# File Upload & Download

Get data into Studio and results out. Upload CSVs, PDFs, and documents to give the AI context for analysis; download the reports, presentations, and datasets it generates — all stored server-side and accessible from any device.

Note
The AI processes uploaded files inside the server-side sandbox. Files are stored per-chat and accessible through the Files panel. Your local filesystem is never accessed.

## Objective

Move files between your local device and Studio's server-side environment so the AI can analyze your data and you can export its output.

## Prerequisites

- Signed in to Treasure AI Studio ([Getting Started](/products/ai-studio/getting-started))
- An active chat session


## File Size Limits

Warning
The maximum file size for uploads is **100 MB per file**. If you need to work with larger files, consider splitting them into smaller chunks or uploading only the relevant portions.

## Uploading Files

You can upload files to a chat session in two ways: through the chat input or through the Files panel.

### From the Chat Input

#### Web & Desktop

1. Click the **plus button** (+) in the chat input toolbar
2. Select one or more files from the file picker
3. Files appear as **thumbnails** below the text area, showing the file name and a category icon
4. Type your message (e.g., "Summarize this report" or "Load this CSV into a table")
5. Click **Send** — the files upload and your message is sent together


You can also **drag and drop** files directly onto the chat area. When you drag a file over the chat, a blue overlay appears with the message **"Drop files here"**. Release to add the files to your pending attachments.

To remove a pending file before sending, click the **X** button on its thumbnail.

#### Mobile (iOS)

1. Tap the **plus button** (+) in the chat input toolbar
2. Choose from:
  - **File** — Browse and select documents
  - **Camera** — Take a photo to attach
  - **Photos** — Select from your photo library
3. Files appear as **pills** below the text area
4. Type your message and tap **Send**


To remove a pending file, tap the **X** on its pill.

### From the Files Panel

#### Web & Desktop

1. Open the **Files** panel by clicking the **folder icon** in the chat header
2. Click the **Upload** button at the top of the panel
3. Select a file from the file picker
4. The file uploads to the current directory


### Specifying a Directory

When you have files attached in the chat input, a **directory path input** appears. This lets you specify which folder the files should be uploaded to within the chat's file system.

- The default location is the **root** directory (shown as "(root)")
- Start typing a path to see **autocomplete suggestions** from existing folders
- Select an existing folder or type a new path to create one


Technical Note
Each chat session has its own isolated file system rooted at `/home/agent/chats/{chatId}`. Files uploaded through the chat input are stored at the specified directory path within this root. The directory path input uses autocomplete based on the current folder tree.

## Downloading Files

### AI-Generated Files

When the AI creates a file (a report, spreadsheet, presentation, or other output), a **"Created file"** card appears in the chat with:

- **File icon** — Color-coded by category (green for spreadsheets, blue for documents, purple for images, etc.)
- **File name** and **file size**
- **Category label** (e.g., "Spreadsheet", "Document", "Presentation")
- **Preview** button — Opens the file in the built-in viewer
- **Download** button — Downloads the file to your device


File card in chat showing generated file with download button
### From the Files Panel

#### Web & Desktop

1. Open the **Files** panel (folder icon in the chat header)
2. Hover over any file in the file tree
3. Click the **download icon** that appears on hover


Or, when viewing a file in the viewer:

1. Click the **Download** button in the viewer footer


### Mobile (iOS)

Tap the **Preview** button (eye icon) on any file card to open it. Download functionality on mobile is handled through the iOS share sheet when previewing files.

## The Files Panel

The Files panel is your file manager within each chat session. It has two zones:

### Zone A: File Explorer

A hierarchical folder tree showing all files in the current chat session.

- **Folders** display with a folder icon and expand/collapse on click
- **Files** display with a category-colored icon, name, and size
- Hover over a file to see the **download** button
- Click a file to open it in the viewer (Zone B)


When no files exist yet, the panel shows: **"No files yet"** with the hint **"Upload files or ask the AI to generate them"**.

