How Do You Create a File Upload on Squarespace?

Creating a file upload feature on Squarespace can be a bit challenging since Squarespace does not natively support file uploads directly through its forms. However, there are third-party integrations and workarounds that can be used to achieve this functionality. Below, I’ll outline a general approach using a third-party form service, such as Google Forms or JotForm, which can handle file uploads.

Using Google Forms

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Set Up Your Google Form:
2. Go to Google Forms.
3. Click on the blank form to create a new form.
4. Add a question to your form and set the type to "File upload."
5. Configure the settings for the file upload (e.g., allowed file types, maximum file size).
6. Customize the rest of your form with any other fields you might need.
7. When you're done, click on the "Send" button at the top right of Google Forms.

8. Click on the link icon to generate a shareable link, then copy this link.

9. Embed Google Form in Squarespace:

10. Log into your Squarespace account.
11. Navigate to the page where you want to add the file upload form.
12. Click the "Edit" button.
13. Add a new block by clicking on the "+" button and select "Code."
14. In the code block, paste the embed code. For Google Forms, you may need to get the embed HTML from the "Send" interface by clicking the "<>" icon and then copy-pasting the code.
15. Save and publish your page.

Considerations:

• Ensure that users are aware of the file upload limitations (e.g., file size, format) set by Google Forms.
• Files uploaded via Google Forms are stored in your Google Drive, so ensure you have sufficient storage space and proper organizational and permission settings.

Using JotForm

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Set Up Your JotForm:
2. Go to JotForm and sign up or log in.
3. Create a new form by clicking the "Create Form" button.
4. Add a "File Upload" field from the form elements panel.
5. Configure the settings for the file upload field (e.g., allowed file types, maximum file size).
6. Customize the rest of your form with any other required fields.
7. Click on the "Publish" tab, then click on "Embed" from the left-hand menu.

8. Copy the embed code provided.

9. Embed JotForm in Squarespace:

10. Log into your Squarespace site.
11. Go to the page where you want to embed the form.
12. Click on the "Edit" button and add a new block by clicking "+".
13. Choose the "Code" block.
14. Paste the JotForm embed code into the code block.
15. Save and publish your page.

Considerations:

• JotForm has various pricing plans, and the free plan includes limits on the number of forms and submissions, as well as available storage space for file uploads.
• Ensure that your form settings are configured to notify you when a new file is uploaded, if needed.

Limitations and Alternatives

• Native Squarespace Forms: As of my knowledge cutoff in October 2023, Squarespace’s native form builder does not support file uploads. This necessitates the use of third-party services.
• Pricing and Limitations: Both Google Forms and JotForm have usage limitations based on their pricing plans, so it’s important to choose a plan that fits your needs.
• User Experience: Embedding a form can affect the look and feel of your website. Make sure to style it appropriately to match your site's design.

Conclusion

While Squarespace does not natively support file uploads in its forms, integrating third-party services like Google Forms or JotForm can help you add this functionality. Follow the detailed steps to set up and embed the forms on your Squarespace site, being mindful of the storage and usage limitations of the chosen third-party service. This approach should allow you to collect file uploads from users effectively while maintaining the aesthetic and functionality of your Squarespace site.