This feature is currently in Private preview and may be subject to short-notice changes and improvements. If you’d like to request access to the preview, you can complete this form.
Before you start
Things you need to know:
You can add multiple file upload blocks to a single form, and allow multiple files to be uploaded in a single block.
The system maximum for each is 20.
Maximum file size supported for upload by Dotdigital is 20MB. You can set a lower file size limit for each block.
Maximum file size per submission is 100MB.
File types supported by Dotdigital for upload are
.jpg
/.jpeg
,.png
,.pdf
,.doc
/.docx
, and.heic
. You can limit the allowable options for each block, for example, if you only want to allow your respondents to upload PDFs.
Create a form with a file upload option
Go to Content > Surveys, pages, and forms.
Select a template to base your form on.
In the Build panel on the left side of EasyEditor, expand the Form blocks section.
Drag a File upload block to the position that you want it in your form.
Replace the placeholder text Type question here with your question text, for example,
Upload your entry:
.
File upload settings
With the File upload block selected, you can see the available options in the Settings tab of the left side panel.
Each of these settings is configured on an individual basis for each File upload block you include in a form.
Setting | Description |
Required answer | Select the checkbox to only allow the form to be submitted if the respondent uploads a file. |
Accepted file formats | Select the checkbox for each file type you want to accept. Use the Select all checkbox to allow all listed file types. |
Max file limit for uploader | Enter the number of individual files you want respondents to be able to submit, to a limit of 20. |
Max size per file | Enter the number of MB to allow as the maximum file size for each individual file, to a limit of 20. |
File expiry
Files uploaded as part of a form response expire automatically after 90 days. This can’t be altered.
Validation messages
A message is displayed to respondents for each of the following scenarios:
They try to upload a file in a format that is not allowed.
They exceed the maximum file size.
They try to upload more than the maximum number of files allowed.
They try to upload the same file more than once.
They include a comma,
,
, in a file name.
This is a common mistake when trying to type a full stop,.
.
We provide a default validation message for each of these, which you can edit if you want. Where relevant, our default message includes the option to merge in the values you set for file type, size or number.
Example
File is in an incorrect format. Supported file types: {[0]}
If you have set the allowable file types as .png and .pdf, and the respondent tries to upload a .docx file, they see:
File is in an incorrect format. Supported file types: [PNG, PDF]
If you want to reset a validation message to the default, delete any text you entered.
Label position
To change the position of the question label, expand the Styles section on the Settings tab, then expand the Label position drop-down menu and choose from Top or Left.
Styles
To edit the styling of the File upload block, select the block, then select the Styles tab in the left side menu.
This section allows you to edit the colours, background, borders and padding for the block.
Access uploaded files
You can access the files that your respondents have uploaded in the form report.
Learn more about the report in Surveys, pages, and forms reports.
Before you start
Uploaded files are stored for 90 days from submission.
⚠️ If you don’t download them before this time, it’s not possible to retrieve them.
To do this:
Go to Analytics > Reports.
Expand the MORE REPORTS drop-down menu and select Surveys, pages, and forms.
Select the form name that you want to view reporting for.
Select the Responses tab.
Each file upload question in your form can be viewed as a column in the report, showing the number of files uploaded in each response.
Tip
If you can’t see the file uploads in the table, select CHOOSE COLUMNS and make sure that the relevant form questions are listed under Active. Select a question to switch it between Active and Inactive.
Download files
On the Responses tab of the form report:
To access the files submitted for a specific question by a respondent, select the number of files for that question.
To access all files submitted for the form by a respondent, select the file icon to the far right of the row.
In the popover, select the Download icon for a file to download it.
To download all the files for the response, select DOWNLOAD ALL FILES.
Multiple files are downloaded as a.zip
file.
Individual files are downloaded directly to your local device. If you choose to download all files, they are accessible through the Exports area of the platform.
When you select DOWNLOAD ALL FILES you see the option to GO TO EXPORTS. From here, select Download to access the zip file.
To access the Exports area at any other time, expand the User menu and select Settings, then go to General > Exports.
Delete files
⚠️ Files uploaded to forms do not enter the Recycle bin when deleted. Once you confirm the deletion, the files are permanently deleted.
On the Responses tab of the form report:
To delete the files submitted for a specific question by a respondent, select the number of files for that question.
To delete all files submitted for the form by a respondent, select the file icon to the far right of the row.
Select the Delete icon for a file, then select DELETE to confirm.
To delete all files for a response, select DELETE FILES, then select DELETE to confirm.