How to Add and Manage Files in Mate Knowledge

How to Add and Manage Files in Mate Knowledge (Detailed Guide)

The "Mate Knowledge" feature allows you to create a persistent, private knowledge base for individual Native and Assistant Mates by attaching files directly to their configuration. This guide provides detailed steps on how to manage these files effectively using the "Knowledge" tab.

(For an overview of what Mate Knowledge is and its benefits, please see the Supercharging Mates with Knowledge (Overview) article.)

Accessing the Mate Knowledge Tab

1. Navigate to Mate Management: Click "Manage Mates" in the bottom-left menu.

2. Select Your Mate: Go to "Organization's Mates" and click on the name of the Native or Assistant Mate you wish to configure.

3. Open the Knowledge Tab: On the Mate's configuration page, click the "Knowledge" tab.

Uploading Files to Mate Knowledge

1. Click "Upload files": Press the button located near the top of the Knowledge tab.

2. Select Files: Your computer's file browser will open. Navigate to and select one or more files you want to add.

3. Monitor Upload & Processing: The selected files will appear in the list. You'll see animations indicating the upload and optimization process:

   • Quick Animation: File preparation step 1.

   • Slow Animation: File optimization (conversion into formats suitable for different LLMs). While not strictly necessary, waiting for the slow animation to complete ensures maximum optimization before the Mate uses the file.

Managing Uploaded Files

Once files are uploaded, they appear in a list within the Knowledge tab. Here's how to manage them:

1. Viewing File Details

The list displays key information for each file:

• Name: The original filename.

• Integration modes: (See below) How the Mate can use this file.

• Uploaded by: The user who uploaded the file.

• Uploaded at: Date and time of upload.

• Size: File size.

2. Adding/Editing File Descriptions (Crucial for Context!)

Providing a description helps the Mate understand the file's content and purpose.

• How: Click the pencil icon (✏️) next to the file size.

• What to Include:

  • A clear summary of the document's topic (e.g., "Q1 2025 Sales Report - US Region").

  • Key information contained within (e.g., "Contains monthly sales data, top performers, and regional breakdown").

  • Guidance on how the Mate should use it (e.g., "Use for answering questions about Q1 sales performance," "Reference this style guide for all generated content").

• Save: Click the checkmark (✔️) to save the description.

3. Setting Integration Modes

This dropdown menu controls how the Mate is allowed to use the file. The available modes depend on the Mate type (Native or Assistant) and the file type.

• For Native Mates:

  • Default (Recommended): Leave options unchecked. The platform automatically selects the best available format (Text, Multimodal - like images from slides) based on the Mate's LLM.

  • Force Text: Instructs the Mate to only use the extracted text content.

  • Force Multimodal: Instructs the Mate to prioritize visual/multimodal interpretations (e.g., treat PDF pages or slides as images) if its LLM supports it.

• For Assistant Mates:

  • File Search (RAG - Default): Allows the Mate to search within the file's content to answer questions or retrieve information. This is the standard mode for document analysis.

  • Code Executor: Makes the file accessible to the Mate's Code Execution Tool. This is essential for providing data files (CSVs, JSON), Python scripts, or libraries for the Mate to use in its code.

• Selecting Modes: Choose the appropriate mode(s) from the "Select integration modes" dropdown next to the file name. A file can often be used in multiple modes (e.g., a CSV for both RAG and Code Execution).

4. Deleting Files

• How: Click the trash can icon (🗑️) to the far right of the file entry.

• Effect: Permanently removes the file from this Mate's knowledge base.

Saving Changes

Remember to save any changes made to the Mate's configuration.

• Click "Update": After adding files, editing descriptions, setting modes, or deleting files, click the "Update" button in the top-right corner of the Mate configuration page to apply your changes.

Conclusion

The "Knowledge" tab provides a powerful interface for building and managing private, persistent knowledge bases for your Native and Assistant Mates. By carefully uploading relevant files, providing clear descriptions, and setting appropriate integration modes, you can significantly enhance your Mates' expertise, accuracy, and ability to perform specialized tasks.