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Question Types

File Upload Survey Questions

Let respondents attach a document or image, such as a signed consent form or proof-of-purchase, with a 10 MB platform-wide size cap.

When To Use File Upload

File upload questions let respondents attach a document or image as their answer instead of typing or selecting one. They are useful for collecting signed consent forms, receipts or proof-of-purchase, portfolio or writing samples, screenshots, and any other artifact that exists as a file rather than as text.

Block Builder: File Upload

Use file upload when the artifact itself matters. If you only need a short written answer, Short Answer is easier for respondents to complete and for you to analyze at scale.

How It Supports Research Design

  • Instructions field: tells respondents which file to attach and in what format.
  • Per-question size limit: set a maximum file size for this question, in megabytes.
  • Platform ceiling: every file upload question is capped at 10 MB, since files are stored inline with the response rather than in separate cloud storage.
  • Accepted formats: PDF, Word documents, plain text, CSV, Excel spreadsheets, and JPG/PNG images.

Configure It In Domandata

  1. Step 1: Open Block Builder. Open the survey and select the block where the upload belongs.

    Step 1: Open Block Builder

  2. Step 2: Add a File Upload question. Choose File Upload from the question type selector.

    Step 2: Choose File Upload question type

  3. Step 3: Write clear instructions. Tell respondents exactly what to attach, since there is no preview of the file's expected contents.

    Step 3: Write instructions

  4. Step 4: Set the maximum file size. Choose a limit large enough for a real file but small enough to keep response rows a manageable size. The platform enforces a hard 10 MB ceiling regardless of this setting.

    Step 4: Set maximum file size

  5. Step 5: Preview the upload flow. Attach a test file and confirm it appears with its name and size before publishing.

    Step 5: Preview the upload flow

Preview: Try File Upload

File Upload: Respondent View

Attach a file — the same upload control respondents see.

Data And Export Notes

Each response exports as a downloadable file for that question. Files are stored inline with the response rather than in separate cloud storage, so keep the maximum file size reasonable — large attachments from many respondents increase the size of exported response data.

Domandata does not scan, preview, or validate the contents of uploaded files beyond checking file type and size. If you are collecting sensitive documents (e.g. signed consent forms), confirm your IRB protocol and data handling plan cover file-based identifiable data.

Related Help

  • Signature Survey Questions for capturing a drawn signature instead of a document
  • Consent and Screening in Research Surveys
  • Short Answer Survey Questions
  • Privacy and Anonymity in Research Surveys