How to Attach Files to a Task and Keep File Versions
To attach files to a task in Planfix you do not have to settle on one method: you can drag a file straight into the task, add it through the paperclip icon, pull it out of a cloud drive, or keep it on the task’s Documents tab. That choice matters when briefs, contracts and screenshots are scattered across conversations and nobody is sure which copy is the current one. This two-minute video walks through every way to add documents and files to a task, and how to update them later without losing the old copy.
What you’ll learn: every way to add a file
- Why files get lost in tasks, and which options Planfix gives you (0:00).
- Drag a file into the task so it is attached to your comment, then rename it, describe it or delete it (0:14).
- Attach a file that was already uploaded to Planfix, add a file link, or upload from Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive (0:29).
- Store briefs, reports and contracts on the task’s Documents tab, outside the comment thread (1:01).
- Upload an updated document as a new version and keep the version history (1:18).
How to attach files to a task in Planfix, step by step
Step 1. Drag the file into the task
The easiest method is to drag the file directly into the task. Planfix attaches it to your comment, so the file arrives together with the message that explains what it is. Click the paperclip icon to view the uploaded file: from there you can rename it, add a description, or delete it.
Step 2. Attach a file through the paperclip icon
The other way round is to click the paperclip icon first. An upload area opens: drag a new file into it, or click the field to select one from your device. Same result as dragging, it just suits a different habit.
Step 3. Reuse a file that is already in Planfix
You can also select a file that was previously uploaded to Planfix. It can be a file from the current task or from any project, so a price list or a standard annex never needs uploading twice.
Step 4. Add a link instead of a file
When the document lives somewhere else and should stay there, add a file link: enter a name and paste the link. You can add an explanation in the description, so the task points at the live document rather than a copy that goes stale.
Step 5. Upload from Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive
Uploading files from Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive works in the same way. Open the cloud storage service you use and choose the file you want to upload to Planfix.
Step 6. Store materials on the Documents tab
To store a file outside the comment thread, use the Documents tab located in the task. This is particularly convenient for task-related materials like briefs, reports and contracts: every task participant can open or download the files they need, without scrolling back through the discussion.
Step 7. Update a document as a new version
When you need to update a document, do not delete the old file. Upload the updated file using the same name; when the dialog box appears, select the option indicating that it is a new version. Planfix preserves the version history, so you can return to an earlier version whenever necessary. One detail from the Help Center article on document versions: Planfix looks for a matching name within the current project, so same-named files in different projects are not offered as versions of each other.
Comment or Documents tab: which to use
Both live in the same task, and the difference is how long the file needs to stay findable. A file attached to a comment is tied to the moment it was sent — a screenshot of the bug, the draft someone reacted to — and reads correctly in that context. The Documents tab is for materials the task keeps coming back to, where someone joining in week three should find the brief without reading three weeks of comments.
Who it’s for
- Project managers: keep briefs and specifications on the Documents tab, so the current scope is one click from the task rather than buried in a thread.
- Sales and account teams: attach the contract to the client’s task and upload each revision as a new version, so the latest wording is never in doubt.
- Designers and marketing teams: drop creatives straight into a comment for feedback, and link to the source files that stay in cloud storage.
- Operations and support: reuse standard forms and price lists already uploaded to Planfix instead of re-sending them with every request.
FAQ
Where does a file go when I drag it into a task?
It is automatically attached to your comment. Click the paperclip icon to view the uploaded file, and from there rename it, add a description or delete it. If you would rather keep the file out of the discussion, put it on the Documents tab instead.
How do I update a document without losing the old one?
Upload the new file under the same name and choose the option saying it is a new version when the dialog box appears. The earlier versions stay in the version history, so there is no reason to delete the previous file first.
Can I attach a file that is already in Planfix?
Yes. When adding a file you can select one that was previously uploaded to Planfix, from the current task or from any project. If the document lives outside Planfix, add a file link with a name and a description instead.
Keep your task files where the work is
Pick one task that everybody keeps asking questions about, move its reference materials to the Documents tab, and upload the next revision as a version instead of a second file. For the full list of options, see the Help Center article on files. To take this further across the whole account, read how to structure a document database in Planfix, and for files that arrive from outside the team, collecting documents from clients. New to Planfix? Sign up to try it.