### Zone B: File Viewer

A tabbed viewer area where opened files display. Each open file gets its own tab:

- **Tab bar** — Shows file name with a colored dot indicator; click **X** to close a tab
- **Viewer area** — Renders the file using the appropriate viewer (see [File Viewers](/products/ai-studio/files/file-viewers))
- **Fullscreen toggle** — Expand the viewer to fill the screen


When no file is selected, the viewer shows: **"Select a tab to view file"**.

### Panel Controls

| Control | Description |
|  --- | --- |
| **Folder icon** (chat header) | Toggle the Files panel open/closed. A dot badge appears when files exist but the panel is closed |
| **Reload** button (refresh icon) | Refresh the file list from the server |
| **Upload** button | Upload a file to the current directory |
| **Fullscreen** / **Exit fullscreen** | Expand or collapse the viewer to fill the screen |


## File Categories

Studio categorizes files by extension and displays them with color-coded icons:

| Category | Extensions | Icon Color |
|  --- | --- | --- |
| **Spreadsheet** | csv, xlsx, xls, tsv | Green |
| **Document** | md, txt, pdf, doc, docx, html, htm | Blue |
| **Presentation** | pptx, ppt | Blue |
| **Image** | png, jpg, jpeg, gif, svg, webp | Purple |
| **Code** | js, ts, py, sql, sh, yaml, yml | Orange |
| **Data** | json, xml, mmd, mermaid | Blue |
| **Journey** | *.journey.yaml, *.journey.yml | Teal |
| **File** | All other extensions | Gray |


## Upload Errors

If a file upload fails, you see the message: **"File upload failed. Message not sent."** The message is not sent to the AI when all file uploads fail.

If some files in a batch succeed and others fail, the message is sent with only the successfully uploaded files.

## File Retention & Deletion

Files stored in Studio are subject to the following retention rules:

| Scenario  | What Happens to Files  |
|  --- | --- |
| **Standalone chat deleted** | All files associated with that chat are permanently deleted |
| **Project chat deleted** | Files are **not** deleted. They remain accessible in the project workspace |
| **Automatic expiration** | Files in standalone chats are automatically deleted **28 days** after the chat was initiated. Files in project chats are not deleted |


Important
File deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. Download any files you need before deleting a standalone chat or before the 28-day expiration.

## Differences from Treasure Studio Labs

| Feature | Treasure Studio Labs | Treasure AI Studio |
|  --- | --- | --- |
| **File storage** | Local filesystem | Server-side (cloud) |
| **Upload method** | Local file references | Browser upload / mobile picker |
| **Drag and drop** | Supported (local paths) | Supported (file upload) |
| **Files panel** | Working folder browser | Files panel with tabbed viewer |
| **Cross-device access** | No — files on local machine only | Yes — files stored server-side per chat |
| **Directory selection** | Local filesystem paths | Virtual directory with autocomplete |


## Verification

- [ ] Attach a file via the plus button and see it appear as a thumbnail/pill
- [ ] Send a message with the file and see the AI reference its contents
- [ ] Download an AI-generated file using the **Download** button on a "Created file" card


## Troubleshooting

| Issue | Solution |
|  --- | --- |
| "File upload failed. Message not sent." | Check your network connection and try again. Files must be under 100 MB — if larger, split the file or upload only the relevant section |
| Uploaded file not referenced by AI | The AI processes file contents asynchronously. Wait for the upload indicator to complete, then re-send your message |
| Download button not visible | Only AI-generated files show a **Download** button on the "Created file" card. Uploaded files can be downloaded from the Files panel |


## Next Steps

- [File Viewers](/products/ai-studio/files/file-viewers) — How Studio renders PDFs, spreadsheets, presentations, and more
- [AI Chat Interface](/products/ai-studio/chat/chat) — Sending messages with file context
- [Artifact Output](/products/ai-studio/files/artifacts) — AI-generated output files (PPTX, DOCX, PDF, XLSX)