Skip to main content
Sofie answers better when you give it the right sources. A source can be an attachment, Workspace file, CoDraft, CoSheet, CoMeeting, Orchestration, plan, selected text, or external search result.

​
Choose the right source path

Source needUse
Review a local file onceAttachment
Use project files and artifactsWorkspace context plus Workspace search
Ask about a document in progressCoDraft context
Ask about spreadsheet rows, columns, or calculationsCoSheet context
Use transcript, notes, or summaryCoMeeting context
Reuse a saved workflowOrchestration context
Use current public informationWeb search
Research a broad external questionDeep research
Inspect file visuals, charts, diagrams, or layoutFile Query
Create or transform downloadable Office or data filesFile Studio
Break source-heavy work into reviewable stepsPlan Mode
Your organization controls which search modes, integrations, and content sources are enabled.

​
Attach files

Use attachments when the source file is not already in Sofie or should only be used for the current message. Sofie accepts common document, image, spreadsheet, presentation, text, and JSON formats. You can attach up to five files in one message.
1

Click the plus control

In chat, click +.
2

Choose Attach

Select Attach, then choose the files from your computer.
3

Check the attachment chips

Confirm the correct files are shown above the input. Remove any file that should not be included.
4

Tell Sofie what to do

Ask for a specific action such as summarize, compare, extract, import, draft, or analyze.
Good attachment prompts: 
Review these attached documents. Create a comparison table with requirement ID, source document, discrepancy, impact, and question for the document owner.

Create a CoSheet from this CSV. Summarize trends by batch and flag values that need SME review.

Use File Studio to transform this JSON export into a clean CSV and provide a download link.
If a file will matter to the team later, upload it to a Workspace instead of leaving it only in chat.

​
Add existing Sofie context

Use Add context when the source already exists in Sofie. Context can include:
  • CoDrafts
  • Orchestrations
  • CoSheets
  • CoMeetings
  • Workspaces
  • Plans in the current conversation
Sofie groups CoDrafts, CoSheets, and CoMeetings by Workspace when that relationship exists. This helps you choose the right artifact from the right project. Turn on Workspace search when Sofie should search files in a selected Workspace. This is useful for projects with several related files. Use Workspace search for:
  • “Find the latest finalized protocol in this Workspace.”
  • “Compare the URS and risk assessment.”
  • “Which files mention release assay readiness?”
  • “Summarize documents related to the equipment qualification package.”
  • “Identify source gaps before drafting a validation protocol.”
Workspace search works best when the Workspace has been curated as shared knowledge. See Workspace knowledge for how to include useful files, documents, and meetings while excluding noisy or stale sources.
1

Open or add the Workspace

Start from the Workspace, or click +, choose Add context, and select the Workspace.
2

Turn on Workspace search

Open the sliders menu and enable Workspace search.
3

Ask a source-specific question

Name what Sofie should find, compare, summarize, or extract from the Workspace files.
Use Workspace search for “what do we have?” questions. Use a specific CoDraft, CoSheet, or CoMeeting context for “use this exact artifact” questions.
Use Web search when the answer depends on current public information or source-backed external context. Good uses:
  • Public regulatory updates.
  • Company or market information.
  • Public scientific background.
  • Recent guidance or publication context.
Ask for source-backed output: 
Use Web search to find current public guidance on this topic. Summarize the key points, cite sources, and separate public-source findings from assumptions that need internal review.
Web search uses external sources. Review source quality, date, scope, and applicability before using results in controlled work.

​
Use Deep research

Use Deep research when the task needs broader source gathering and synthesis. It is slower than Web search. Deep research is useful for:
  • Comparing public regulatory positions.
  • Building a research brief.
  • Reviewing pharmacopoeia or guidance differences.
  • Preparing a source-backed landscape before drafting.
Deep research requires Web search. If Web search is off, Sofie cannot run Deep research.

​
Use File Query and File Studio

Use File Query when Sofie needs to inspect what is inside a file, especially visual or layout-heavy content such as charts, diagrams, figures, images, PowerPoint slides, or formatted PDFs. Use File Studio when Sofie needs to create or transform a file in a code sandbox.
NeedUse
Ask what a chart, figure, diagram, or slide showsFile Query
Compare visual content in a file against a written claimFile Query
Create a downloadable PowerPoint or Word fileFile Studio
Transform JSON, CSV, or TSV data into another fileFile Studio
Run code-based statistical analysis or batch processingFile Studio
Create a chart, flow, timeline, or process diagram in chatChart and diagram generation
Create or edit an illustrative image in chatImage Generation
Import and edit spreadsheet data interactivelyCoSheet
Good prompt: 
Use File Studio to create a PowerPoint file from the approved summary. Include source gaps in the appendix and return the download link.
Another: 
Use File Query to inspect the attached PDF figures and tables before summarizing the evidence.
Turn on Plan Mode when the source work has multiple steps or should be reviewed before execution. Good Plan Mode uses with sources:
  • Search a Workspace, identify source gaps, then draft a CoDraft outline.
  • Use Web search to gather current public sources before creating a comparison table.
  • Use Deep research to build a broader research plan before synthesis.
  • Review a CoSheet, propose formulas, then create charts only after you approve the approach.
See Use Plan Mode for the full workflow.

​
Understand citations and source cards

Sofie may show citations or source cards when it uses search or file-analysis sources that provide cited results. Citations help you:
  • Check where a statement came from.
  • Open source material for review.
  • Separate grounded findings from generated synthesis.
  • Find the source document that needs follow-up.
Ask directly when citations matter: 
Answer with citations for each key claim. If a claim is not supported by a source, list it under assumptions instead.

​
Use file analysis carefully

When Sofie analyzes files, keep the source set focused. Too many unrelated files can make the answer less useful. Use this pattern for quality and technical review:
SectionWhat to ask Sofie to return
FactsSource-backed information from the file or Workspace.
GapsMissing or ambiguous information.
AssumptionsStatements Sofie inferred but cannot verify from sources.
QuestionsFollow-up questions for SMEs or document owners.
Next sourcesFiles, meetings, or data to check next.
The context indicator can help you notice when a source-heavy task is getting too large for one chat. For guidance on context windows and long-chat summarization, see Context windows and summarization.

​
Protect sensitive context

Use the smallest source set that can answer the question.
  • Do not add a Workspace if one file is enough.
  • Do not attach unrelated files “just in case”.
  • Remove context chips that are not needed.
  • Keep sensitive project files in the intended Workspace.
  • Review summaries before sharing outside the intended audience.
Do not treat Sofie output as final evidence for controlled decisions unless your organization has reviewed that use. Sofie can help prepare work for human review.