Connections and data
Give Otto files and context for a better answer
Attach a brief, image, spreadsheet, policy, or other reference file to a chat when Otto needs the contents for one task. For information that should stay current, use a connected app instead. For guidance that should apply every time an agent works, change its identity or instructions rather than attaching the same file repeatedly.
Choose the right source
| Source | Best for | How long it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Instructions | A role, tone, rule, or decision boundary | Future work for that agent |
| An attachment | A brief, policy, plan, image, or other source for the current request | The chat and task where you provide it |
| The current session | Details, decisions, and constraints that develop during a project | That conversation |
| A connected app | Current information or an approved action in another service | While the connection and access remain available |
Do not attach a file when a connected app is the better source of truth. For example, attach a one-time sales brief for analysis, but connect a CRM when Otto must look up the latest customer record.
Attach a file or photo to a chat
- Open the conversation where you want Otto to use the file.
- Select + beside the message field.
- Choose a source:
- Take Photo uses the camera on a device that supports it.
- Photo Library selects one or more photos.
- Choose File opens the device's file picker.
- On the desktop or web app, you can also paste a file or image into the message field, or drag files onto the chat window.
- Check the attachment chips or image previews above the message field. Remove anything you did not intend to send.
- Add a clear request, such as “Compare this policy with the attached contract and list the differences,” then send the message.
Files are staged before you send the message. Selecting or pasting a file does not send it to Otto until you send the message. If the conversation is offline, locked, or already handling a turn, the attachment control may be unavailable until the composer can accept the next message.
Limits and image handling
- A message can contain up to 5 attachments.
- The combined attachment size is limited to 15 MB per message.
- An individual file is limited to 10 MB. Otto tells you when a file is too large.
- Photos are resized and converted to JPEG before sending. Large images are reduced to fit the image-processing limit, so the copy Otto receives may not have the original dimensions or format.
- If you add more attachments than fit, Otto keeps the ones that fit and explains what it could not add. Remove an attachment or choose smaller files, then try again.
These limits apply to files attached to a chat message. They do not turn a connected app into a file store or give an agent access to files elsewhere on your device.
Prepare a file so Otto can use it well
Give files clear names and attach only the relevant version. Say what Otto should do with each source: summarize it, compare it, extract decisions, or use it as a constraint. If a document is out of date, replace it rather than asking Otto to guess which version governs.
For sensitive material, attach only what the task needs. Files are stored on your Otto device, but information needed by the selected model or an external service may leave your network while Otto completes the task. Where each kind of credential is held is covered in Privacy and credentials. Never put a password, access token, or API key in an attachment or chat message.
If an attachment does not work
- The picker or camera does not open: confirm the app has the requested camera or photo-library permission, then retry. On an older app build, update or rebuild Otto if it says attachments are not included.
- A file is rejected: check both the 10 MB per-file limit and the 15 MB total for the message. For several files, remove some or use smaller copies.
- The attachment appears but Otto cannot answer from it: send a specific request and check that the file finished staging before you tapped send. If the task needs live data, connect the relevant app instead.
- A pasted or dropped file is not added: use + > Choose File as a fallback, and make sure you are dropping it on the chat rather than another open panel on desktop.