Knowledge · 1 min read
Attachments
Files an assistant always has loaded, and how they differ from a file you upload in a conversation.
There are two ways to give an assistant material to work from: upload it in a conversation, or attach it to the assistant itself. Both put the real document in front of the assistant. The difference is how long it stays, and who else sees it.
Two ways to add a file
Section titled “Two ways to add a file”Files uploaded in a conversation
Section titled “Files uploaded in a conversation”Upload a file directly in the chat when you have something you want the assistant to look at right now. A report you were just sent, a contract you’re reviewing, a spreadsheet you want explained — all good candidates.
- Available in that conversation only. When the conversation ends, so does the file.
- Nobody else’s conversations are affected.
- Best for one-off work.
Attachments on the assistant
Section titled “Attachments on the assistant”Attach a file to the assistant — in the creation wizard or later under Edit — when the material is part of what the assistant is for. Think of the policy handbook, the procurement rules, the onboarding guide.
- Available in every conversation with that assistant, for everyone who uses it.
- Stays until someone removes it.
- Best for material the assistant should always be able to draw on.
Choosing between them
Section titled “Choosing between them”If you’re unsure, start with a file in the chat. If you find yourself uploading the same document again and again, it belongs as an attachment instead.
What Intric does with a document
Section titled “What Intric does with a document”Most AI tools treat a document as a pile of text and search it for matching words. Intric works through the document first, so it knows what it’s holding before anyone asks a question. See How Intric searches your documents for the full detail.
Supported file formats
Section titled “Supported file formats”Intric supports a range of file formats you can upload and analyze:
| Category | Format | Extensions |
|---|---|---|
| Documents | Markdown | .md, .markdown, .mdown, .markdn |
| Text | .txt, .text | |
| Word | .docx | |
| PowerPoint | .pptx | |
| Excel | .xlsx, .xls | |
| CSV | .csv | |
| Audio | MP3 | .mp3, .mp2, .mpga, .mp2a, .m2a, .m3a |
| M4A | .m4a | |
| WAV | .wav | |
| OGG | .oga, .ogg, .spx, .opus | |
| WebM Audio | .weba, .webm | |
| Video | MP4 | .mp4 |
| WebM | .webm | |
| Images | PNG | .png |
| JPEG | .jpeg, .jpg, .jpe |
Referencing a file in a message
Section titled “Referencing a file in a message”Type @ in the message box to insert a reference to a file, so you can point the assistant at a specific document without describing it.