Uploading Files
The Archiver accepts a wide range of file types and handles them automatically. Here's what you need to know before uploading.
Supported file formats
Documents
| Format | Extension | Notes |
|---|---|---|
.pdf | Text PDFs are indexed directly; scanned PDFs get OCR | |
| Word | .doc, .docx | Text is extracted automatically |
| Text | .txt | Indexed as-is |
| Rich Text | .rtf | Text is extracted |
Images
| Format | Extension | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| JPEG | .jpg, .jpeg | OCR run automatically |
| PNG | .png | OCR run automatically |
| TIFF | .tif, .tiff | OCR run; multi-page TIFFs can be split — see guide |
| WebP | .webp | OCR run automatically |
Spreadsheets
| Format | Extension | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Excel | .xls, .xlsx | Content is extracted and indexed |
| CSV | .csv | Treated as structured data |
Audio & Video
| Format | Extension | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 | .mp3 | Transcribed automatically |
| WAV | .wav | Transcribed automatically |
| M4A | .m4a | Transcribed automatically |
| MP4 | .mp4 | Transcribed automatically |
| MOV | .mov | Transcribed automatically |
File size limits
| Tier | Max file size | Total storage |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 50 MB per file | 500 MB total |
| Pro | 500 MB per file | 10 GB total |
| Team | 500 MB per file | 100 GB total |
| Enterprise | 2 GB per file | Unlimited |
How uploading works
- Files are transferred directly to secure cloud storage over an encrypted connection
- The original file is stored untouched — The Archiver never modifies your originals
- A thumbnail and preview are generated for documents and images
- Processing (OCR, classification) starts automatically after upload
Tips for best results
Scan quality matters for OCR. For the best text recognition results, scan documents at 300 DPI or higher. Very dark, faded, or skewed scans will produce less accurate OCR.
Use descriptive filenames. The AI uses filenames as a hint during classification. smith_letter_1923.jpg gives the AI useful context; IMG_4521.jpg doesn't.
Upload in batches by source. Create one accession per donor, event, or project. This makes the AI's job easier and keeps your archive logically organised.
What happens if a file fails?
If a file fails to upload or process, you'll see an error indicator next to it. Common causes:
- File format not supported
- File is corrupted or unreadable
- File exceeds the size limit for your tier
Failed files don't count against your usage. You can try uploading the file again, or contact support if the problem persists.