Skip to main content

Uploading Files to SideDrawer

Protect and organize your important documents with SideDrawer!

Support avatar
Written by Support
Updated over 2 weeks ago

This article is for: all SideDrawer users
Some elements may only be relevant to SideDrawer Console users

You have a few options for how to upload your files to SideDrawer.
Whichever path you choose, your files will be secured, and organized into Tiles and Records!
Choose Organize Files to arrange your files into Tiles and Records while you upload, or choose Shoebox to drop your files into SideDrawer for now, and organize them later
(Note that Shoebox may not be activated on all accounts)

Remember that files always need to be stored in a Record!
SideDrawer uses Records as the folders that contain files, and as a way to manage access permissions, so files can't be directly saved in a SideDrawer or a Tile - they always need to be part of a Record/folder.
SideDrawer will auto-generate a Record using the name of the file you're uploading, and you can re-name the Record or upload to an existing Record instead.

Organize Files - Drag & Drop

  1. Open your file folders and select your files
    In File Explorer (PC) or Find (Mac), open your folders and select the files you want to upload
    ​

  2. Drag the files to the Upload Files tab in SideDrawer
    Once you have the files selected, drag them toward the Upload Files tab in the upper right of your SideDrawer screen - drop the files anywhere along that top line to copy them to your SideDrawer!

  3. Upload Files Screen
    Once you drop the files, you'll see a pop-up screen, where you will make the next selections to organize your files into the SideDrawer
    ​

  4. Organize or Shoebox?
    If your SideDrawer environment has Shoebox activated, you can choose to quickly upload files to your Shoebox, and organize them later, or select Organize my Upload, to sort the files into Tiles and Records right away
    ​

  5. Multiple Destinations
    If you want to organize your files into more than one destination (Record, or Record + Tile), click on the + icon on the left.
    This will open a new destination line, where you can select a Tile and Record, and drag one or more files
    ​

  6. Choose a Tile

    1. In the Upload Files pop-up, click on the 3 dots icon to select the Tile for the uploaded files
      ​


      ​

    2. Name or Choose the Record
      The Record name will automatically copy the name of your first file - to choose a different name, just type the new name in the line
      If you want to upload the files to an existing Record, click on the Record Name line, then choose your Destination Record from the drop-down list
      ​

    3. Confirm that the files are correct -
      Check the names, sizes, and file extensions to make sure you have the right files in the right destinations, then click Confirm to complete the upload
      ​

Organize Files - Manually Select

  1. Click on Upload Files in the top right of the SideDrawer

    This will open your storage folders - Windows Explorer or Find

  2. Navigate to the folder and files you want to upload

  3. Select the file or files to be uploaded, then click Open
    ​

  4. This will open the upload pop-up, where you will select the Destination Tiles and Records, and check the files as in steps 6a - 6c above, then click Confirm to complete the upload:

    Your files are now securely stored in your SideDrawer!

If you are signed into SideDrawer on your phone or tablet, clicking on the Drag & Drop files button will also give you the option to choose files from your photo library, or take a photo or video with your device's camera, and upload it - this is useful for taking pictures of ID or documents to upload them
​

Shoebox

If you want to upload your files into SideDrawer right away, and organize them later, Shoebox is the best option for you!
​Note that Shoebox may not be activated on all accounts


Shoebox will either appear as an option in your left-hand menu, or a Tile in your Records screen, or both.

To use Shoebox, first upload files by clicking or dragging to the Upload Files bar.
Next, click on Upload to my Shoebox:

The files will all be uploaded to the Shoebox Tile, and the Record name will be auto-filled with the name of the first file.
You can just click on Confirm, upload your files, and organize them later when you have more time!
​
You can still use the + icon to make multiple Records, and drag files to them, if you want to separate files into different groups, within Shoebox.
​
When you're ready, you can move the files to other Records and Tiles, using the guidelines found here

Upload Files in a Record

If you already know what Record you want to store files in, you can navigate to the Record first, and then upload the files.


​This path lets you skip the upload screen, since you're already in the Tile and Record where you want to store the files.

  1. Select your destination Tile
    In the Records/Tiles screen, click on the Tile where you want to store your files.
    This will open the Tile to show you its Records.
    ​

  2. Select your destination Record
    In the Tile you've selected, click on the Record where you want to store your files.
    This will open the Record to show you any files and/or folders it already contains.
    ​

  3. Drag and Drop or Click to Upload Files
    Once you're in the Record, you can drag files from your folders (File Explorer or Find) and drop them in the Record, or click the Drag & Drop files here button to select files, and click Open to upload them to the Record.
    ​


    ​

Upload Files through an Info Request

If your professional has a specific set of documents they need to collect from you, especially during onboarding, they may use SideDrawer's Info Request tool to simplify that process.
​
The Info Request lets the professional select a standard set of documents, and preset their destinations in the SideDrawer, choosing the Tile and Record that the document will be stored in.

As the client, all you need to do is open the Info Request and drop the files into each block.
​
For each document request, you can either drag files from your folders and drop them in the block, or click on the Drag & Drop files here button to open your folders and select files, then click Open to upload them.
​

SideDrawer will save the file to the location specified in the Info Request.
You can save multiple files to each block, for example, if you have several life insurance policies for different family members.

Upload Files to an Existing Record

Dropping a file in an Info Request block will create a new Record, in the destination designated in the Info Request.

If you want to drop files in an existing Record - for example, if you already have a Record for Auto Insurance policies, and want to add more documents to it using the Info Request, that's an option as well.

  1. Click on the magnifying glass icon in the Info Request block to open the search bar.
    ​

  2. Type the name or part of the name of the Record you're looking for into the search bar.
    ​

  3. Drag the files from your folders into the selected Record.
    ​


    You can also click on the Record to make it the destination for that Info Request block:
    ​

Learn more about filling out Info Requests

Bulk Upload Files from Console

This feature is only available to SideDrawer Console users

As a SideDrawer Admin User with access to the Console, you can also upload files to a client's Drawer from the Console, using the Bulk Upload feature.
​
This tool is especially useful if you are migrating files from an existing CRM to SideDrawer, and need to move files from your storage to a client's Drawer.

To use Bulk Upload

  1. In Console, go to Accounts -> SideDrawers, click the 3 dots next to the Drawer that you want to upload files to, and select Bulk Upload from the Actions Menu
    ​

  2. Use the Upload Files pop-up to select your files and the destination Tile and Record in the Drawer:
    ​

    1. If you want each file to go to a separate Record, drag the files into the central box.
      ​


      ​

    2. If you want to sort multiple files into Records, use the rows to select the Tile, name the Record and add a Record Type (optional extra label), and upload files using the cloud icon.
      ​

      Select Add a Record to the SideDrawer to add as many Records as you need in order to organize all the files you're uploading.
      ​
      You can drag and drop files from one Record to another, if you initially placed them in the wrong spot and need to move them.
      ​
      Once you have all your files and destinations selected, click Confirm to deliver them to the Drawer.
      ​


​

Did this answer your question?