Overview
Before EduMate can generate assessments, you need to upload the source material. EduMate accepts PDF documents containing the content you want to create questions from, such as textbook chapters, lecture notes, or course materials.Supported File Format
EduMate currently supports:- File Type: PDF only (
.pdf) - File Size: Up to 10 MB
- Content: Text-based PDFs (scanned images may not work optimally)
How to Upload a Document
There are two ways to upload your document:Method 1: Drag and Drop
Locate Upload Area
Find the file upload section under “Step 1: Upload Material” in the “Create New Assessment” card.
Drag Your File
Drag your PDF file from your computer and drop it onto the upload area. You’ll see the area highlight when you hover over it with a file.
Method 2: Click to Browse
What Happens During Processing
Once you upload a document, EduMate performs several automated steps:Upload to Server
Your document is securely transmitted to EduMate’s servers.
During upload, you’ll see a loading spinner with the message “Uploading & processing PDF…”
Document Chunking
The backend processes your PDF by:
- Extracting text content
- Breaking it into manageable chunks
- Creating embeddings for AI retrieval
- Storing chunks in a vector database (collection)
This “chunking” process prepares your document for AI-powered question generation by organizing the content in a way the AI can efficiently search and understand.
Understanding Processing Status
Status Indicators
| Visual Indicator | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Upload icon | Ready to accept a file |
| Loading spinner | Currently uploading or processing |
| Green checkmark with document icon | Successfully uploaded and processed |
| Red alert icon | Error occurred |
Processing Time
The chunking process typically takes:- Small documents (1-5 pages): 5-15 seconds
- Medium documents (6-20 pages): 15-45 seconds
- Large documents (20+ pages): 45-90 seconds
Managing Uploaded Files
Viewing File Details
Once uploaded, you’ll see:- File name (truncated if too long)
- File size in megabytes
- Status: “PDF Document uploaded”
Removing a File
If you need to upload a different document:Troubleshooting Upload Issues
Common Errors
Only PDF files are allowed
Only PDF files are allowed
Cause: You attempted to upload a non-PDF file.Solution: Convert your document to PDF format using:
- Microsoft Word: File → Save As → PDF
- Google Docs: File → Download → PDF Document
- Online converters: CloudConvert, Adobe online tools
Upload failed. Please try again.
Upload failed. Please try again.
Cause: Network interruption or server error.Solution:
- Check your internet connection
- Verify the file isn’t corrupted
- Try uploading again
- If the problem persists, try a smaller file or contact support
File too large
File too large
Cause: Your PDF exceeds the 10 MB limit.Solution:
- Compress the PDF using online tools
- Split into multiple smaller documents
- Remove high-resolution images if possible
Processing failed
Processing failed
Cause: The backend couldn’t process your PDF’s text content.Solution:
- Ensure the PDF contains selectable text (not scanned images)
- Try re-saving or re-exporting the PDF
- Use OCR software if working with scanned documents
Best Practices
Use Text-Based PDFs
Ensure your PDF contains actual text, not just images of text. This allows better content extraction.
Organize Content
Well-structured documents with clear headings and sections produce better results.
Optimal Size
Documents between 5-50 pages work best. Very short documents may not have enough content for diverse questions.
Clean Formatting
Remove unnecessary headers, footers, and annotations for cleaner content extraction.
Next Steps
Once your document is successfully uploaded and processed:- Configure Bloom’s Taxonomy distribution
- Enter a chapter or module name
- Generate your AI-powered assessment
Each uploaded document creates a unique collection in the vector database. You can generate multiple assessments from the same uploaded document without re-uploading.