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Why am I unable to submit my application?

This article provides an overview of why some users experience issues when trying to submit an application, and how to troubleshoot those issues.

 

Most Common Submission Error

At times, when Interfolio is processing unusually high amounts of data, files uploaded to applications may fail to convert or load properly. This will cause an error when attempting to submit the application. Follow these steps to troubleshoot.

  1. Refresh the page by toggling away from your application and then returning to it by selecting Deliveries, then Edit next to your application. On the Documents page of your application, check to see that each file shows the status Received with a timestamp below. If you see both, return to the Review & Submit page to try to submit your application again.

    If step 1 does not work, move on to step 2.
     
  2. On the Documents page of your application, select the pencil icon and replace the file from your list of existing materials in your Dossier account. Do not re-upload the same file from your computer.

Once you see the status Received with a timestamp for each uploaded file, you should be able to submit your application.

If these steps do not work, you should log out of your Dossier account and try again in 10 minutes.

 

Common Errors When Trying to Submit an Application and How to Troubleshoot them.

All required materials have been added to the application, but it still will not submit

If all requirements have been fulfilled within the application (confirmed on the Review & Submit page of your application) and you still receive an error when trying to submit, there may be an issue with the files converting/loading. This can be checked by confirming that all materials have the status Received with a timestamp shown below. If you do not see the timestamp, then the file has not been processed correctly. 

How to troubleshoot:

  1. Try toggling to a new page, then return to the Review and Submit page. If the timestamps appear after toggling between pages, you should now be able to submit the application.
  2. If toggling does not work, replace the file by selecting the pencil icon, then Replace. Select the file from your list of existing materials. There is no need to re-upload the file, it should already be added to your Dossier account.


If replacing the file and toggling the page does not resolve the issue, you may need to try again in ten minutes.

 
 

A file is stuck converting

When uploading a file to your application (typically a PDF,) you may see it get stuck with a Converting status as shown here:

The application is not able to submitted until the file has finished converting and the status changes to Received with a timestamp.


How to troubleshoot:

The quickest way to troubleshoot this issue is to 

  1. Select the pencil icon to the right of the file 
  2. Select Replace. 
  3. Re-upload the file the same file from your list of existing materials. Do not re-upload the file from your computer, it should already be added to your Dossier account.
  4. Check to see if the status of the file changes from Converting to Received. There must also be a timestamp under the word Received.
    OR
  5. If replacing the file does not work, try toggling to a new page (select Deliveries, then Edit next to teh application.) Check to see if the status shows as Received with a timestamp.
  6. If replacing the file and toggling the page does not resolve the issue, try again in ten minutes.
  7. Once all files show the status Received with a timestamp below, you will be able to submit your application. 
 
 

Files were uploaded to the Materials page instead of the application

How To Troubleshoot: 

If you upload files to the Materials page (located on the left-hand navigation) those files will be uploaded to your personal Dossier account, but they will not be attached to any applications. The good news is, that once it is added to their Dossier account, it is easy to attach to an application! Simply:

  1. Navigate to the application by selecting the Deliveries option on the left-hand navigation. 
  2. Select Edit next to the application. 
  3. Select Add File next to the requirement within the application
  4. Materials added to your Dossier account are immediately displayed and can be selected to attach to your application. Otherwise, select Add New File to upload a file from your computer. This action will add the file to the application as well as add it to your Dossier Materials page. 
 
 

Letters were requested on the Letters page instead of the application

How to troubleshoot:

If you request letters of recommendation from the Letters page (located on the left-hand navigation) those files will be uploaded to your personal Dossier account, but they will not be attached to any applications. The good news is, that once it is added to their Dossier account, it is easy to attach to an application! Simply:

  1. Navigate to the application by selecting the Deliveries option on the left-hand navigation. 
  2. Select Edit next to the application. 
  3. Select Add File next to the requirement within the application.
  4. Requests and Letters added to your Dossier account are immediately displayed and can be selected to attach to your application. Otherwise, select Request a Recommendation to send a request directly from the application. This action will add the letter to your dossier and attach it to the application.
 
