How to Upload a DRC
Uploading a DRC on Covered takes just a few minutes. Here's exactly what to do, step by step.
Who can upload a DRC: Organization Administrators and DRC Administrators (within their assigned scope)
Before You Start
Make sure you have the following ready:
- 13-digit ISBN for the title (you can also enter details manually if it's not in our system yet).
- The DRC file formatted in either EPUB (under 100MB) or PDF (under 250MB).
- The Cover file formatted in JPG or PNG (under 5MB).
- The pub date.
- The listing expiration date to set when you want the access to end.
Step 1: Navigate to Organization > Manage DRCs
After logging into Covered click on the dropdown next to your name in the top right corner and select "Organization".
The Organization space is where all the backend work for Covered is managed including team invites, DRC uploads, and requests .
Step 2: Select the DRC Tab and Upload DRC
Once inside the Organization space select the DRCs tab next to Team and then select Upload DRC.
Click the Upload DRC button in the top right of the Manage DRCs page to open the upload form.
In the ISBN field, enter the 13-digit ISBN for the title. Then, fill in the fields below manually:
- Title*
- Contributors* (separate multiple contributors with a comma)
- Publisher*
- Imprint (optional)
- Pub Date
- Description
- BISAC* (select at least one category)
- Cover image (JPG, PNG, or WebP; minimum 1800×2700px, under 5MB)
* = required
Tip: If this ISBN already has an active DRC in the system, you'll see a warning. Uploading a new file will replace the existing one.
Step 3: Upload Your DRC File
In the Upload DRC File section, click the dashed upload area or drag your file directly onto it.
Supported formats in the current version:
- EPUB (under 100MB)
- PDF (under 250MB)
Once your file is selected, you'll see a confirmation with the filename. Click the area again if you need to swap it out.
Step 4: Set Access & Dates
This section controls who can get to the DRC and when.
Access Mode (required)
Choose one of the following from the dropdown:
- Invite Only (Private) : Only specific people you invite can access this DRC. After selecting this, you'll add recipients by typing an email address directly.
- These recipients will need a Covered account to access the DRC.
- Request Only (Requires Approval) : The DRC is discoverable, but readers must submit a request. You (or a DRC Approve Only user) reviews and approves or declines each request.
- Access Now (Immediately Accessible): Any user in Covered can access it immediately.
- Phased Access (Date-based Transitions): The DRC moves through access modes automatically on dates you set.
Active Date (required)
Set the date the DRC becomes active and discoverable. This can be today's date or a future date.
Listing Expiration (required)
Set the date the DRC will be removed from discovery automatically. Once this date passes, the listing expires and any user with access to the DRC will no longer be able to read it.
- DRC expiration dates can be set to a maximum of 1 year out from the active date
Tip: If you want the DRC to expire on the pub date, check the ‘Expire on Pub Date’ box. If the pub date changes, the expiration date will automatically update as well.
Step 5: Review Security Settings
The Security section is read-only and it shows you the protections that are applied to every DRC automatically:
- Reader-only access: Content opens exclusively in the Covered web or mobile reader. Downloading or exporting the file is not supported.
- Publisher-controlled availability: You set start dates, expiration dates, and who has access. Only users you've granted access to in Covered can open the title.
- Copy & screenshot protection: Text copying and screen capture are blocked across desktop and mobile devices.
No action needed here. These protections apply to all DRCs automatically.
Step 6: Add to Cart & Publish
Click Add to Cart at the bottom of the form. Your DRC will be staged in the cart and you'll see a cart icon in the top right with a count of titles waiting to be published.
When you're ready to publish, click the cart icon to open the DRC Cart panel. Review the titles listed, then click Proceed to Checkout to complete the purchase and publish your DRCs.
Once checkout is complete, your DRC will appear in the DRCs tab within the Organization area of Covered to be discovered by the users that you determined can have access.
What Happens Next
- Access Now DRCs are immediately available to eligible readers.
- Request Only DRCs will start receiving requests in your Requests tab.
- Invite Only DRCs will notify the recipients you selected.
If your DRC is within 7 days of its listing expiration date, you'll see an amber "Ending Soon" warning in your DRCs list. You can update the expiration date at any time by opening the DRC and editing its settings.
Troubleshooting
"BISAC Required": You must select at least one BISAC category before submitting. Open the BISAC selector and pick the most relevant category.
"File Required": You need to attach a DRC file before clicking Add to Cart. Go back to Step 2 and upload your EPUB or PDF.
"Active Date Required": The Active Date field in Step 3 is blank. Set a date for when this DRC should go live.
"Listing Expiration Required": The Listing Expiration field in Step 3 is blank. Set a date for when this DRC should expire.