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Uploading files to Forerunner is straightforward whether you’re at your desk or in the field. You can upload documents individually or in batches, and Forerunner automatically organizes them by property and document type.
Important: Only Elevation Certificates can be uploaded from the Files table, as they automatically geocode to properties. All other file types (permits, photos, reports, etc.) must be uploaded from a property or object page.You can upload up to 10 files at once. You can mix file types in one upload, since you pick the file type for each file.

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Uploading from the web

The web interface provides the most flexible upload experience with drag-and-drop support.
1

Navigate to the upload location

You can upload files from multiple locations:
  • Object Information Panel - Navigate to a property or custom object, click the Files tab, then click Upload (or Add > Upload file if your account has file templates)
  • Files table - Go to Files in the main navigation and click Upload Elevation Certificates (this button only shows if your account uses Elevation Certificates, and only Elevation Certificates can be uploaded this way)
  • Records - Navigate to a record that has a Document Upload field and click “Upload files”
  • Map - Click on a property or custom object on the map to open the Object Information Panel, then click Upload in the Files tab
Choose the location that makes sense for your workflow. If you’re uploading multiple files for the same object, starting from the Object Information Panel saves time.
2

Select or drag files

Drag and drop - Drag files from your computer directly onto the upload areaFile picker - Click the upload area (“Drop your files here, or click to browse”) to choose files from your computerYou can select up to 10 files at once. All files must be under the size limit for their format.
Drag and drop multiple files at once to upload them as a batch. This is faster than selecting files one at a time.
3

Choose a file type for each file

Each file you add shows up in a list. Pick a File type for each one. The available file types depend on your account configuration and where you’re uploading from.If you’re uploading from an Object Information Panel, document types are filtered to those that can attach to the object.See File types for help choosing the right document type.
4

Set issue date (optional)

For dated documents like permits or certificates, set the Issue date for that file to show when it was created or issued. Elevation Certificate issue dates are filled in from the file automatically.This date helps with:
  • Filtering files by date range
  • Tracking document age
  • Compliance reporting
  • Chronological organization
Leave blank if the document doesn’t have a specific issue date.
5

Click Upload files

Click Upload files to start uploading your files.If you’re uploading an Elevation Certificate that creates a record, you may see a Select related records step where you pick which record type it should create.You’ll see a progress indicator showing:
  • Upload progress for each file
  • Processing status
  • Any errors or warnings
Large files or multiple files may take several minutes to upload and process.
After upload completes, your files are immediately available in the Files table, on property pages, and through search. Elevation Certificates begin automatic processing to extract data.
Files start out public or hidden based on their file type. To change one after upload, open the file, go to Settings, and flip Display file on public website? (this shows when your public website is on). You can also select files in the Files table and click Hide from public or Show to public.

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Uploading from mobile

The Forerunner mobile app lets you upload files from the field, including photos captured directly with your device camera.
1

Open the property or object

In the mobile app:
  1. Navigate to the property or custom object
  2. Tap the Files tab
  3. Tap the add button. If your account has file templates, choose Upload
2

Choose your source

Select where to get the file from:
  • Take a photo - Capture a new photo with your camera
  • Record a video - Record a new video
  • Choose from library - Select existing photos or videos
  • Choose from files - Select documents from your device
Taking photos directly in the app is faster than capturing separately and uploading later.
3

Choose a file type

Pick a file type for each file you added.The property is automatically selected since you’re uploading from within a property view.
4

Set details (optional)

  • Add an issue date if relevant
5

Tap Save

Tap Save to begin uploading the file.If you’re online - Files upload immediatelyIf you’re offline - Files are queued locally and will upload automatically when you regain connectivityYou can continue working while uploads process in the background.
Mobile uploads support offline mode. Files captured without connectivity are stored locally and sync automatically when your device reconnects to the internet.

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Upload from public website

If your account has the public website enabled, property owners and residents can upload their own Elevation Certificates.

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For staff

Work with your Customer Success Manager to turn this on. It’s controlled by the admin-only Allow elevation certificate uploads setting, which adds an Elevation Certificate record type that residents can fill out from your public website.

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For residents

Property owners can upload their Elevation Certificates:
  1. Visit your community’s public website
  2. Open the menu at the top and go to the record category
  3. Pick the Elevation Certificate record type
  4. Add their EC file and submit
Each upload comes in as an Elevation Certificate record. Staff review it with the record’s Review status field: Needs review, Corrections required, or Approved. Residents can check back to see when processing completes.
Public Elevation Certificate uploads reduce staff workload and help residents participate in floodplain management compliance.

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Supported file formats

Forerunner accepts these file formats and sizes:
Files exceeding size limits will be rejected during upload. Compress large files or split videos into shorter segments before uploading.

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Batch uploading

Upload multiple files at once to save time: From the web:
  1. Drag multiple files onto the upload area (up to 10)
  2. Pick a file type for each file
  3. Add an issue date for any file that has one
  4. Click Upload files
All files in a batch must:
  • Attach to the same property or object
  • Meet file format and size requirements
When to batch upload:
  • Multiple photos from the same inspection
  • Several pages or documents for the same property
  • A collection of related reports or forms
When to upload separately:
  • Files attach to different properties
For very large batch uploads (100+ files), contact your Customer Success Manager about bulk upload options using CSV or Google Drive integration.

