---
title: Standalone File Content Type
description: Learn how to upload standalone files for a full-screen, searchable experience that puts your go-to resources front and center.
---

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# Standalone File Content Type

## Learn how to upload standalone files for a full-screen, searchable experience that puts your go-to resources front and center.

---

Stop sitting on content that could be helping your team now! Use the standalone file content type to easily add and spotlight important documents with just a few clicks.

![](https://help.trainual.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jun-23-2025-11-59-37-9235-PM.png?width=188&height=226&name=image-png-Jun-23-2025-11-59-37-9235-PM.png)  
👉 Before you start:

- This feature is available under all Trainual plans.
- The information below is best suited for content creators. For more specifics around which areas of the account and pieces of content your employees can access, review their **[permissions](https://help.trainual.com/en/articles/5589497-permission-levels?hsLang=en)** and **[subject content access](https://help.trainual.com/en/articles/5575360-manage-subject-content-access?hsLang=en)**.

🗂️ **Table of contents:** Skip around to just the parts you need with these links.

- [**Overview — Standalone file content type**](https://help.trainual.com/en/standalone-file-content-type#overview).
- [**Add a standalone file to a subject**](https://help.trainual.com/en/standalone-file-content-type#add-standalone-file). 
    - [**Example of a standalone file content type**](https://help.trainual.com/en/standalone-file-content-type#example).
- [**Navigating your standalone file**](https://help.trainual.com/en/standalone-file-content-type#navigating-a-standalone-file).
- [**FAQs**](https://help.trainual.com/en/standalone-file-content-type#FAQs).
- [**Learn more about standalone content types**](https://help.trainual.com/en/standalone-file-content-type#learn-more-about-standalone-content-types).

---

### Standalone file content type overview:

Not every document works well as a [**quick embed**](https://help.trainual.com/en/articles/5575233-insert-media-with-quick-embed?hsLang=en). Some feel cramped or difficult to view in a [**step**](https://help.trainual.com/en/articles/5578224-create-add-content-to-a-step?hsLang=en), especially when they’re more technical or elaborate resources.

Whether it’s polished vendor content or a quick-start guide from your team, standalone files offer a fast, clean way to add existing resources into Trainual that become [**instantly searchable**](https://help.trainual.com/en/articles/8144797-using-trainual-s-ai-powered-search?hsLang=en) and don't require more formatting.

#### What to upload first? 🤔

- 🛠️ **Manuals and technical diagrams**. Perfect for hands-on teams.
- 🎨 **Polished guides from in-house pros**. Why recreate what's already beautiful?
- 🤓 **Trusted expert resources**. Keep the gold standard. Skip the copy + paste.

And any other already perfected content. Gotta get 'em all... into Trainual. 🎵

![](https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZGt1ZGc3cWMwNnV2NzllYjVucmFyNzdqcm42bDRzazJsY2MzeHA0eSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/8UGGp7rQvfhe63HrFq/giphy.gif)

---

### Add a standalone file to a subject:

1. **Open the [subject](https://help.trainual.com/en/articles/6122597-add-a-new-subject?hsLang=en)** where you'd like to add a standalone file.
2. Click on the **downward arrow** on the "**Add content**" **button**.
3. **Select** "**File**" from the menu.
   
   ![](https://help.trainual.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-06-23%20at%2012-08-20%E2%80%AFPM-png.png?width=245&height=325&name=Screenshot%202025-06-23%20at%2012-08-20%E2%80%AFPM-png.png)
4. **Name your file** and hit the "**Create**" **button**.  
     - *Alternative:*You can jump down directly to the topic creation line from the subject page to select the "File" option, add a title, and hit "Create."
       
       ![](https://help.trainual.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-07-03%20at%202-42-51%E2%80%AFPM-png.png?width=688&height=49&name=Screenshot%202025-07-03%20at%202-42-51%E2%80%AFPM-png.png)
5. **Select a supported file** from your browser. 
     - *Supported files:* doc, docx, odp, ods, odt, pdf, ppt, pptx, xls, and xlsx.
     - *Size limit:* 50MB.
6. **Review the import** information in the "Upload file" window and **click the** "**Looks good, let's upload!**" **button** to confirm your file selection.
   
   ![](https://help.trainual.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jul-03-2025-09-29-49-7454-PM.png?width=449&height=288&name=image-png-Jul-03-2025-09-29-49-7454-PM.png)
7. **Hit the** "**Finish**" **button** to create your standalone file content type.

