays until added.