Where do I store files, docs, and notes in MONA?
Files go in your Library and on each project’s Files tab, in folders. Docs and notes are pages made from New, then Page. Every page, database, and file also shows in Library.
Quick answer: files live in your Library (in the sidebar) and on each project’s Files tab, where you can organize them into folders. Docs and notes are pages: click New, then Page, or use New on the Library Pages tab to make a Studio note or a Personal note. Every file, page, and database also shows up in Library, and MONA can read them all.
Where does everything live?
| What | Where |
|---|---|
| PDFs, spreadsheets, Word files, other documents | Library, Files tab |
| Images, videos, floor plans, slides | Library, on their own tabs |
| A project’s files | The project’s Files tab, in folders |
| Docs and notes | Wiki in the sidebar on paid plans, or Docs on Free. Also in Library, Pages tab |
| Databases | Library, Databases tab |
| Studio knowledge MONA reads | Studio notes and client and project pages: see the Studio Brain |
A file belongs to your Library and is linked to projects. Adding it to a project does not make a copy, and deleting a project does not delete its Library files.
How do I upload files?
To the Library
- Click Library in the sidebar.
- Click Upload to pick files from your computer, or use the arrow next to it for From computer or From Dropbox.
- Or drag files anywhere on the page (Drop to add to your Library). MONA files each one on the right tab.
To a project
- Open the project and click the Files tab.
- Click Upload, drag files in, or paste an image or a link. Everything you add lands on the project and in your Library.
- Save from link saves a file from a URL.
To attach an existing Library file to a project, open the file’s menu and choose Add to project.
Accepted: images (JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, HEIC), videos (MP4, MOV, WebM), documents (PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CSV, text, Markdown, HTML, ZIP), MP3 audio, fonts, CAD drawings (DWG, DXF), and iPhone room scans (USDZ). Size limits: documents 400 MB, video and audio 100 MB, CAD and Library images 25 MB. 3D model files are not supported for upload yet. For moving a whole Dropbox, see Connect Dropbox to MONA.
How do I organize project files into folders?
- On a new project’s Files tab, click Create starter folders to get Inspiration, Reference Photos, MONA Renders, Studio Renders, Drawings & Plans, and Documents. Or click New folder.
- Drag files onto a folder, or select several and click Move to folder. Top level moves them out of every folder.
- Folders can hold subfolders, up to eight levels deep.
- A folder’s menu has Rename, Share, and Delete folder. Deleting a folder moves its files and subfolders up one level; no file is removed from the project.
Each file’s menu has Preview, Download, Rename, Add to project, and Delete.
How do I write docs and notes?
- Click New in the sidebar and choose Page for a blank document. The same menu makes a Slides deck, Canvas, Meeting note, or Database.
- Or open Library, then the Pages tab, and click New for Document (from a blank page or a template), Studio note, and Personal note.
- Write. MONA saves as you type.
Studio notes are readable by your whole team, and MONA reads them as part of your studio’s knowledge. Personal notes are only for you. Share with the studio turns a personal note into a studio note; that cannot be reversed.
A doc’s header has Comments, History (to restore an earlier version), Share, and a switch between Rendered and Raw markdown. To export, open Share and choose Download .md or Export PDF.
Prefer to dictate? Ask MONA in chat: “write up a punch list doc for the Henderson walkthrough” or “add today’s decisions to my notes on Park Slope.”
How do I share a file, folder, or doc with a client?
Open Share and switch from Private to Anyone with the link, then Copy link.
- A file: anyone with the link can view and download it, with no MONA account.
- A folder: anyone with the link sees every file in the folder and its subfolders, with a download button for each. Folder links can have an expiry date.
- A doc: viewing and commenting need no login. Giving Can edit asks the person to sign in to MONA.
For a branded space with approvals, use the client portal instead.
How do I find something later?
Press Cmd+K (Ctrl+K on Windows) to search notes, files, email, meetings, chats, contacts, and schedules at once, or use Search your library in Library. MONA pulls the text out of PDFs, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CSV, and CAD files and transcribes audio, so you can ask in chat, for example “what did the Chen contractor’s bid say about demo?” See How do I search everything in MONA?.
What happens when I delete something?
- A Library file: click Delete and confirm. The toast offers Undo for a few seconds. After that the file is gone from your Library and from search.
- A doc or database: MONA asks you to confirm and warns it cannot be undone.
- A project: Archive hides it and can be reversed with Unarchive. Delete removes the project, but its files stay in your Library.
Who can delete what is set in Settings, then Team, then Permissions: see How do I create custom roles and permissions in MONA?.
What it does not do (yet)
- No trash folder. Once the Undo is gone, a deleted file cannot be restored from the app.
- Scanned PDFs without a text layer are not read by MONA.
- 3D model files (GLB, OBJ, FBX, STL) cannot be uploaded to the Library yet.
- Dropbox imports land at the top level of a project’s files, not in a subfolder. Move them after.
Want a hand?
If you are moving years of project folders from Dropbox, Google Drive, or a server, book 30 minutes with the founder at calendly.com/mona-justin/30min and we will plan the move together.
Related articles
- How do I organize my library, projects, and saved styles?
- How does MONA learn how my studio works?
- How do I find anything in MONA?
- Connect Dropbox to MONA
- How do I build a custom database or dashboard in MONA?
- How does a MONA project fit together?
Frequently asked questions
Where are all my files in MONA?
In Library, in the sidebar. The Files tab holds PDFs, spreadsheets, Word files, and other documents; Images, Videos, Floorplans, Pages, Databases, and Slides have their own tabs. Files you add to a project are in the Library too, linked to that project.
What file types can I upload?
Images (JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, GIF), videos (MP4, MOV, WebM), PDFs, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CSV, text, Markdown, ZIP, MP3, fonts, CAD drawings (DWG, DXF), and iPhone room scans (USDZ). 3D model uploads are not supported yet.
How big can an upload be?
Documents up to 400 MB, videos and audio up to 100 MB, CAD drawings and Library images up to 25 MB.
What is the difference between a studio note and a personal note?
A studio note is readable by your whole team and becomes part of what MONA knows about your studio. A personal note is visible only to you. You can share a personal note with the studio later, but it cannot be moved back.
Can I get back a file I deleted?
Right after you delete a Library file, the toast has Undo for a few seconds. After that it is gone from your Library. Deleting a doc or database asks you to confirm and cannot be undone.
Can MONA read the files I upload?
Yes. MONA reads the text of PDFs, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CSV, text files, and CAD drawings, and transcribes audio, so you can ask about them in chat or find them in search. Scanned PDFs without a text layer are not read.
Can I export a doc?
Yes. Open the doc’s Share menu and choose Download .md for Markdown or Export PDF, which opens your browser’s print dialog to save a PDF.
Can I import files from Dropbox?
Yes, on every plan. Click Upload, then From Dropbox, connect your account, and pick files. They land in your Library, or on the project if you start from its Files tab.