To add a File, go to Create > Content, click Add Content, choose File, then upload your document or embed a URL. Use a File when the source format is the deliverable — a signed policy PDF, a designed deck, a working spreadsheet. Use an Article when the content is text.
When to use a File
Files are the right choice when the source document is the value — a signed policy PDF, a sales deck that needs to look polished on a screen, a reference spreadsheet that learners will actually open and use.
Continu supports these file formats:
- PDF (.pdf)
- Word (.doc, .docx)
- PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx)
- Excel (.xls, .xlsx)
Build an Article instead when the content is text. Articles render natively, are searchable inside Continu, and don’t require learners to download a file or open another app. For help choosing a content type, see Content Strategy: Designing Learning Assets That Scale.
Add a File
-
From the left-hand navigation, click Create > Content.
-
Click Add Content and choose File.
-
Choose how to add the content:
- Click Upload to drag and drop the file or browse for it.
- Click Embed external content to embed a webpage or iframe, then paste the URL.
- If Iorad for Continu is installed, you can also add Iorad content from this screen. See Creating and Adding Iorad content in Continu.
-
Enter the Title and Author. For uploaded files, Continu generates the Description for you: after upload, the file is processed in the background and the Description fills in automatically when processing finishes. The field is locked until then, so allow a short delay on larger files. Click Next.
-
Set Smart Segmentation to control who can see the File, and choose whether it appears on Explore. See Segmentation For Content.
-
Configure Content Settings: ratings, certificates, completion behavior, and “What you will learn” items. See Editing Content Settings. Click Next to preview.
-
Click Next for the final review, then click Publish.
Considerations
Use Files when the format is the message. A signed PDF policy must remain a PDF. A pitch deck designed in PowerPoint keeps its layout as a PowerPoint file. Converting these to Articles loses the design value.
Review the Description before publishing. Learners see the Title and Description on Explore before they open a File, so the Description is what helps them decide whether to open it. Once the generated Description appears, read it and confirm it reflects what’s inside.
Keep file sizes reasonable. Large files (over 25–50MB) slow down the experience on mobile and slow networks. Compress images in PDFs and PowerPoint files before uploading where possible.
Embed external content sparingly. Embedded URLs (iframes) work for some content but break when the source page changes its embedding rules. Use embeds for stable, externally hosted content and avoid them for anything that changes often. See Embedded Content.
Common pitfalls
Uploading a File when an Article would work better. Long, mostly-text PDFs become content people don’t open, because downloading a file and opening it in another app lowers engagement. If the content is text and doesn’t depend on print layout, build it as an Article. See Add an Article to Continu.
Forgetting to update when the source document changes. Files in Continu are static snapshots. Editing the source file on your computer doesn’t update Continu. When the policy or deck changes, re-upload the new version to Continu, or duplicate the content and replace the file. Plan for this maintenance cycle.
Missing Smart Segmentation on sensitive Files. A File without Smart Segmentation is visible to every user with broad content access. Segment confidential policies, signed agreements, and internal-only decks before publishing.
Embedding URLs that require authentication. If you embed a URL that requires a login (for example, a private Google Doc), learners see a sign-in prompt instead of the content. Test the embed as a learner before publishing.
Gridlines appearing after upload. Some files display gridlines in Continu that aren’t visible in the original. To avoid this, export the file to PDF and upload the PDF instead.
See Also
- Content Authoring: From Blank Page to Published Asset — the end-to-end authoring flow
- Add an Article to Continu — the text-native alternative to a File
- Add Video Content In Continu — for video files
- A Guide to SCORM in Continu — for SCORM packages from authoring tools