Add PDF Files & Documents

You can upload PDF files or other documents to Drupal and link to them within content. 

File or Web Content?

Before you start to upload and link to document, stop evaluate whether this content can simply live on an existing or new page of your website. PDF documents are not as accessible as web content and other files such as Word documents and Excel files may be a barrier to users on small devices or if they don't have access to needed software.

Only use PDF or other documents when:

  • You need to preserve particular formatting in the document that can't be recreated on the web
  • Users need to print the document for signing, submission, etc.
  • Users need download a fillable PDF or Word doc to submit electronically

Name Your Files

  • The file name will become part of the URL, so keep it simple!
  • Use only a few words to describe the document
  • Omit dates, versions, and other non-essential info
  • Lowercase all words
  • Use hyphens between words if needed (not underscores)

undergrad-checklist.pdf

internship-application.pdf

Upload a File

  1. When signed in, click on Content and Files
  2. Click on Add Files
  3. Choose the file or files you wish to add from your computer
  4. Once you have selected the files choose Upload
  5. Click on Next
  6. Your file is now saved and you should see a link to the file
  7. Click on the file name. You should then be taken to a page with a link to the file you uploaded. Right click on the link and choose Copy Link Address to get the URL you'll want to use when linking your content.
  1. Go the page where you want to add the link
  2. Select Edit to edit the page
  3. Highlight the text you want to be the link description
  4. Select the Link icon from the toolbar.
  5. Type or paste the URL to the PDF file
  6. Click on Save

You can copy the URL to paste in when you upload the file (see section above). Or go to Manage Files from the menu bar at the top of screen to view files you've uploaded and their associated URLs.

Replace a PDF file

If your document changes, you can replace the original file rather than uploading a new one. This will save you the added step of updating any links to that file.

  1. Go to Content and Files from the menu bar at the top of screen
  2. Find the file you want to replace and click on Edit
  3. Go to Choose File and browse to the file you want upload (Make sure it has the same file name as the original!)
  4. Click on Save

Delete a PDF file

You can delete only the files you have uploaded, not all files. You should make sure the file isn't linked in any content before you delete!

  1. Go to Content and Files from the menu bar at the top of screen
  2. Find the file you want to delete and click on Delete
  3. On the confirmation screen, click the Delete button