> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://withforerunner.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Managing file types
> Create, edit, and organize file types from account settings
Managers can create and configure file types directly from account settings, controlling how uploaded files are stored, displayed, and attached to objects. This lets you adapt your file categories as your workflows change, without waiting on a separate request.
**Prerequisites**: Managing file types is a Manager-level task. Other roles can select and view file types when uploading, but only Managers can add, edit, or delete them.
## Where to find file types
Go to **Settings**, open the **Account** section, and select **File types**. You'll see every file type in your account listed in ascending order, with columns for:
| Column | What it shows |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Name** | The file type name, with its color swatch |
| **File types** | The file formats this type accepts (for example, pdf, png, jpg) |
| **Attached to** | Where files of this type can attach — properties, other object types, or both |
| **Visibility** | Flags such as Sensitive, Hidden from public, or In carousel |
| **Actions** | Edit or delete the file type |
## Create a file type
Go to **Settings** > **Account** > **File types** and select **Add**.
Use **Where can this file type be attached?** to pick whether files attach to properties, other object types, or both. This controls where the file type appears as an upload option.
Enter a clear **Name**. This is what people see in upload menus, filters, and the Files table.
Use specific names like "Building Permit" rather than "Permit" — they're clearer at upload time and make filtering and reporting more useful.
Pick a **Color** for the swatch shown in lists and on the map. For map legibility, prefer the GIS-approved colors at the bottom of the color picker.
Set the **Order** to control where the file type appears in the list. Types are listed in ascending order, so a lower number appears higher.
Under **Allowed file types**, select every format this type should accept. Options are PDF, PNG, JPG, JPEG, MP4, and MOV. Pick at least one.
Forerunner enforces these formats at upload time — someone can't upload a JPG to a file type that only accepts PDF.
Configure how files of this type behave:
* **Sensitive** — Marks files as containing PII. Sensitive files are automatically hidden from the public portal and can't be made public.
* **Hidden from public by default** — New uploads of this type start hidden from the public portal. You can still share individual files later.
* **Show in object panel image carousel** — Surfaces image uploads in the property carousel on the object panel. Available only when every allowed format is an image.
Select **Add** to save. The new file type is immediately available as an upload option wherever it can attach.
Your file type appears in the list and in upload menus right away. People uploading files can now select it.
## Edit or reorder a file type
To change an existing file type, select the **Edit** action next to it. You can update any field — name, color, allowed formats, attachment targets, and visibility settings.
To reorder the list, edit a file type and change its **Order** value. Because the list is sorted in ascending order, lowering a type's number moves it higher.
Changing **Allowed file types** only affects future uploads — files already uploaded under this type are not removed if you drop their format. Marking a type as **Sensitive** also hides existing files of that type from the public portal.
## Delete a file type
Select the **Delete** action next to a file type to remove it. Deletion is blocked when the file type is still in use — for example, when files are still attached to it or a record field still requires it. When that happens, Forerunner explains why the type can't be deleted so you can reassign or remove those files first.
## Field reference
| Field | What it controls |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Where can this file type be attached?** | Whether files attach to properties, other object types, or both |
| **Name** | Display name in upload menus, filters, and the Files table |
| **Color** | Swatch shown in lists and on the map; GIS-approved presets improve map legibility |
| **Order** | Position in the list, sorted ascending |
| **Allowed file types** | Accepted formats: PDF, PNG, JPG, JPEG, MP4, MOV (at least one) |
| **Parent Document Type** | Links the type to a Forerunner system type so files get special handling — used for Elevation Certificates and similar regulated documents. Most file types leave this blank. |
| **Sensitive** | Marks files as PII; always hidden from the public portal |
| **Hidden from public by default** | New uploads start hidden from the public portal |
| **Show in object panel image carousel** | Surfaces image uploads in the property carousel; images-only |
**Elevation Certificates** rely on a Parent Document Type link so uploads trigger automatic data extraction. See [Reviewing Elevation Certificates](/files/reviewing-elevation-certificates) for how that processing works.
## Troubleshooting
**Show in object panel image carousel** is only available when every allowed format is an image. Remove PDF, MP4, and MOV from **Allowed file types** to enable it.
When a file type is marked **Sensitive**, it's always hidden from the public portal, so the visibility toggle is locked on. Turn off **Sensitive** first if the type shouldn't be hidden.
The file type is still in use — files are attached to it, or a record field still requires it. Reassign or delete those files first, then delete the type. The message on the delete action explains what's still using it.
Confirm the format is selected under **Allowed file types** for that file type, and that the person is uploading to the right type. Format changes apply to new uploads going forward.