How to Upload Files Using Screen Flow

The File Upload component in Screen Flow allows users to upload files directly within a flow. It provides an interactive interface where users can select and upload files, such as images, documents, or other media. It's valuable when you collect files in Salesforce as part of a data-gathering process within certain scenarios.

Here is the configuration of the File Upload component in Screen Flow.

Configuration of the File Upload Component

Input Values

There are a few input parameters that you have to provide when configuring the file upload component.

• API Name: It is a required parameter that becomes the API name for the file upload component. It must be unique within the flow.
• File Upload Label: It is a required parameter for the label that appears above the upload button.
• Accepted Formats: This is an optional parameter for the accepted file types. You can enter a comma-separated list of the file extensions (such as .png) that the user can upload.
• Allow Multiple Files: It is an input parameter to allow the user to upload multiple files. If you set to $GlobalConstant.True, the user can upload multiple files.
• Disabled: You can set this parameter as $GlobalConstant.True to make the file upload component disabled.
• Hover Text: It is an optional tooltip that appears when the user hovers over the component.
• Related Record ID: It is the Id of the record to associate the files with. It means that the uploaded files will be located under this record.

Output Values

Here are the output values of the File Upload component.

• Content Document IDs: It is a text collection of the content document Ids of the files that the user uploaded.
• Content Version IDs: It is a text collection of the content version Ids of the files that the user uploaded.
• Uploaded File Names: It is a text collection of the uploaded files' names.

How to Use the File Upload Component

Let's see how to upload files with an example. We have an existing screen flow for creating case records. Now, let's enhance it to include file uploads.

Add a screen element with a file upload component. Then enter the input values. For instance, this File Upload component allows the user to upload multiple png and jpg files.

In order to associate the files with the case record, put the Id of the case record to Related Record ID.

As you can see, it lets you upload multiple png and jpg files. Although other type of files are still visible, it is not possible to choose them.

After choosing the files, you will see this popup. Click "Done" in order to finish uploading files.

Then, click the next/finish button to finish the process.

At the end, here are the output values of the component. As you can see, it stores the file names, content document Ids and content version Ids in text collection variables. Pay attention that you don't need to use a Create Records element. This component already creates the records.

contentDocIds = [0691Q00000YO42LQAT, 0691Q00000YO42MQAT]
contentVersionIds = [0681Q00000cCwlCQAS, 0681Q00000cCwlDQAS]
fileNames = [Green Icon.png, GreenIcon.png]

If you navigate to the new Case record, you will see the uploaded files under it.

How to Upload Files Without a Related Record ID

In certain cases, you may not yet have a record Id available for associating the files. Here is how to handle file associations in such scenarios.

Here is a screen element to create a new case record. As you can see, there is a File Upload component too. It means that the users can create a case and upload files from one screen. Since there is no Case yet, you cannot provide its Id to the Related Record ID.

1- Add a loop element in order to loop through the uploaded files' Ids (contentDocIds).

2- Content Document Link object associates files (content documents) with records. Therefore, you have to create Content Document Link records for each uploaded file. Add an assignment element to assign a Content Document Link record variable and then add it to a record collection variable. Make sure that you map the ContentDocumentId (file's Id) and LinkedEntityId (related record's Id) fields.

Read this post to learn how to use flow to share files with records.

3- Add a Create Records element to create the Content Document Link records at the end of the loop.

4- Add a final screen to display a success message. Optionally (but recommended), add another screen for error handling.

At the end, your flow should look like this.

File Upload Component Limits

• Unless Salesforce changes the limit, by default, you can upload up to 10 files simultaneously.
• The maximum file size for upload is 2 GB.
• By default, guest user file uploads are restricted, but administrators can modify these settings to permit guest users to upload files.

File Upload Component Considerations

• This component uploads the files immediately. This means that if the user closes the flow or if something else fails, the files will still be successfully uploaded to Salesforce. This can be an issue, potentially resulting in files that are not linked to any records.
• Although it is possible to upload multiple files, you have to upload them at once. It means that if you upload 2 files and then upload another 3 files, the output will have only the last uploaded 3 files. Moreover, all of the 5 files will be uploaded to Salesforce, you just won't have the Ids of the first 2 files.
• File Upload component doesn't have an indication that shows if you uploaded a file. This might be confusing and may cause uploading the same file multiple times.
• There is no standard way to make the File Upload component required.