How Uploads Work
Understand the end-to-end flow from creating a request to receiving files from clients.
Understanding how the upload flow works helps you troubleshoot issues and set client expectations. Here's the complete lifecycle of a file upload.
The upload flow
- Client opens the upload link — No login required. They see your branded checklist with descriptions and due dates.
- Client previews and drops files — Files are previewed locally before upload so clients can verify they selected the right document.
- Direct-to-storage upload — Files are uploaded directly to secure cloud storage using signed URLs. This bypasses server size limits and supports files up to 50 MB each.
- Upload confirmation — After the file reaches storage, the system records metadata (file name, size, type) and updates the checklist item status.
- Notifications sent — You receive an email (and optional SMS) notification for each uploaded file. Your client sees a progress indicator.
- Auto-completion — When all checklist items are uploaded or skipped, the request is marked complete and a thank-you email is sent to your client.
File types supported
By default, the following file types are accepted:
- Documents: PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, PPT, PPTX
- Spreadsheets: XLS, XLSX, CSV
- Images: JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, TIF, TIFF
- Email files: MSG, EML
- Archives: ZIP
You can customize allowed file types per checklist item when creating a request.
File size limits
- Maximum file size: 50 MB per file
- No limit on number of files per checklist item
- Storage limits depend on your plan (Free: 2 GB, Pro: 50 GB)
Security
All files are encrypted in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest. Only you (the requester) can access uploaded files. Clients cannot see files uploaded by other clients, and upload links are unique per request.
Version history
When a client uploads a replacement file for the same checklist item, the previous version is preserved in the version history. You can access all versions from the request detail page.