Uploading a PDF or DOCX brief to ATIYO

ATIYO product documentation · Briefs · 4 min read

If your team already writes creative briefs in Google Docs, Word, or a shared PDF, you don't have to rebuild them field by field. ATIYO lets you upload a PDF or DOCX brief and attach it to a creative, so your existing document becomes the source of truth your editors and strategists work from. This guide covers when to upload versus build, how to do it, and how to keep uploaded briefs organized.

When to upload a document instead of building a brief

ATIYO gives you two ways to brief a creative: build a structured brief inside the app (picking an avatar, hook, core desire, angle, and so on) or upload a finished document. Uploading is the faster path when:

  • You already have an approved brief in Word or PDF and don't want to retype it.
  • A client, freelancer, or agency sent you a brief in their own format.
  • Your brief includes complex formatting, storyboards, or reference imagery that lives better in a document.
  • You're migrating a backlog of past briefs into ATIYO and want them searchable alongside your new ones.
Building a structured brief inside ATIYO is still worth it for repeat work, because the fields connect to your Brand Bible and Creative Roadmap. Upload when speed matters; build when you want reusable structure.

Supported file types and limits

ATIYO accepts PDF and DOCX files for brief uploads. If your brief lives in Google Docs, use File then Download then Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF Document (.pdf) first, then upload the exported file. Very large files count against your workspace storage quota, which varies by plan, so keep briefs text-focused and store heavy video references in the Vault instead.

How to upload a PDF or DOCX brief

  1. Go to New brief from the sidebar or the New button on your dashboard.
  2. Choose the option to upload a document instead of filling out the structured brief fields.
  3. Select your PDF or DOCX file from your computer, or drag and drop it into the upload area.
  4. Give the brief a clear title so it's findable later, for example the product name plus the angle ("Night Serum – Ingredient Deep Dive").
  5. Save the brief. It now lives in Briefs and can be attached to a creative on your roadmap.

Connecting an uploaded brief to a creative

A brief is most useful when it's tied to the creative it describes. After uploading, open the creative on your Creative Roadmap and link the brief so anyone who opens that card can jump straight to the document. This is what moves a card out of the needs brief status and into working, giving your editors a clear go signal.

  1. Open the creative card on your roadmap.
  2. Attach the uploaded brief to the card.
  3. Change the card status to working so your team knows it's ready to produce.
  4. Assign an editor and set a due date if you use those fields.

Keeping uploaded briefs organized

As your library of uploaded briefs grows, a little hygiene keeps it searchable:

  • Use consistent title patterns (product, avatar, or angle) so search finds them fast.
  • Store the source assets and reference videos in the Vault, and link them rather than stuffing everything into one PDF.
  • Re-upload a new version if the brief changes substantially, and update the title so the team knows which is current.
Pro tip: uploaded briefs are great for one-off or externally authored work, but if you find yourself uploading the same layout every week, consider building a custom brief template instead so the structure is reusable and consistent.

Troubleshooting uploads

If an upload doesn't go through or the brief looks wrong, a few quick checks usually fix it:

  • Confirm the file is a PDF or DOCX. Older .doc files, Pages files, and Google Docs links won't upload directly, so export to .docx or PDF first.
  • If the file is very large, trim it or move embedded video and high-res imagery into the Vault and link it, since big files count against your storage quota.
  • Make sure you're not out of storage on your current plan. You can review your plan and storage in Settings.
  • If a client sent a read-only or password-protected PDF, remove the protection before uploading so the file opens for everyone on your team.

Once uploaded, open the brief from Briefs to confirm it displays correctly before you attach it to a creative and hand it to an editor.

Next steps

Once your document is in, tie it to a creative on the roadmap and assign an editor. If you'd rather standardize how your team writes briefs going forward, read our guide on building a custom brief template, or browse creative brief examples and templates to see what a strong brief includes.

Related articles

Building a custom brief template in ATIYOUse the custom brief builder on Growth and Team plans to add, remove, and reorder fields so every brief your team writes follows the same structure. Creative brief examples and templatesA field-by-field creative brief template for DTC ads, with a filled-in example you can copy, and how to turn it into a reusable template in ATIYO. Hiding and showing brief fields in ATIYOHide the brief sections you don't need on a given creative and show them again anytime, so each brief stays focused without deleting anything.
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