File Attachments

You can add files to Pia and have their contents dropped right into your message. This works in both the Assistant and Optimize views.

Adding a File

There are two ways to add a file:

1. Drag a file onto the Pia window. An overlay appears that says “Drop file to insert its contents”. Release the file to insert it.
2. Click the Attach file button and pick a file.

Pia reads the file and inserts its contents into your message (in the Assistant) or into your text to optimize (in the Optimize view).

If your message box already has text, a snackbar asks whether to Insert anyway.

Want to add several files? Go ahead — their contents are joined together, separated by a line.

Supported file types

In the Assistant, you can add:

• Plain text and code files — for example .txt, .md, .csv, .json, .xml, .yaml, .log, and source-code files like .cs, .js, .ts, .py, .html, .css, .sql
• Word documents — .docx
• Excel spreadsheets — .xlsx, .xlsm
• Images — .png, .jpg, .gif, .bmp, .webp

The Optimize view supports the same file types, except images.

Images

Images become picture attachments and need the Pia Cloud provider. If you’re using another provider, you’ll see: “Image attachments are only available when using the PiaCloud provider.”

See the AI Providers Guide to switch to Pia Cloud.

A Few Things to Know

• Large files may be rejected with a message like “is too large to insert”. If that happens, try a smaller file.
• Spreadsheets: each sheet becomes its own labelled block. Heads up — dates in spreadsheets may show up as plain numbers.

Next Steps

Learn more about where you’ll use attachments in the Assistant Guide and the Optimize Guide.