Overview
A File Question lets the User attach a file as their answer to a Checklist question. Where a Photo Question takes a new picture with the device camera, a File Question accepts a file the User already has — a supplier certificate, a lab report, a scanned form, a contractor's service report — and stores it on the Result.
You can accept any file type, or limit the question to the formats you expect. Each file can be up to 50 MB.
At a glance |
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Who can do this | Super Users, a Role with Checklists › Modify (or Create, for Checklists you created), or an Administrator or Editor of the Checklist's permission folder |
Where | Checklists › open a Checklist › Add an element › File Question |
Works on | Backend (web) to set up. Answered in the Mobile app and RideOps. |
Availability | All organizations |
💡 Why this matters: Plenty of evidence arrives as a document rather than something you can photograph — a third-party inspection certificate, a water-test result, a manufacturer's sign-off. A File Question attaches it to the Result, so the evidence and the check that required it stay together.
How Users answer a File Question
One file per question — a File Question holds a single attachment. If a check needs several documents, add a File Question for each.
An answer is required — like other questions, a visible File Question must have a file before the Checklist can be completed.
Up to 50 MB — the app shows Max file size: 50 MB under Select file, and rejects larger files.
⚠️ Heads-up: Because the question can't be skipped, a User with no file to hand can't complete the Checklist. Use logic to show the File Question only when a document is expected — for example, only when an earlier Select Question confirms a certificate was issued.
Add a File Question
1. Open the Checklist editor
Go to Checklists in the Backend and open or create a Checklist.
2. Add the element
Click Add an element and choose File Question. Enter a Title and, optionally, Explanatory Text. Name the title after the exact document you expect — Annual load-test certificate reads far better than Upload file.
Limit which file types are accepted
By default a File Question accepts any file type. To accept only certain formats — a PDF certificate, for example — list them under Allowed file extensions in the question's Question Configuration panel. The list applies to that question only.
1. Open Question Configuration
Select the File Question in the Checklist editor, open Question Configuration and find Allowed file extensions.
2. Add an extension
Type the extension into Add extension (e.g. json) and click Add. A leading dot is removed for you, and the extension appears in the list with its dot.
3. Add more, or remove one
Repeat for every format you accept. To remove one, click the delete icon on its row. Save the Checklist when you're done.
ℹ️ Note: Only known file types can be added: pdf, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx, txt, csv, json, xml, jpg, jpeg, png, gif, webp, heic, heics, heif, heifs, zip, rar, 7z, mp4, mov, mp3 and wav. Anything else shows That extension is not in the allowed list and isn't added. The list under Restricted extensions is an allow list — Users can attach only the listed types. Leave it empty to allow all file types.
Settings compatibility
Setting | Available? | Notes |
Allowed file extensions | Yes | Set per question. Empty allows all file types. |
Multiple files per question | No | Add a File Question per document. |
Reference Images, Manuals, Videos, Links | Yes | Show which document is expected. |
Question Categories | Yes | Group document questions for reporting. |
Logic | Yes | Other elements can check Answered or Not answered. |
Triggers | No | No Triggers panel. Trigger from a related Select Question instead. |
Best practices
Use Explanatory Text to say who issues the document and how recent it must be.
Limit a certificate question to pdf when a photo of the document isn't acceptable; list every format a supplier might send when it varies.
Pair the File Question with a Select Question (Certificate current? Yes / No) and put triggers on that.
Mention large files in the Explanatory Text if a report may come close to 50 MB.
Frequently asked questions
Can users attach a PDF or document to a checklist?
Yes. Add a File Question where the document is needed. The User taps Select file in the app and picks the file; it's stored on the Result. For a new photo taken on the spot, use a Photo Question instead.
Is there a file size limit?
Yes. Each file can be up to 50 MB, and the app shows this under Select file. For a larger report, ask for a compressed PDF or split it across two File Questions.
My team can't upload files. Why?
Check the file is 50 MB or less and its type is in the question's Allowed file extensions list. If Users see an unsupported-question message instead of Select file, their app needs updating — see Unsupported question when completing a checklist.
How do I make the file question optional?
You can't: a visible File Question always needs a file. Use logic to show it only when a document is expected — hidden questions don't need answers.
Can a File Question be answered on the web?
Not while completing a Checklist — it's answered in the Mobile app or on RideOps. After submission, a User with Results › Modify can upload a file to the answer in the Backend. See Modify Checklist Results.
How is this different from a Photo Question?
A Photo Question takes a new photo with the device camera. A File Question accepts an existing file. Use Photo for proof of condition, File for supporting documents.