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How CoAuthor Handles .ZIP File Uploads

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Written by Kay Chen

Easily upload structured content while keeping your file relationships intact.

Many users upload .zip files to CoAuthor to maintain links between documents, images, and folders—especially when working with:

  • 📄 Linked documents

  • 🖼️ Referenced images

  • 📁 Relative paths between files

This is common for training modules, documentation sets, and simulation packages.

What Happens When You Upload a .ZIP?

When you upload a .zip file to the Source tab in CoAuthor, here’s what happens behind the scenes:

Step-by-Step Breakdown

  1. Upload the .ZIP File
    You select and upload your .zip file.

  2. Automatic Extraction
    CoAuthor unpacks the contents of the .zip file.

  3. Preserve Folder Structure
    The original folder hierarchy is retained.

  4. Add Files and Folders to Source

    • If a folder is found, CoAuthor creates a parent document and adds all files inside as child documents.

    • If a file is found directly inside the .zip, it’s added at the same level where the .zip was uploaded.

Example

Let’s say your .zip file contains:

training-materials.zip ├── overview.docx ├── images/ │ ├── diagram.png │ └── chart.png ├── modules/ │ ├── module1.docx │ └── module2.docx

After uploading to CoAuthor:

  • overview.docx appears at the top level.

  • images/ becomes a parent document with diagram.png and chart.png as children.

  • modules/ becomes another parent document with module1.docx and module2.docx as children.

✅ This keeps your image references, links, and document relationships intact.

How to Upload a .ZIP File

  1. Go to the Sources tab in CoAuthor.

  2. Click Drag & drop or click to select your .zip file.

  3. Confirm Upload

  4. Wait for the extraction to complete.

  5. Review the folder structure and documents added.

Tips for Best Results

  • Organize your .zip with clearly named folders and files.

  • Avoid deeply nested folders—CoAuthor supports them, but simpler structures are easier to manage.

  • Keep referenced images and assets in the same folder or a subfolder.

Need Help?

If your .zip didn’t upload as expected, or you’re seeing missing files or broken links:

  • Contact your support team

  • Check the upload logs in CoAuthor for details


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