Areas, topics, steps and boxes

They’re four levels, and the difference matters because they also decide how the files that arrive end up organised.

• Area — a container that groups topics in a folder. It’s for the macro-categories.
• Topic — a specific documentation subject. Its files end up in a subfolder with the topic’s name.
• Step — a single document request. It’s the row the participant sees: “Identity card”.
• Box — the field where the file is actually uploaded.

They’re built in the template’s «Structure» step (see the page on creation). Next to each name there’s a question mark with the definition: if you’re in doubt while building, it’s there.

Adding the pieces

With «Divide by areas» you start from «Add area», inside the area «Add topic», inside the topic «Add step»; with «Topics only» you skip the areas, with «Questions only» you only have steps. Each button sits at the bottom of the level it belongs to, and next to it there’s «Import from another flow» to reuse pieces already written.

«Add step» opens the «Choose the type of step» menu:

• «Single upload» — «One or more boxes to upload single files. You can add several boxes in the step.»
• «Multiple upload» — «A single box where the user can upload several files at once.»
• «Repeatable upload» — «The user adds N entries with a label and a file (e.g. payslips per employee).»
• «Document fill-in», «Electronic signature» and «Question» — see the dedicated pages; the first two only appear with the extension on.

The step is a row that expands: at the top left the type (a click opens «Change the type of step»), on the right the «Required» switch and the icons to duplicate and delete; you drag from the handle on the left to reorder.

What you write in a step

• «Step name» — the title, visible to the participant and used as the name of the folder for their files.
• «Question» — the actual request: “Upload front and back”.
• «Description» — an extra text, optional, for the instructions that don’t fit in the question.
• «Attach a supporting document» — the model or example the participant can download before uploading their own.

⚠️ One box for each file you ask for

It’s the point where people get it wrong most often. A single-upload step with one box accepts one document: if you need front and back, that’s two boxes in the same step — «Add box» is at the bottom of the step — with «Box name» “Front” and “Back”.

The name is also useful afterwards: the uploaded file is automatically renamed as StepName_BoxName. Calling the boxes “1” and “2” produces an archive nobody can read in six months’ time. If you want the participant to give the name, switch on «Name from user» on the box.

What you accept

Under the box, «Accepted formats»: «PDF», «Images», «Documents», «Spreadsheets», «Presentations», «Digital signature (P7M)», «Compressed archives», «Any».

Whoever uploads a format outside the list reads «Unsupported format. Allowed: ».

When you don’t know how many will be needed

With «Repeatable upload» the participant adds as many entries as they need, each with its own label — you only write the hint, «E.g. Employee, Invoice, Case…». It’s for when the documents are one per person, or one per vehicle, and only they know the number.

Questions this guide answers

• what are areas and topics
• what is a step
• what is the box for
• how do I ask for two files for the same document
• how do I rename uploaded files
• how do I add a step