Spark can read, analyze, and produce real working files. Attach a spreadsheet, document, presentation, or data export to any Spark message, and Spark will compute, summarize, or generate a downloadable result. This article covers supported file types, how to attach files, and how Spark processes them.
In this article:
- Supported file types
- Attaching files to a Spark message
- What Spark does with your files
- Downloading files from Spark
- Limits and restrictions
- Troubleshooting file errors
- See also
Supported file types
Spark accepts the following file types as attachments.
Attaching files to a Spark message
To attach a file to Spark:
- Open a Spark chat.
- Click Add attachment in the Spark chat input.
- Select one or more files from your computer.
- Wait for the upload to complete. A progress indicator appears next to each file name.
- Type your question or instruction, then send the message.
You can also drag and drop files directly onto the chat input.
To remove a file before sending, click the × next to its name.
Note: You can attach up to 20 files per message. Each file must be 30 MB or smaller.
What Spark does with your files
Spark routes each file to the right processing method automatically, based on file type and size.
- Images and short PDFs (25 pages or fewer) use vision processing. Spark reads and interprets the visual content directly.
- Office files (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX), data files (CSV, TSV, JSON, XML), and long PDFs (more than 25 pages) run in a sandboxed code execution environment. Spark performs real computation over the data.
When Spark answers a question based on a file, it states what it used, including the file name, sheet, row count, and any filters applied. This helps you confirm Spark is working with the right data.
You can attach multiple files to one message to compare or combine their contents.
Tip: Common workflows include building a product roadmap from a spreadsheet, converting a feedback export into notes, and summarizing a long strategy document.
Downloading files from Spark
Spark can generate downloadable files, such as a computed spreadsheet or exported document. When Spark produces a file, a download link appears in the response.
Limits and restrictions
Keep these limits in mind when attaching files.
- 30 MB maximum per file.
- 20 files maximum per message.
- 200 MB total per user per day.
When you reach the daily limit, Spark shows a message letting you know. You can try again the next day.
Troubleshooting file errors
If Spark shows an error when you upload or analyze a file, use the table below to understand what happened.