Attach images, PDFs and spreadsheets to a message so a Mind can read them or query them. Use this when you want a Mind to work with your own file, not with data already in the Lake or the Warehouse.
Attach a file to a message
In the message box, click + to open the options row, then click Attach. On a phone, tap +, then Attach files.
Or drag the files onto the message box. You can also paste files, but only when the clipboard holds no text.
Wait until each file is ready. An Excel or CSV file shows Preparing tables…, then Ready with the number of tables it became, for example Ready · 3 tables. A file that cannot be read shows Failed with the reason, for example Failed · File has no header row, or Could not prepare tables.
If the file shows Review PII columns, review its columns first. See the next section.
Type your question and send the message.
If the selected model cannot read images or PDFs and Excel or CSV uploads are off for the Mind, Attach is locked. It shows Attachments unavailable and the reason: "The selected model can't read images or PDFs. Switch to a model that supports them to attach files."
Tip: type @ in the message to reference table cell values from a Mind's linked tables. See Chat commands, shortcuts and privacy for the @ picker and the slash commands.
Review personal data columns
Some Minds ask you to check Excel and CSV files for personal data before the model sees them. When that applies, the file shows Review PII columns. Click it to open the review.
Click Review PII columns on the file.
For each column, open the list under Personal data and choose a type, or keep Not personal data. The types are Name / surname, Personal / national ID, Phone number, Email, Address, Date of birth, Bank account / IBAN and Other identifier. A column with a Suggested badge starts with the type the detection suggested.
If the file holds no personal data, tick I confirm this file contains no personal data instead.
Click Confirm. It is unavailable until you have marked at least one column or ticked the box.
The review says: "Detection here is regex-based only (no ML). Mark every column that holds personal data; it will be tokenized before the model sees it."
Columns marked as personal data are tokenised before the model sees them. Detection on these files only looks for patterns, so check the suggestions yourself. Only the person who uploaded the file can review its columns.
If you have the Bypass PII Detection permission, the review also shows Bypass and send raw. It marks the file ready without tokenising its columns, and the bypass is recorded in the PII detection log. Your message is not sent by the bypass. Press Send yourself.
Warning
Bypass and send raw sends the columns to the model as they are. Use it only when the file is safe to share with the model.
Open, download or remove an attachment
Before you send, point to a file and click its remove button to drop it. Only the uploader can remove a new file.
On a sent message, click an image or a PDF to open the preview. The preview shows the file's size and a download button. While it loads it shows Loading preview...; if it cannot open, it shows Preview not available or Failed to load preview. A download that fails shows Download failed and "Could not download this file. Please try again."
Other kinds of file download when you click them.
An attachment on a sent message stays in the chat and cannot be removed.
Turn Excel and CSV uploads on or off
Excel and CSV uploads are a setting of each Mind. Open the Mind under Minds, then its Settings tab.
Setting
What it does
Default
Allow Excel / CSV uploads
Lets people attach .xlsx, .xlsm, .csv and .tsv files in this Mind's chats. When it is off, those files are refused.
On for an Analytical Mind. Off for a Warehouse Builder or Lake Builder Mind.
Enforce PII column clarification
Makes people review the personal data columns of each Excel and CSV file before it can be sent.
Off
Enforce PII column clarification can be switched on only while Allow Excel / CSV uploads is on and global PII detection is on. When global PII detection is off, the setting shows Turn on Global PII detection first. If an administrator turns global PII detection off, every Mind has this setting switched off.
Images and PDFs already sent in a chat count towards that chat's limits, so a new message can be refused. Attachment limit reached names the limit: "Maximum 20 images per message. Please remove some images first.", "Maximum 5 PDFs per message. Please remove some PDFs first." or "Maximum 5 Excel / CSV files per conversation. Please remove some Excel / CSV files first."
A file over the size limit is refused with Image too large, PDF too large or Excel / CSV file too large. An image with a side longer than 8000 px is refused with Image too large as well.
If the selected model cannot read images or PDFs, a file is refused with Not supported by this model even when its size is fine. The file dialog narrows the kinds it offers to the ones the model can read; drag and drop and paste skip that filter, so the refusal can still happen. Switch to a model that supports images or PDFs and attach the file again. See Ask a Mind.
Legacy .xls files are refused: "Legacy .xls is not supported. Save the file as .xlsx or .csv and upload again."
Excel and CSV files stay inside the chat where you attached them. Other chats cannot query them.
Switching to another Mind removes your Excel and CSV files. The message "Excel / CSV attachments don't transfer between Minds" appears. Images and PDFs move with you.
You cannot send while an Excel or CSV file is preparing, has failed, or is waiting for PII review. The Excel / CSV attachment not ready message says why: "Review PII columns before sending", "Excel / CSV attachments are still being prepared" or "Remove the failed Excel / CSV attachment before sending". Remove a failed file, or finish the review, then send.
A failed Excel or CSV file explains itself on its tile. Common reasons are a sheet whose first row holds no column names ("File has no header row") and a workbook with too many sheets ("Too many sheets (max 20)").
An upload that does not finish shows Unable to upload or Upload Failed; try again.
If the personal data review does not save, you see Could not save PII columns or Could not bypass PII review; try again.
Who can do what
To send a message with files, you need Add Chat/Message. In a chat that someone else started, you need Add Message In Others Chat. See Who can do what with Minds.
Only the uploader can review a file's personal data columns, use Bypass and send raw, or remove a file before sending.
To see Bypass and send raw, you need Bypass PII Detection. Roles and permissions are set in Roles and permissions.
To change Allow Excel / CSV uploads or Enforce PII column clarification, you need Edit Mind. See Create and configure a Mind.
Questions, answered
Can the Mind query my spreadsheet?
Yes. Each sheet of an .xlsx or .xlsm file, and each CSV or TSV file, becomes a table the Mind can query. The file's tile shows how many tables it became.
Can other chats use my spreadsheet?
No. The tables exist only inside the chat where you attached the file.
How many files can I attach to one message?
Up to 20 images and up to 5 PDFs in one message. Excel and CSV files have no per-message limit, but the chat holds up to 5 of them. Images and PDFs already sent in the chat count too, so a full chat can refuse a new message.
Why is my .xls file refused?
Legacy .xls files are not supported. Save the file as .xlsx or .csv, then upload it again.
Why can't I attach an image or a PDF?
Two things can stop it. Attach is locked, showing Attachments unavailable, when the selected model cannot read images or PDFs and Excel or CSV uploads are off for the Mind. Or the file is refused with Not supported by this model because the selected model cannot read that kind. Switch to a model that supports images or PDFs, then attach the file again.
Why can't I send my message after I attached a CSV?
The file is still being prepared, has failed, or is waiting for PII review. The Excel / CSV attachment not ready message says which. Finish the review or remove the failed file, then send.
Who can review a file's personal data columns?
Only the person who uploaded the file. If someone else attached it, ask them to open Review PII columns and finish the review; another person trying to review it sees "Only the uploader can confirm PII columns for this attachment."
Does the PII review apply to PDFs and images?
No. Only Excel and CSV files open Review PII columns.
Why do I see "Excel / CSV uploads are disabled for this Mind"?
Someone has switched off Allow Excel / CSV uploads for this Mind. Ask a person with Edit Mind to turn it on, or load the file into the Lake instead. See Load files.
Why did my CSV disappear when I switched Mind?
Excel and CSV files do not move between Minds. Switching removes them. Images and PDFs stay with you.
Can I remove a file before I send it?
Yes, if you are the uploader. Point to the file and click its remove button before you send it. After the message is sent, the attachment stays in the chat.