Documents & Notes

How to Create a Document Destination with TacTile

To create a document destination in TacTile, tap Create, choose the Document type, then pick a path: Build by uploading a file directly (recommended), Connect a live Google Doc or Sheet, or Link to a file already hosted on Dropbox or Drive. Publish it, and a single tap or scan opens the file immediately on the visitor's phone.

Create your documents free →
Time2–5 minutes
DifficultyEasy
PathsBuild (upload file) · Connect (Google Docs/Sheets) · Link (existing hosted URL)
Best forPDFs, spec sheets, resumes, contracts, menus, manuals
Works withGoogle Docs, Google Sheets, Dropbox, Google Drive share links

What is a documents destination?

A document destination is a tap-or-scan endpoint that opens a file — most often a PDF — directly in the visitor's browser instead of routing them to a webpage or form. It lets a single tap or scan hand someone a finished file, instantly and without an email attachment.

Among marketers who use QR codes, 45% link them to product details or specifications — one of the most common content types QR codes are used to deliver.
Bitly, 30+ QR Code Statistics to Help Drive Your Marketing Strategy in 2026

How to create a documents destination

Build

Upload a file directly for the cleanest, fastest open experience.Recommended

  1. Open the TacTile app and tap Create.
  2. Select the Document category, then choose Upload a file.
  3. Choose the file from your device — PDF, DOCX, or image formats are supported.
  4. Give the document a display name (e.g., "2026 Spec Sheet") — this is what visitors see before opening it.
  5. Optionally add a cover thumbnail or description line shown before the file opens.
  6. Tap Save, then Publish to attach the file to your card, tag, or QR code.
Connect

Link a live Google Doc or Sheet that updates automatically when you edit it.

  1. Tap Create → Document → Connect Google Doc/Sheet.
  2. Sign in and authorize TacTile to access your Google Drive file list.
  3. Select the specific Doc or Sheet you want visitors to see.
  4. Confirm the connection — because it's live-synced, any edits you make in Google later appear automatically, with no republishing needed.
  5. Tap Publish.

Which path should I use?

Build if you want the file hosted directly by TacTile with the cleanest, fastest open experience and no dependency on a third-party account staying active. Connect if the document changes often — pricing sheets, availability calendars, or anything you'd rather edit once in Google and have update everywhere automatically. Link if the file is already hosted and shared widely from Dropbox or Drive, and you'd rather not duplicate it by re-uploading.

Common use cases

Real estate spec sheets and disclosures

A yard sign or lockbox tag lets a buyer tap to instantly pull up the property disclosure or spec sheet on their phone during a showing.

Restaurant and venue PDF menus

A table tent or door decal opens the current menu without a server handing over a physical copy or a diner searching the restaurant's website.

Freelancer and consultant resumes/portfolios

A networking-event badge or card tap hands a prospective client a polished PDF resume or portfolio on the spot.

Contractor spec sheets and warranty docs

A tag on installed equipment lets a homeowner tap years later to pull up the original warranty or spec document, no digging through email.

Event press kits

A tap at a booth or step-and-repeat banner opens a press kit PDF for journalists without them needing to request one.

Documents + analytics

Every tap or scan on a document destination reports back to your TacTile dashboard: total taps/scans, unique visitors, time of day, and device type. The document-specific metric to watch is open/download completion — whether visitors who tapped actually opened the file versus abandoning before it loaded, which is especially useful for spotting oversized files or slow connections at in-person events.

Frequently asked questions

Do visitors need an app to view the document?
No. A tap or scan opens the file directly in their phone's browser or default PDF viewer.
What file types can I upload?
PDF is the most common and most reliably supported; DOCX and common image formats are also supported.
Can I update the file after publishing without changing the QR code or tag?
Yes. With the Build path you can re-upload a replacement file to the same destination; with Connect, edits sync automatically since the source is live.
Is there a file size limit?
Yes, TacTile enforces a maximum upload size — very large files are better suited to the Link path pointing at Dropbox or Drive.
What's the difference between Connect and Link if both point at Google files?
Connect is built specifically for Google Docs/Sheets and keeps them live-synced; Link works with any publicly hosted URL, including Google Drive share links, but won't auto-refresh metadata the way Connect does.
Can one tag hold both a document and a form?
Yes, a document can be one destination among several on a digital card, or the single destination for a dedicated tag like a spec-sheet plaque.

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