Skip to content
English
Contact us
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

How can I search documents and download them?

When a general contractor shares documents with you for a project, you can easily find, view, and download them via the Documents page. In this article, you will learn how to search for specific items and download files.

What will you find in this article?

  • Finding and viewing documents: How to navigate to the documents page from a project and use filters.

  • Searching in documents: Options for searching specifically by filename or content.

  • Downloading documents: How to download individual files or the entire set at once.

  • Printing documents via Plotgemak: How to order physical prints of your documents.

Summary

Project documents are accessible via the Documents button in your project overview. You can filter files by type or date, view a preview by hovering over them, and then download them individually or as a bundle. For physical prints, there is a direct link to Plotgemak.

Terms and Target Audience

This article is intended for subcontractors who have been granted access to a general contractor’s project information. An Activator Advanced license is required to search for file names within documents.

Finding and viewing documents

To open the shared files, follow these steps:

  1. In the project overview, click the Documents or Show Documents button. [Image: The 'Documents' and 'Show Documents' buttons in the project overview]

  2. You will now be taken to the page containing all documents that the General contractor has made available for your workpackage.

  3. Use the filters at the top to filter by message, file type, or date range. 

  4. Hover your mouse over a document name to immediately see a preview of the content. 

Searching in documents

In addition to the standard filters, there are more advanced search options:

  1. Use the search bar to search for specific terms.

  2. If you have Activator Advanced, you can also search for specific filenames within the entire document set.

Downloading documents

There are three ways to save files to your computer:

  • Single document: Click on the document to open it. Use the download icon in the top right corner of the details screen.

  • Multiple documents: Check the desired documents on the left and click Download at the bottom right. 

  • Download All: Click the Download All button in the top right corner to download the entire set at once.

Print documents via Plotgemak

If you require hard copies of drawings or plans, you can have them printed immediately:

  1. Click the print icon next to the relevant document.

  2. Next to the document name, you will immediately see details about the format and whether the file contains color.

  3. The order is processed by our sister company Plotgemak and delivered on-site.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Question: Why can’t I see all the general contractor’s project documents? Answer: 12Build encourages general contractors to share only documents relevant to your specific workpackage or specialty, so you don’t have to sift through unnecessary information.

Question: How do I know what format a drawing is in before I print it? Answer: This information is listed directly after the document name on the documents page, including whether it is a color file.

Troubleshooting

  • Symptom: The search function by file name does not work.

    • Cause: You likely have a standard license instead of Activator Advanced.

    • Solution: Use the general filters (type, date) or contact your account manager to upgrade to Advanced.