How to Upload a Document

Uploading a document is the most direct way to add a file to your Essal Office archive. Once uploaded, the document is processed automatically — text is extracted, a searchable index is built, and any matching rules you've configured are applied.

Using the Upload Button

1. Click the Upload button on the dashboard or the + icon in the top bar
2. A file picker opens — navigate to the file you want to upload and select it
3. Click Open (or Upload depending on your browser)
4. The document is queued for processing

You'll see the document appear in your document list shortly. While it's being processed, it may show a processing indicator. Once complete, the extracted text, auto-matched tags, correspondent, and document type will all be populated.

Uploading Multiple Files at Once

Most file pickers allow multi-selection. Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) while clicking files to select several, then click Open. Each file is uploaded and processed as a separate document.

What Happens Next

After you upload a document, Essal Office:

1. Extracts text — the OCR engine reads the document and makes its content fully searchable
2. Creates an archive copy — a PDF/A version is generated alongside your original (for scanned images and non-PDF files)
3. Applies auto-matching — any tags, correspondents, and document types with matching rules that fit the document content are assigned automatically
4. Saves the original — your original file is kept untouched in the archive alongside the processed version

Reviewing the Document After Upload

Once processing is complete, click the document to open it. Check:

• Title — auto-generated from the filename; you may want to rename it to something descriptive
• Created date — Essal Office tries to read the document date from its content; verify it is correct
• Tags, Correspondent, Document Type — confirm the automatic assignments are accurate, and add or change any that aren't right

File Size and Limits

There is no hard limit imposed by Essal Office itself on individual file size, but very large files will take longer to process. Scanned PDFs at 300 DPI and standard page sizes are typically well under 5 MB per page. For very large batches or files, consider whether splitting the document first makes sense.