What files does CrossBeam accept and how do I upload plans?
Quick answer: Drag your full plan set into the Drag files, folders, or ZIPs here area in the New Project dialog. The drop zone takes PDF, MD, JSON, DOCX, JPG, PNG, HEIC, TIFF, XLSX or ZIP files, up to 2GB each. You can also drop a whole folder. A PDF plan set reviews best.
What we accept
- Formats: PDF, MD, JSON, DOCX, JPG, PNG, HEIC, TIFF, XLSX or ZIP. The drop zone lists the same formats under its label.
- Size: up to 2GB per file.
- Count: one combined PDF, several PDFs, a folder, or a ZIP. You don't need to merge files first.
- CAD files: DWG and other drawing files aren't read. Plot them to PDF first.
- Contents: the full set — site plan, architectural, structural, MEP, energy — plus supporting documents such as structural calcs, Title 24 reports, or a soils report. Title blocks, sheet numbers, and callouts should be legible at 100% zoom.
Plan sets that review well
- Vector PDFs exported from your CAD or BIM software. The review reads text and dimensions directly.
- Scans work but read less reliably. Scan at 300 DPI or better, right side up.
- Include the cover sheet with the address, scope, and sheet index. It anchors the review.
- Upload the whole set. The pre-check compares sheets against each other, so a single sheet gives a thin result.
What goes somewhere else
- A corrections letter from the city — use Corrections Response instead. See Analyze a corrections letter.
- Reference files you only want to keep — put them in Drive or the property's Documents tab. See Use the Drive.
How to upload
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In + New Project, choose the city, address, and permit type.
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Drag your files into Drag files, folders, or ZIPs here, or click it to pick files.
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Click Run Pre-Check. The project page shows Uploading your plans... with a progress bar. Keep the tab open until the upload finishes; the review starts automatically after that.
If the upload stops
- If an upload fails, the page shows Upload failed and a Drag your plans here to retry drop zone. Retrying uses the same project, so there's no need to start over.
- If you closed the tab mid-upload, open the project again. CrossBeam checks which files arrived. If they all did, the review starts. If some are missing, it lists them so you can add them again.
See Upload failed if you're still stuck.