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.


👉 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 and subject content access.

Standalone file content type overview: 

Not every document works well as a quick embed. Some feel cramped or difficult to view in a step, 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 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. 🎵

Add a standalone file to a subject:

1. Open the subject 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.
   
   
   
   
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."
     
     
     
     
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.
   
   
   
   
7. Hit the "Finish" button to create your standalone file content type.

📝 Please note: Standalone files are currently stationed at the topic level.

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

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.
Page jump	Locate the page jump tool in the lower left-hand corner of your file. 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. 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.  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 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 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? 
Yes. You can view standalone files in the Trainual mobile app using your iPhone or Android device.


Do standalone files work in publicly shared 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.

Learn more about standalone content types: 

• Leverage video-centric training to boost learner engagement.
• Present complex information in clear, visual steps using flowcharts.
• Assess teammate strengths and areas for learning improvements through tests.