File viewer

Use the File viewer form control to allows users to preview files directly in forms. This makes it possible to view uploaded content in your form.

Supported file types

  • PDF

  • EXCEL

  • IMAGE

  • TXT

  • DOCX

  • RTF

  • PPTX

 

Supported file extensions

  • .pdf

  • .png

  • .jpg

  • .jpeg

  • .gif

  • .webp

  • .svg

  • .docx

  • .pptx

  • .xlsx

  • .csv

  • .txt

  • .rtf

 

Where the file viewer form control can be used:

  • Start form: Provides a preview of files uploaded on a start form.

  • Table form: Provides a preview of files uploaded on a table form.

  • Task form: Provides a preview of files uploaded on the start form using reference table data variables for File type table columns. To use this:

    • Enable the file uploaded on the start form to be saved to a table using an existing workflow action.

    • Use a table variable referencing the File type column to display the file in the task form.

  • Start or task form using URL: The designer can pass a publicly available URL of a file to the File Viewer control.

    Note: Files from other URLs might not display due to CORS restrictions. For best results, upload the file to a table and use table variables to reference it.

This example demonstrates a common approval scenario where a file is uploaded on a start form, saved to a table, and then displayed in a task form for review.

  1. Configure the start form.

    • Add a File upload form control to the start form.

      Form user uploads a file when submitting the form.

  2. Save the file to a Nintex Data table using a workflow action.

    1. In the workflow use a Tables - Create a row action to create and save the submitted form data including the file to a table.

    2. The File upload control is mapped to a File type column in the table.

  3. Assign a task to multiple users

    1. An Assign a task to multiple users action is added to the workflow.

    2. The task form includes a File viewer form control.

    3. The File viewer input field references the file stored in the table using a table data variable:

      • Insert > Table data > [Select table data variable] > Rows > File-type column

Section Setting Description
(unlabeled) Title

Field name displayed on the published form.

  File viewer input

Enter one or more URLs or variables, each on a new line. These will be used to load files in the viewer.

To display a file from a Nintex data table in the File viewer control:

  1. Create a table data variable for the table that contains the File type column.

  2. In the File viewer input field, click Insert > Table data.

  3. Inside the table data variable, click the Rows Collection variable to access the row data.

  4. Hover over the File type column variable and click Insert.

 

Name

(This field becomes configurable only when you switch the Customize toggle to Yes.)

Customizes the name of the variable A placeholder that stores changes each time the workflow runs, such as the information entered in a form, or the name of a file. You can also create variables to store information you use in a workflow, such as an email address. for the field. If the name is not customized, the Title will be used as the variable name.

 

Visible

Shows the field on the published form when loaded.
 

Description

Helper text displayed below the field on the published form.
Styling CSS class

Add a CSS class to apply a style to this form control. You can create the CSS class in the CSS code editor in form styles. Enter one class name or multiple class names separated by a space.

For more information, see Add a custom CSS to individual controls.

Note: The CSS Class field is available only if the Custom CSS setting is enabled in Nintex Workflow Form settings.
  Border color

Border color to apply to the field.

To select a color, click the color box and use the color picker to specify the color you want. You can click on the color map to select the color or enter the Hex code.

To revert back to the global style, click Reset to global style.