File Upload Field Setup and Limits

Allow users to upload files through your forms - perfect for job applications, support tickets, and document collection.

What Is the File Upload Field?

The File Upload field lets form visitors attach files when submitting your form. Common use cases:

  • Job applications (resumes, portfolios)
  • Support tickets (screenshots, logs)
  • Document submissions (contracts, forms)
  • Image submissions (photos, artwork)
  • File sharing (reports, presentations)

Plan Requirement: File upload fields are available on all FormRobin plans (Free and Individual).

Adding a File Upload Field

  1. Open your form in the Form Editor
  2. Click Add Question or the + button
  3. Select File upload from the field type list
  4. Configure the field:
    • Label: Question text (e.g., "Upload your resume")
    • Description: Optional help text
    • Required: Toggle whether file upload is mandatory
  5. Click Save or continue editing

File Upload Field Options

  • Label: The question or instruction text
  • Description: Additional guidance for users (e.g., "Accepted formats: PDF, DOC, DOCX")
  • Required: Make file upload mandatory or optional

Note: Each file upload field accepts one file per submission.

File Upload Limits

File Size Limit

FormRobin enforces file size limits to ensure smooth uploads:

  • Maximum file size: 5MB per file
  • Applies per file: Each uploaded file must be under 5MB
  • Hard limit: Files larger than 5MB will be rejected

If users encounter "file too large" errors, they need to compress or resize their files.

Supported File Types

FormRobin accepts most common file types:

  • Documents: PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, RTF
  • Images: JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, SVG
  • Spreadsheets: XLS, XLSX, CSV
  • Presentations: PPT, PPTX
  • Archives: ZIP, RAR
  • Other: Most common file types

Note: Executable files (.exe, .bat, .sh) may be blocked for security reasons.

Number of Files

  • One file per field: Each file upload field accepts a single file
  • Multiple fields: Add multiple file upload fields if you need users to upload several files

💡 Tip: If you need users to upload multiple files, add multiple file upload fields to your form with clear labels (e.g., "Upload Resume", "Upload Cover Letter", "Upload Portfolio").

File Storage

Uploaded files are:

  • Stored securely on AWS S3 servers
  • Linked to the form submission/response
  • Accessible via the Responses dashboard
  • Downloadable by the form owner
  • Not publicly accessible (private URLs)

Viewing Uploaded Files

  1. Go to Forms ➜ select your form
  2. Click the Responses tab
  3. Click on a specific response
  4. Uploaded files appear with download links
  5. Click the file name or Download to save it

User Experience

When users submit a form with file upload:

  1. User clicks Choose File or Browse
  2. Selects a file from their device
  3. File name appears in the field
  4. User submits the form
  5. File uploads during submission (may take a few seconds)
  6. Success message appears when upload completes

Best Practices

  • Set expectations: Use the description field to specify accepted formats and size limits
  • Be specific: Label clearly ("Upload Resume (PDF only)" vs "File")
  • Mention size limit: Remind users of the 5MB limit in the description
  • Provide alternatives: For large files, consider linking to cloud storage instead
  • Test uploads: Submit test files to ensure the field works correctly
  • Privacy notice: Inform users how their files will be used and stored
  • Multiple files: Add multiple file upload fields if you need several files

Security Considerations

  • Private storage: Files are not publicly accessible
  • Owner only: Only the form owner can download uploaded files
  • AWS S3: Files stored on secure cloud infrastructure
  • Virus risk: Always scan downloaded files with your antivirus software
  • Sensitive data: Consider encryption requirements for confidential files

Limitations

  • File size: Maximum 5MB per file (hard limit)
  • One file per field: Each file upload field accepts only one file
  • No file type restrictions: Cannot configure allowed file types in FormRobin UI
  • No virus scanning: FormRobin doesn't automatically scan files for viruses
  • No preview: Cannot preview images or documents before downloading
  • No editing: Users cannot edit or replace files after submission

Troubleshooting

Issue: "File too large" error when uploading.

Fix: The file exceeds the 5MB limit. Compress the file, reduce image quality, or split large documents. For images, resize to smaller dimensions. Consider using cloud storage links for very large files.

Issue: Upload button doesn't respond or file doesn't attach.

Fix: Check browser console for JavaScript errors. Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari). Disable browser extensions that might interfere. Ensure the file name doesn't contain special characters.

Issue: Cannot download uploaded files from responses.

Fix: Ensure you're the form owner (only owners can download files). Check that files were actually uploaded (look for file names in the response). Try a different browser or clear browser cache. Contact support if files appear but won't download.

Issue: Certain file types won't upload.

Fix: Executable files (.exe, .bat, .sh, .app) are often blocked for security. If legitimate file types are blocked, try compressing them into a ZIP file first. Check that the file isn't corrupted.

Issue: Need to collect multiple files from users.

Fix: Add multiple file upload fields to your form. Label each clearly (e.g., "Resume", "Cover Letter", "Portfolio Sample 1", "Portfolio Sample 2").

FAQ

Q: What's the maximum file size I can upload?
A: The maximum file size is 5MB per file. Files larger than this will be rejected.

Q: Can I upload multiple files to one field?
A: No, each file upload field accepts one file. To collect multiple files, add multiple file upload fields to your form.

Q: Can I restrict uploads to specific file types (e.g., PDF only)?
A: Not currently within FormRobin. You can include instructions in the field description, but enforcement must be manual when reviewing submissions.

Q: How long are uploaded files stored?
A: Files are stored indefinitely on AWS S3 along with form responses unless you delete the response or form.

Q: Can form visitors see files uploaded by others?
A: No. Files are private and only visible to the form owner.


Need help with file uploads? Contact our support team - we're here to help!

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