 

Multiple files required for one requirement type

How To Troubleshoot: 

First, confirm that you are uploading your materials to the application and not your Dossier Materials page (see issue 2). On some applications, the institution might indicate a requirement and then require multiple of that requirement type. If you upload any less than the required amount, you will not be able to submit your application. To confirm that the correct number of files have been uploaded for each requirement, follow these steps:

  1.  Navigate to the Review and Submit page for the application.
  2.  Look for any requirements marked with a red exclamation. 
  3.  Next to those requirements confirm that the number of files added is equal to the number required.
  4.  If you have located a requirement type that needs more files, select edit to upload additional files for that requirement.
 
 

A required field on a form has not been completed

How to troubleshoot:

You can quickly review which forms are complete/incomplete on the Review & Submit page. 

  • If there is a green check mark next to the form, that form has been completed.
  • If the is a red exclamation mark next to a form requirement, that form has not been completed
  • If there is no mark at all next to the form requirement, that form has not been completed

You must return to any forms that are marked with red exclamations or have no marking at all and complete all required fields (marked with a red asterisk.)

 
 

Wrong File Type

Overview of Accepted File Types

Interfolio accepts the most common file types used by scholars and institutions. Once an applicant or candidate uploads materials to Dossier, the Interfolio system automatically converts the document files to PDF format so the recipients and reviewers can view the materials in the document reader.

 

Links to webpages can also be added. These will display in the document reader. Support for Youtube and Vimeo has been integrated to pull the media content (video and audio) into the reader where it will display along with all the other materials. 

 

Accepted File Types by Product

  Letter Writers  Dossier Faculty Search
(FS)
Review, Promotion & Tenure
(RPT)
Faculty Activity Reporting
(FAR/F180)
Lifecycle Management
(LM)
File Size < 100 MB < 100 MB < 100 MB < 100 MB < 500 MB < 100 MB
DOC/DOCX Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
XLS/XLSX Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
PPT/PPTX Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
DOT Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
WPD Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
RTF Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
TXT Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HTML Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
PDF Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
PNG/JPEG/JPG Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Media Files

(MP3/MP4)

No No No No Yes No
Youtube/Vimeo URL No Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Webpage URL No Yes Yes Yes Yes No

If the MediaID Unavailable error message appears, this means the Interfolio server is processing an unusually high amount of data. It is recommended to wait at least 20 minutes before uploading the document again.

 

Best Practices

Dossier

  • Keep files below 100 MB: Files can be up to 100 MB in size, but it is recommended to keep files as small as possible. If a file is too large, please email the Interfolio support team at help@interfolio.com 
  • Check formatting requirements: Please be aware that bookmarks are included when materials are displayed to recipients. The reader displays individual uploaded documents as bookmarks (titled with the given name when uploaded) as well as any bookmarks added to documents prior to upload. Some institutions may require or prefer that bookmarks be removed from uploaded files.
  • Convert image files to PDF before uploading: It is recommended to collect images in a PDF and upload them as a single file. This will give more control over how materials will appear to reviewers.
  • Fillable PDFs should be completed, then exported as “print to PDF” before being uploaded to Interfolio.
  • Add links to web pages. By uploading a URL, web pages can be included that will display to recipients and reviewers in the document reader.
  • Use Youtube and Vimeo to include video and audio files: Video/multimedia content is not shared directly on Interfolio servers. Instead, integrated support is provided for Youtube and Vimeo to pull media content into the document reader where reviewers can access the media presented along with all of the other materials.
 
 

Faculty Activity Reporting (FAR)

  • Keep files below 500 MB: Files can be up to 500 MB in size, but it is recommended to keep files as small as possible. If a file is too large, please email the Interfolio support team at help@interfolio.com 
  • Convert files to PDF before uploading: It is recommended to convert document files to PDF before uploading. This is because the system will convert any files uploaded to PDF format, and this provides more control over how the documents will appear to reviewers.
  • Convert image files to PDF before uploading: It is recommended to collect images into a PDF and upload them as a single file. This will give more control over how the materials will appear to reviewers.
  • Check bookmark requirements for PDF files: Please be aware that bookmarks are included when materials are displayed to recipients. The reader displays individual uploaded documents as bookmarks (titled with the given name when uploaded) as well as any bookmarks added to documents prior to upload. Some institutions may require or prefer that bookmarks be removed from uploaded files.
  • Add video and audio files to a FAR record: FAR users can add links to web pages, and include links to audio and video from sites such as Youtube, Vimeo, or Soundcloud when adding an attachment to an activity. Links can be added to an activity by selecting the URL as the Attachment Type when creating a record on the Activity Input page of FAR.
 
 
 
 

 

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