Upload files as training cards

You can turn PDF, Markdown and text files into training cards for a Mind. Each file becomes a new card, disabled until you review it and switch it on. This page covers the upload flow, the PDF conversion that follows it, and how to stop a batch.

Upload files into the Training Hub

1. Open Minds from the sidebar, select the Mind and click Training Hub in its tabs.
2. In the Explorer toolbar, click Upload files. Its tooltip reads Upload files (up to 50).
3. In the Upload files dialog, drop the files on Drop PDF, .md or .txt files here, or click to pick, or click the dropzone to pick them. The dialog counts the selection, for example 3 files selected.
4. Click Upload (or Upload 3 for three files). The dialog closes as soon as the batch is queued.

The dialog explains what happens next: "PDF, Markdown or text. Each file becomes a new training card (disabled until you review it)." The size limits sit under the dropzone: "PDF 30 MB · text 5 MB max per file".

While the queue runs, a toast tells you the files upload in the background and asks you to keep this browser tab open until they finish. You can keep working elsewhere in DataMind while they run. When the files finish, a summary toast reads 3 files uploaded, or, when some fail, 2 uploaded, 1 failed with the file names and the first failure reason.

Follow the upload and the conversion

The status bar under the Explorer tracks the batch:

• Uploading files: 2 of 5 while files are sent.
• Converting PDFs: 1 of 5 done while PDFs turn into Markdown.
• Counts for the rest: 2 queued and converting one at a time, plus 1 failed when something goes wrong.

Each card shows where its file is: Queued ("Waiting in conversion queue"), Converting ("Sending to server…", then page progress such as "Page 2 of 12" and "Extracting text from pages…" under a "Converting to markdown" bar), In editor ("Markdown applied to this card"), Attached ("Click thumbnail for cover · Preview for full PDF"), or Failed.

When a conversion finishes, a toast reads PDF converted and names the card whose markdown is ready. When the whole batch is done, Upload batch finished reports the result, for example "3 cards ready." or "3 ready, 1 failed."

Review the new cards

New cards arrive Disabled, so the Mind ignores them until someone reviews the converted text. Open a card, check it, then switch it to Enabled and save. See Write and edit a training card for the editor, and Train a Mind with training cards for folders, batches and history.

A card that is still converting cannot be enabled. Point at its Enabled switch to read why: "Wait for PDF conversion to finish before enabling." A failed conversion gives "Conversion failed - fix or remove the PDF first.", and an empty card gives "This card has no content to enable."

Add a file to a card you already have

A card you own has a PDF action in its editor header. Its tooltip reads "Upload a PDF to convert into markdown. Pick several to create one new card per file."

1. Open the card and click PDF.
2. Pick one file. A PDF queues for conversion and the toast reads File uploaded ("PDF uploaded and queued for conversion."). A Markdown or text file applies its text to the card straight away, with the toast File content applied ("The file text replaced this card content.").

The PDF stays on the card. Use the panel under the card header:

• Preview and Download read the original file. The preview opens over the editor with Close and Download.
• Cancel stops a running conversion. The toast reads Conversion cancelled and the card stays, so you can try another file.
• Replace swaps the file, and Remove detaches it ("The PDF was detached from this training card.").
• If you pick several files at once, each becomes a new card and the open card keeps what it already has.
• A file of another type is refused with Invalid file ("This file type is not supported").

Cancel a batch

While a batch runs, you can stop what is left:

1. Click Cancel on the status bar under the Explorer. Cancelling needs Remove Training Cards. See Who can do what with Minds.
2. The confirmation reads "Cancel remaining PDF conversions?" with "This stops conversion and deletes cards that have not finished. Already converted cards stay."
3. Click Cancel conversions. The toast reads Batch conversion cancelled; a partially stopped batch reads Batch conversion partially cancelled; a failure reads Cancel failed.

To stop just one card's conversion instead, click Cancel on its PDF panel on a card you can edit. The toast reads Conversion cancelled and the card stays in the Explorer so you can upload another file for it.

Limits and rules

Files that break the rules are refused when you pick them: Only PDF, Markdown (.md) and text (.txt) files are allowed, PDF must be 30 MB or smaller, Markdown and text files must be 5 MB or smaller, or At most 50 files per upload. Upload stays inactive until you pick at least one file.

A running batch is remembered for its Mind: if you reload the page while files convert, the Training Hub keeps tracking the batch. Message wording for uploads and conversions is collected in Minds troubleshooting.

Questions, answered

Which file types can I upload?

PDF, Markdown (.md and .markdown) and text (.txt). Anything else is refused with Only PDF, Markdown (.md) and text (.txt) files are allowed.

How large can each file be?

A PDF can be up to 30 MB, and a Markdown or text file up to 5 MB. A larger file is refused with PDF must be 30 MB or smaller or Markdown and text files must be 5 MB or smaller.

How many files can I upload at once?

Up to 50 files in one upload. The toolbar tooltip reads Upload files (up to 50), and a larger selection is refused with At most 50 files per upload.

Why was my upload blocked?

Either another upload is already running or a file failed a check. A second upload shows Upload blocked with "An upload is already running"; wait for the current batch to finish. When a file breaks a rule, the reason is shown under the same title, so fix the file and upload it again.

Can I close the browser tab while files upload?

Keep this browser tab open until the upload finishes; the dialog and the toast both say so. Uploads run in the background, so you can keep working elsewhere in DataMind while they run, and if you reload the page the Training Hub still tracks the batch for its Mind.

Does a card keep the PDF after it becomes a card?

Yes. The converted Markdown lands in the card's text ("Markdown applied to this card"), and the PDF stays attached. From the card's PDF panel you can Preview or Download it, Replace it, or Remove it.

My PDF failed to convert. What can I do?

Open the card and read the failure panel: Conversion failed, usually with "Try another file or upload again. Only text-based PDFs are supported." The failure also appears as the toast PDF conversion failed. Click Try a different PDF to replace the file, or remove it and upload another one.

Can I stop a batch after it starts?

Yes, if you hold Remove Training Cards. Click Cancel on the status bar and confirm with Cancel conversions: cards that have not finished are deleted and already converted cards stay. To stop a single card's conversion instead, use Cancel on its PDF panel; the card stays so you can try another file.

Can I replace or remove the file on a card later?

Yes, on a card your Mind owns and with Edit Training Cards. Use Replace to swap the file or Remove to detach it. A card another Mind shared into yours is read-only; see Share and copy training cards.

What is the difference between Upload files and the PDF button on a card?

Upload files turns many files into many new cards at once. The PDF action adds a file to one card; picking several files there also creates a new card per file, and the open card keeps what it already has.