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SideDrawer Shortcuts Menu

Simple File Request, Share Files, and more shortcut functions

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Written by Support
Updated this week

This article is for: All SideDrawer Users

The SideDrawer Shortcuts menu includes two unique functions - Simple File Request and Share File - as well as two shortcuts for Info Requests - Respond to Info Request and Share Info Request

Simple File Request

Note: to create a Simple File Request, you must have a permission role that allows you to create new Records
(SideDrawer Owner, SideDrawer Editor, SideDrawer Contributor)

Simple File Request (SFR) lets you quickly message another Collaborator on the SideDrawer and ask them to upload a file, while also setting out where in the SideDrawer that file will be stored.

Simple File Request combines 3 elements into a single workflow:

1. Where is the file going?
Create a Record where the file will be stored in the SideDrawer

2. Who is going to send the file?
Choose a contact and make them a Collaborator on the Record

3. How will they know what to do?
Create a Reminder, with an email notification, to tell your contact what file you need

Creating a Simple File Request

  1. Click on the Shortcuts menu and select Simple File Request


  2. Set up the Tile and Record where the file will be saved
    In this step, you're telling your contact what kind of file you're asking them for, and also telling the system where in the SideDrawer you want that file to be stored

    1. Click on the 3 dots icon at the right, and choose the destination Tile from the drop-down list

    2. Enter the Record Type or choose from the drop-down of saved Record Types
      Note that some Record Types automatically select a Tile (for example, Auto Insurance defaults to the Insurance Policies Tile), but you can choose a different Tile from the list

    3. Enter the Record Name for the Record that the requested file will be saved in
      The Record will autofill as SideDrawer Name + Record Type, or you can type a custom name in the line

      In this example, we're asking for the 2024 Tax Return - we've selected the Taxes Tile, the Record Type label will be 'Tax Return' and the Record itself will be called '2024 Tax Return'

  3. Choose your recipient(s)
    Enter the email address for your recipient (the person you're asking to provide the file), then click Add Recipient

    If you want to add multiple recipients (for example, if you need tax returns from every member of the household), type a new email address in bar, then click Add Recipient again to add them

    You'll see all recipients listed with their names and email addresses
    Existing Collaborators on the SideDrawer will appear in the drop-down, so you can quickly select one, or type an email address if your recipient isn't a Collaborator yet


    Note: when you send the Simple File Request, the recipient will be added as a Collaborator with Editor-level access to the new Record that's created.
    If they don't have a SideDrawer account, they will be prompted to register and create an account first, and then will be able to upload the file.

  4. Enter the message for your recipient
    This is the message your recipient will see in the notification email.
    A basic message will be automatically created, reading
    "Please provide [SideDrawer Name][Record Type] at your earliest convenience."
    You can edit this or delete it and type your own customized message

    Make sure not to include any sensitive information in the message, since it will go out by email!

  5. Schedule your request

    1. Send Immediately
      To send your Simple File Request right away, select Send this Simple File Request as soon as possible, then click on Send Request below

      The Request will send after a 2-minute delay

    2. Send later
      To schedule the Request for later on, toggle off the button for Send this Simple File Request as soon as possible, then use the calendar icon to choose your date, edit the time, and choose AM or PM

      Select Send Request to complete

      Simple File Requests that have been scheduled but not yet sent will appear as an extra item in the Info Requests menu


    3. Add a Reminder
      You can also add a recurring Reminder to your Simple File Request, to be sent automatically at set times
      Recurrence can be set up for Requests that are sent right away, or scheduled for later

      To create a Recurring Reminder

      1. Select Add a reminder to your request

      2. Choose Frequency
        In the Recurrence drop-down, select Daily, Weekly, Monthly, or Yearly

Once the Simple File Request is sent, it will appear in the Info Requests page, until the recipient uploads the file.
Simple File Requests show the destination Tile at the left, while Info Requests show a questionnaire/clipboard icon:

Competing a Simple File Request

When you create and send a Simple File Request, the recipient or recipients will get a notification email, with your custom message in the email body, and a button that links them directly to SideDrawer:

Clicking the link will take them to the SideDrawer login page, and then to the SideDrawer.

From here, they can navigate to the Record, or click on Info Requests to see the Simple File Request(s).

Clicking on the Simple File Request will open the destination Record, where the recipient can then upload the requested file


Once the file is uploaded, the Simple File Request will disappear from the Info Requests page, and the linked Reminder will now show as Finished

Share Files

Note: to use Share Files, you must have a permission role that allows you to create new Records
(SideDrawer Owner, SideDrawer Editor, SideDrawer Contributor)

Share Files lets you quickly upload a file to your SideDrawer, invite a Collaborator to view it, and message them to let them know what to do

Share Files combines 3 elements into a single workflow:

1. Where is the file going?
Create a Record in the SideDrawer, and upload your file to it

2. Who is going to receive the file?
Choose a contact and make them a Collaborator on the Record

3. How will they know what to do?
Create a Reminder, with an email notification, to alert your contact that the file is there

  1. Upload your file(s)

    1. Choose the destination Tile from the drop-down list

    2. Enter the name of the Record that the file will be stored in

    3. (Optional) choose a Record Type to indicate what kind of files are stored here

    4. Drag & Drop files or click the button to select and upload your file(s)

  2. Choose your recipient(s)

    1. Enter the recipient's email address, then click Add Recipient(s)

    2. Recipients are automatically given Viewer access to the Record
      To change this access, click on the down arrow and choose a different role from the menu

    3. (Optional) to add more recipients, enter a new email address, and click Add Recipient(s) for each one

  3. Compose and schedule your message
    Type the personalized message in the message line - this is the message that your recipient will see in the notification email.

    Remember that this message is going out over email, so be sure not to include any private or sensitive information!

    You can share the files right away - the notification will send in about 2 minutes.
    Or you can set the toggle to off, and schedule the notification to send out at a later time


    Once you have entered all the details, click Confirm to complete and send the notification

  4. The recipient will get a notification inviting them to the new Record - if they don't have a SideDrawer account, they'll be prompted to register.

    They will then get a notification with your customized message

    Both notifications link them directly to SideDrawer, and will navigate them to the Record with the shared file after they log in.

Respond to Info Request

This option will navigate you to the Info Requests page of your SideDrawer, where you can fill out any Info Requests that need to be completed

Send Info Request

Only users with access to the SideDrawer Console will see this menu option

Send Info Request(s) lets you deliver new Info Requests to a client's SideDrawer without navigating back to the Console.

This is useful if you missed an Info Request that should have been delivered, and want to quickly send it to the client's SideDrawer without having to leave the front-end app.

  1. Click on the Shortcuts button, then select Send Info Request(s) from the menu

  2. Type the name of the Info Requests in the Search Info Requests bar, or click on the bar and select the Info Request(s) to send


    Any Info Requests that have already been sent to this SideDrawer will appear in a gray bar (see Estate & Trust Documents 2 in the image above) -
    these can't be selected, because you can't send the same Info Request to a SideDrawer twice

    Note: there isn't a confirmation step!
    Each Info Request is delivered to the SideDrawer as soon as you click on it, so double-check before you click!

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