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What happens after upload

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Immediate actions

  1. File checks - Forerunner checks file format and size
  2. Security sanitization - PDFs are selectively sanitized to remove dangerous elements while preserving accessibility tags, and images have EXIF data stripped to remove potential security risks
  3. Storage - Files are stored securely in cloud storage
  4. Database record - A DocumentUpload record is created with metadata
  5. Property linking - File is associated with the selected property or object

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Automatic processing

For Elevation Certificates:
  • AI-powered OCR extracts text from the PDF
  • Data extraction identifies key fields like address, elevation, flood zone
  • Automatic geocoding links the EC to the correct property
  • Extracted data becomes searchable and reportable
See Elevation Certificates for details on automated processing. For other document types:
  • Files are immediately available for viewing and downloading
  • No additional processing occurs
  • Files appear in searches and filters right away

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Availability

Your uploaded files are immediately accessible:
  • Files table - Find files using search and filters
  • Object Information Panel - View files on the object’s Files tab
  • Map - Access files from the Object Information Panel on the map
  • Public website - Non-hidden files appear on public portal (if enabled)
  • Mobile app - Files sync to mobile devices for offline access
Elevation Certificate processing takes 1-5 minutes depending on form complexity. Other files are available immediately after upload completes.

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Best practices

While Forerunner stores the original filename, clear filenames make files easier to identify in lists and searches. Use descriptive names like “123-Main-St-EC-2024.pdf” instead of “scan001.pdf”.
Always set the issued date for permits, certificates, and time-sensitive documents. This enables accurate filtering and compliance reporting.
Before uploading sensitive documents, verify the document type’s default visibility is appropriate. When in doubt, keep files private and selectively share them later.
Train your team to use document types consistently. Don’t upload building permits as “Property Image” - use the correct document type for accurate organization.
Smaller files upload faster and use less storage. Compress PDFs and images before uploading when file size is not critical to quality.
Upload from the Object Information Panel when working with a specific property or custom object. Use the Files table for Elevation Certificates or Records with Document Upload fields for record-specific documents.
Capture photos and videos directly in the mobile app during inspections or site visits. This is faster and more reliable than transferring files to a computer first.
Nothing to set up. Uploads made offline save on the device and sync when you’re back online.

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Troubleshooting

Solution: Your file exceeds the size limit (30 MB for PDFs/images, 600 MB for videos). Compress the file before uploading:
  • PDFs: Use Adobe Acrobat or online PDF compressors to reduce file size
  • Images: Resize images to lower resolution or use JPEG compression
  • Videos: Use video compression software or split into shorter segments
If you must upload a very large file, contact your Customer Success Manager for assistance.
Solution: The file format doesn’t match the allowed formats for the selected document type. Check these items:
  • Verify the file extension matches the format (e.g., .pdf for PDFs)
  • Try a different file type that accepts your file format
  • Convert the file to an accepted format
  • Ask a Manager to add the format to the file type in account settings (see Managing file types)
Solution: Large files (especially videos near 600 MB) can take longer to upload depending on your internet connection speed. Wait for the upload to complete, or:
  • Check your internet connection speed
  • Close other browser tabs or applications using bandwidth
  • Try uploading during off-peak hours
  • Use a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi if possible
Solution: Delete the file and re-upload to the correct property. Only Members, Managers, and admins can delete files, so if you’re a Creator, ask one of them. From the Files table or Object Information Panel:
  1. Find the incorrectly uploaded file
  2. Click the delete/trash icon
  3. Confirm deletion
  4. Re-upload to the correct property
If you uploaded many files to the wrong property, contact your Customer Success Manager for bulk reassignment assistance.
Solution: Delete and re-upload with the correct file type (Creators can’t delete files, so ask a Member or Manager). Document type cannot be changed after upload without deleting the file. If you have many files to recategorize, contact your CSM for bulk operations.
Solution: Check your connectivity and sync status:
  • Ensure you have an active internet connection
  • Check that the Forerunner app has permission to use cellular data
  • Try manually triggering a sync from the app settings
  • Close and reopen the app to retry the upload
If uploads remain stuck, they’ll automatically retry when you launch the app with connectivity.
Solution:
  • Wait a moment and refresh the page
  • Check that you’re viewing the correct property
  • Verify the document type filter in the Files table isn’t hiding the file
  • Clear any saved view filters that might exclude recent uploads
  • Check with other users to ensure it’s not a permissions issue
If the file still doesn’t appear after a few minutes, it may have failed to upload. Try uploading again.
Solution: For bulk uploads beyond 10 files:
  • Upload in multiple batches of 10
  • Contact your Customer Success Manager about bulk upload tools
  • Use CSV-based bulk upload if available for your account
  • Consider Google Drive integration for very large batches