📝 **Please note:** Standalone files are currently stationed at the [**topic level**](https://help.trainual.com/en/articles/4112156-subject-structure-subject-topics-steps?hsLang=en#:~:text=HR%20Policies-,Topic,-A%20topic%20is).

↓ *Example of a standalone file content type (in "View mode").*  

![](https://help.trainual.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-07-03%20at%202-40-18%E2%80%AFPM-png.png?width=688&height=386&name=Screenshot%202025-07-03%20at%202-40-18%E2%80%AFPM-png.png)

---

### Navigating your standalone file:

Standalone files don’t just look great; they were built for easy reading and navigation. You can click active links, skip through multi-page documents, zoom in or out, and switch between a full-height or a full-width view for the best reading experience.

| 🔎 **Viewer features** | 📑 **How-to** |
| --- | --- |
| *Active links* | **Add links from your original file**. They’ll stay clickable after you upload the file into Trainual, making it easy for your team to access external resources. |
| *Page thumbnails* | **Use the panel** on the left-hand side of your file to quickly go between pages. ![](https://help.trainual.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-06-23%20at%203-59-20%E2%80%AFPM-png.png?width=303&height=207&name=Screenshot%202025-06-23%20at%203-59-20%E2%80%AFPM-png.png) |
| *Page jump* | Locate the **page jump tool** in the lower left-hand corner of your file. ![](https://help.trainual.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jun-23-2025-08-02-26-7137-PM.png?width=150&height=50&name=image-png-Jun-23-2025-08-02-26-7137-PM.png) **Input the page number** you'd like to jump to **and hit** "Enter" or "Return" on your keyboard to skip around your doc. |
| *Zoom in or out* | Locate the **zoom tool** in the lower right-hand corner of your file. ![](https://help.trainual.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jun-23-2025-08-05-18-0415-PM.png?width=133&height=50&name=image-png-Jun-23-2025-08-05-18-0415-PM.png) **Use the** "**+**" or "**-**" **icons** to either make your file view bigger or smaller. |
| *"Fit" tool* | Locate the "**Fit**" **tool** in the lower right-hand corner of your file.  ![](https://help.trainual.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-06-23%20at%201-10-51%E2%80%AFPM-png-1.png?width=128&height=61&name=Screenshot%202025-06-23%20at%201-10-51%E2%80%AFPM-png-1.png) Click this icon to switch between **full-width** and **full-height views** of your doc. |

 

---

### FAQs:

***What file types are supported for standalone files?***  
We support doc, docx, odp, ods, odt, pdf, ppt, pptx, xls, and xlsx files.

***What’s the max file size for standalone files?***  
50MB.

***Can I edit my standalone file in Trainual?***   
No. Your uploaded files will be read-only and, therefore, not editable.

***Can I swap out my current standalone file for a new or updated version?***   
Not at this time, but we have it on our roadmap. In the meantime, you'll need to [**create a new standalone file**](https://help.trainual.com/en/standalone-file-content-type#add-standalone-file) for any content you need to replace.

***Can I use the top navigation search bar to find images in my standalone files?***   
No. [**Trainual’s AI-powered search**](https://help.trainual.com/en/articles/8144797-using-trainual-s-ai-powered-search?hsLang=en) will detect and return results based on the written content inside your standalone files, not images. We recommend adding notes or descriptions alongside images for more comprehensive searches, if desired.

***Are standalone files accessible from the [Trainual mobile app](https://help.trainual.com/en/trainual-mobile-app-for-iphone-android?hsLang=en)?***   
Yes. You can view standalone files in the Trainual mobile app using your iPhone or Android device.

***Do standalone files work in [publicly shared](https://help.trainual.com/en/articles/6122740-public-share?hsLang=en) Trainual content?***  
Not at this time, but this feature addition is in the works. Stay tuned!

***How can I submit my feedback and ideas about features?***  
If you'd like to share your thoughts about standalone files or think of something else you'd like to see added in the future, send us your **[feature requests and ideas](https://help.trainual.com/en/articles/4113422-how-do-i-request-a-feature?hsLang=en)**.

---

### Learn more about standalone content types:

- Leverage [**video-centric training**](https://help.trainual.com/en/upload-host-and-link-standalone-videos?hsLang=en) to boost learner engagement.
- Present complex information in clear, visual steps using [**flowcharts**](https://help.trainual.com/en/flowcharts?hsLang=en).
- Assess teammate strengths and areas for learning improvements through [**tests**](https://help.trainual.com/en/articles/5561626-create-a-new-test?hsLang=en).

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