Overview & background
This article will delve into files in Fieldwire across the web, iOS/Apple, and Android versions of Fieldwire. Using Files successfully in Fieldwire allows you to easily manage items, such as RFI's, inspection requests, cut sheets, etc. and provides an extra layer of integration across your project.
Files tab on Web
The 'Files' tab on the web version of Fieldwire keeps track of the files you have attached to plans as well as any that you upload directly to the Files tab.
Fieldwire support most file types, such as those in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Project, etc.), PDF, JPEG, PNG, CSV, TXT, and KML, to name a few. DWG and CAD files can be uploaded into Fieldwire, however, this is just for storage/distribution purposes; you cannot open DWG and CAD files in Fieldwire, but you can download them out of Fieldwire.
Any .MP4 and .MOV files, under 200mb, can be uploaded to the ‘Files’ tab. These will play in Fieldwire's media viewer, and be included as downloadable links in reports and task exports. Other video file types, including .WMV, .AVI, and .FLV files are not currently supported.
Note: The size limit for content uploaded to the Files tab, via Fieldwire, is 200mb. If the content is uploaded to the 'Files' folder in the 2-way sync, the content limit is 200mb.
Select '+ New file' to upload new files to the Files tab:
Note: Files uploaded from the +New file will be stored under the All Files folder.
After you select the files to put into Fieldwire, select "Upload":
You can also upload a file directly to a folder by selecting 'New File' on the dropdown menu next to the desired folder:
Select '+New Folder' to create a new folder to organize your files. After you select a file, you can select "Actions" to have the option to move them between folders or delete them entirely. You can also export multiple files at once:
When you export a file, you will receive a link via email to download the file.
- If the project has less than 100 files: all folders are expanded at initial load, clicking the all plans/files folder will collapse all folders.
- If the project has more than 100 plans/files: all folders collapsed at initial load, only one folder can be expanded at once (for performance reasons)
To sort files, you can leverage the options on the left sidebar, in addition to the 'Filter Files' option. When 'My files' is selected, only files you have uploaded will be in view. If you select 'All files', you'll see all files in the project, regardless of who uploaded the content.
Selecting 'Filter Files' allows you to filter by who uploaded a file, a tag associated with the file, the file name itself, and through time filters:
Once your files have been uploaded & organized on the web, you can then view and markup PDFs:
View and Edit PDF Files
When you open a PDF file, there are several options to interact with the file.
Select the 'View' option to hide any markup tools. In this view, or in any other, you can select the option on the left to expand the pages or bookmarks, in a multipage file, and jump to that page. If you select the option on the left, you can view comments and markups associated with the file:
Project Admins and Members can also choose the 'Annotate' option to add freehand annotations, text boxes, or highlight and underline any readable text on the PDF:
Project Admins and Members can choose the 'Shapes' option to add freehand annotations, squares, clouds, or arrows to the PDF document:
The 'Fill and Sign' option provides Project Admins and Members the option to sign off on the form:
The additional options on the right allow you to view the document in full screen, print the document, and / or download the document:
Note: Any files attached to specific tasks will not appear on the Files page. This is due to the different levels of permission between users - Admins, Members, and Followers have varying access to project information.
Note: You can add a .pdf with fillable text and enter that text in Fieldwire; this is super convenient if you have a file that your team or company uses.
Files on iOS
Any files that you have uploaded to the web version will appear on the mobile version of Fieldwire after the application has synced to WiFi.
Files view on an iPad. Note the Files are the same as on the Web Version:
Like on the web, you can also filter by 'My files', or files you have uploaded. Or 'All files' or files that all individuals on the project have uploaded. In addition, you can use the magnifying glass to search for specific files by file name:
Select the blue "+" icon in the top right corner and choose which files you would like to upload. Once you connect your device to WiFi and sync, those files will be available on the web:
Like on the Web Version of Fieldwire, you are able to upload files from the local files on your iPad, or from Box, Dropbox, and Google Drive.
Note: The file size limit is 50MB.
Files Toolbar
Once you open a PDF file, select the 'Annotate' option to display the options to add annotations, markups, or a signature directly onto the document in Fieldwire:
Annotate:
Once 'annotate' is selected, you can leverage a variety of markup tools. The markup tools include:
- Multiple ways to highlight.
- Different kinds of pens.
- A sticky note comment tool.
- Different types of underlining.
On Android
Any files that you have uploaded to the web version of Fieldwire will appear on the Files tab of your Android device after you connect the device to WiFi and synchronize the application:
Like on the web, you can also filter by 'My files', or files you have uploaded. Or 'All files' or files that all individuals on the project have uploaded. In addition, you can use the magnifying glass to search for specific files by file name:
Select the blue "+" icon in the bottom right corner and choose which files you would like to upload. Once you connect your device to WiFi and sync, those files will be available on the web.
Note: If you attach a file to a task, and run a report of the tasks, the file will be included in the report if it is smaller than 2.5 Mb. If the file is larger than 2.5 Mb, it will be accessible via a hyperlink in the report.
The Files Toolbar
Once a PDF file is opened, you have access to some additional tools to interact with the PDF file:
- The Magnifying glass allows you to search for vector-based text and phrases on the PDF file itself.
- The share function allows for sharing files via email, Bluetooth, and any other applicable apps on your device.
- The markup toolbox has a fixture of markup tools.
Markup Toolbox:
The markup toolbox consists of the following tools:
- Textbox
- Pens
- Shapes and line markups
- Signature function
- Highlighter
- Strikethrough
More Information
These resources give more information about what you can upload to Fieldwire.
Tutorial Video on Files and Hyperlinks in Fieldwire
Tutorial Video on Posting RFI's in Fieldwire