Upload your first asset

How upload, processing, and ready states work. An asset in boveDAM is any file attached to a section inside a portal. Understanding the upload lifecycle — from selection to ready — ensures you know what clients can and cannot download at each stage.

Selecting files

Inside a portal, open the section where you want the asset to live, then click Upload files. You can select multiple files in a single dialog. Supported file types are described in Supported file types.

The maximum individual file size is determined by your plan. See File size and quota.

Upload states

Each asset passes through three states after selection:

1. Uploading — the file is being transferred to boveDAM storage. A progress bar shows completion percentage.
2. Processing — boveDAM is generating thumbnails, extracting metadata, and running format checks. This usually takes under 10 seconds per file.
3. Ready — the asset is available for preview and download.

Assets in the Uploading or Processing state are not visible to clients — only to workspace owners and editors.

After upload

Once an asset reaches the Ready state, it appears in the section with its thumbnail, file name, and size. Clients can preview it inline and download it if the portal's download permissions allow.

If an upload fails, the asset is shown with an error indicator. Delete the failed upload and try again. Common causes: unsupported file format, file exceeds your plan's quota, or a network interruption.