File upload

The File upload element lets users upload files. It is built on FilePond and supports drag-and-drop uploads with a progress display.

Basic

Basic settings define the element's core properties.

Label

The label text shown above or beside the field (depending on the Label position setting). It also:

• Helps identify the field in the admin interface
• Appears as a heading in the form preview panel on the right

Unique Name

The internal identifier for this element. The name is auto-generated by default, but you can edit it manually. Naming rules:

• Lowercase letters, numbers, and underscores only
• Must start with a letter

This name references the field in email templates.

Label vs. Unique Name

The Label is the text shown to users, while the Unique Name is the internal identifier. For example, the Label could be "Upload Resume" and the Unique Name resume.

Description

Explanatory text shown beneath the field, providing help and context.

Validators

The File upload element supports a single validation rule:

Validator	Description
Required	Requires the user to upload a file

Styles

Label position

Controls where the label appears. Available options:

• Inherit: Uses the global configuration in Form style settings
• Vertical: Label above the upload area
• Horizontal: Label to the left of the upload area
• Hidden: Label hidden

Option

The core configuration of the File upload element, controlling upload behavior.

Maximum number of files

The maximum number of files a user can upload (default 1, minimum 1).

Multi-file upload

To let users upload multiple files (e.g., several images or documents), set this value to the desired number.

Allowed file extensions

The allowed file types, chosen via buttons. Click a specific extension to toggle it on or off (green = selected); the ALL button selects all.

The available buttons come from Upload file extensions in the form settings — only extensions within the form-level whitelist appear as buttons. For example, when the form-level setting is pdf,doc,docx,xls, only these four buttons are shown here.

Three-layer upload validation

An uploadable file type must pass three layers in sequence:

1. Dangerous extension blocklist (not configurable): server-executable or same-origin script formats such as .php, .exe, .asp, .svg, and .html cannot be enabled by any setting
2. DNN host whitelist: the upload types allowed by the host settings
3. Form whitelist: the form's Upload file extensions setting

On top of these, the extensions enabled on this element apply. Types rejected by any layer cannot be uploaded.

Maximum allowed file size

The maximum size of a single file, in MB (default 3, maximum 28, minimum 0.01).

Server limit

The maximum file size is capped by the server configuration. The current server limit is 28MB. To upload larger files, contact your server administrator to adjust the DNN upload limit.

Language

Customize the prompt text of the upload interface for localization. Each text has a default value and supports HTML tags and variable placeholders.

Idle

The prompt shown when the user has not uploaded a file. Default value:

Drag & Drop your files or <span class="filepond--label-action"> Browse </span>

TIP

The "Browse" inside <span class="filepond--label-action"> Browse </span> is a clickable browse button. Editing the text keeps it clickable.

Uploading

The prompt shown while a file is uploading.

File is too large

The error shown when the uploaded file exceeds the Maximum allowed file size.

Max File Size

The text displaying the maximum file size limit. Supports the {filesize} variable, replaced with the actual maximum file size. Default value:

Maximum file size is {filesize}

File is of invalid type

The error shown when the uploaded file type is not in the Allowed file extensions.

Expects

The text displaying the list of allowed file types. Supports variables:

• {allButLastType}: All allowed types except the last one
• {lastType}: The last allowed type

Default value:

Expects {allButLastType} or {lastType}

Variable explanation

For example, when jpg and png are allowed, the prompt shows "Expects jpg or png".

Logic

Enable conditional logic

When enabled, configure rules to show or hide this element based on the user's input in other fields.

Rule match mode

After enabling conditional logic, first choose the match mode:

• Match any condition (any): The element shows/hides when any single rule is satisfied
• Match all conditions (all): The element shows/hides only when all rules are satisfied

Configure rules

Each rule has three parts:

Part	Description
Field	Pick a target field from the dropdown (shows the field's Label)
Operator	The comparison condition
Value	The target value to compare against

Supported operators

Operator	Description
is	Triggers when the field value equals the specified value
is not	Triggers when the field value does not equal the specified value
is empty	Triggers when the field value is empty
is not empty	Triggers when the field value is not empty

Add and manage rules

• Click Add logic rule to add a new rule
• Click the 🗑 button on the right of a rule to delete it
• Click the ＋ button to add more match conditions

Example

For example, show the "Upload portfolio" file upload field only when the user selects "Yes" for "Will you provide a portfolio":

• Match mode: Match any condition
• Field: Will you provide a portfolio
• Operator: is
• Value: Yes

Data

Show in email

Controls whether this field's value appears in the email notifications (enabled by default). When disabled, the field's value is excluded from the submission email.

Advanced

Unique ID

The element's unique ID, auto-generated by the system. Read-only.

No filters

The File upload element handles files rather than text, so the Advanced tab has no Filters.

Next steps

• Date — Date picker
• Form settings — Configure form styles and notifications