Why are some documents uploaded to my Portfolio/eDocuments as compressed files?

All evidence documents must be uploaded to your eDocuments folder or current Portfolio as individual (uncompressed) files. This is regardless of the file format and the method of uploading, whether on the system (as outlined here and here) or via email.

Some users reported that despite uploading an individual file (usually in Word), it was saved to their eDocuments and/or Portfolio as a compressed file by default.

The file type can be checked in your eDocuments folder by clicking on the eye icon on the right (the meaning of eDocuments icons can be found here.

If the Type reads "application/zip", it means that this file is compressed and cannot be opened by your appraiser or administrator.

As long as you are certain that you did not upload a compressed file by accident (if so, delete the zipped file from eDocuments, save it as a single file using relevant software on your device, and then upload it again), there are several possible explanations for the issue, especially if your organisation uses Microsoft’s OneNote.

Word documents attached to OneNote are treated like compressed files because modern Word files (.docx) are built with a compressed structure. OneNote stores them as compact attachments, rather than active documents, to save space and keep changes synced. Below are several common fixes for this issue:

• Your computer might be confused about which app should open .zip files. Right-click the file, select ‘Open with’, choose ‘Microsoft Word’ and check the box that says ‘Always use this app’.
• If the file saves as a zip, rename the file extension from .zip to .docx. If this works, it confirms the file is actually a Word document.
• Instead of ‘Saving As’ when opening from OneNote, simply double-click, make changes, and click the ‘Save’ button in Word. OneNote will automatically sync the changes back to the notebook.
• If you want to view the content directly, choose Insert > File Printout instead of ‘File Attachment’. This inserts the text and images of the document directly onto the page, avoiding file extension issues.

If the issue persists and you do not have access to Microsoft Word, please contact the IT department at your organisation.

Updated on: 15/05/2026