File references
@-mention project files in chat to prioritize them for the agent's response.
When working in a project chat, you can @-mention specific project files to prioritize them for the agent's response. This ensures the agent focuses on the files most relevant to your question.
File references are only available in project chats, since they reference files uploaded to a project. In standalone chats, use file attachments instead.
How to reference a file
- Type
@in the chat input to open the file picker. - Search for and select the file you want to reference.
- Write your message and send.
The referenced file appears as a chip in your message. You can reference multiple files in a single message. Click any reference chip to preview the file content.
You can select all files from the current project and its parent projects.
How file references work
Referenced files are given higher priority in the agent's retrieval. The agent searches referenced files first while still searching other project files with lower priority, so you get focused results without losing broader context.
References from recent messages automatically carry over to follow-up messages. You don't need to remention a file to keep it active in the conversation. The agent continues to prioritize it automatically. Carry-over fades naturally as the conversation moves on and new files are referenced.
When the agent uses content from a referenced file, it includes a citation linking back to the source.
When to use file references
Use @-mentions when you want the agent to focus on specific files rather than relying entirely on automatic retrieval from all project files.
Common scenarios:
- Large projects with many files: Steer the agent to the most relevant documents when automatic retrieval might surface less relevant matches.
- Cross-referencing specific files: Reference multiple files to ask the agent to compare or synthesize information across them.
- Targeted follow-up questions: Reference a specific report to ask deeper questions about its content.
Example requests
Based on @supplier-audit-2025.pdf, what are the main compliance risks in our cotton supply chain?Compare the emissions data in @factory-report-q3.xlsx with @factory-report-q4.xlsx.File references vs. file attachments
| File references (@-mention) | File attachments | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Files already uploaded to the project. | Files from your device. |
| Scope | Available in any chat within the project. | The chat where you send them. |
| Context | Prioritized for retrieval; carries over to follow-up messages. | Included directly in your message; available in follow-up messages. |
| Best for | Steering the agent to specific project files. | One-off analysis of a file not in the project. |