> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://sofiedocs.usetransfer.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Sources and search

> Use attachments, Workspace search, Web search, Deep research, context chips, and citations in Sofie.

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 need                                           | Use                                         |
| ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| Review a local file once                              | Attachment                                  |
| Use project files and artifacts                       | Workspace context plus **Workspace search** |
| Ask about a document in progress                      | CoDraft context                             |
| Ask about spreadsheet rows, columns, or calculations  | CoSheet context                             |
| Use transcript, notes, or summary                     | CoMeeting context                           |
| Reuse a saved workflow                                | Orchestration context                       |
| Use current public information                        | **Web search**                              |
| Research a broad external question                    | **Deep research**                           |
| Ask how to use Sofie                                  | **Sofie Guide**                             |
| Inspect file visuals, charts, diagrams, or layout     | File Query                                  |
| Create or transform downloadable Office or data files | [File Studio](/chat/file-studio)            |
| Break source-heavy work into reviewable steps         | **Plan Mode**                               |

<Note>
  Your organization controls which search modes, integrations, and content sources are enabled.
</Note>

## 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.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click the plus control">
    In chat, click **+**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Attach">
    Select **Attach**, then choose the files from your computer.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check the attachment chips">
    Confirm the correct files are shown above the input. Remove any file that should not be included.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Tell Sofie what to do">
    Ask for a specific action such as summarize, compare, extract, import, draft, or analyze.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Good attachment prompts:

```text theme={null}
Review these attached documents. Create a comparison table with requirement ID, source document, discrepancy, impact, and question for the document owner.
```

```text theme={null}
Create a CoSheet from this CSV. Summarize trends by batch and flag values that need SME review.
```

```text theme={null}
Use File Studio to transform this JSON export into a clean CSV and provide a download link.
```

<Tip>
  If a file will matter to the team later, upload it to a Workspace instead of leaving it only in chat.
</Tip>

## 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.

## Reference specific context inline

After you add context or attach files, type `[[` in the chat input to reference a specific item. Select by clicking, or use the arrow keys and press Tab or Enter.

References are useful when one message includes several sources:

```text theme={null}
Use [[Deviation summary.pdf]] for the event timeline and [[Batch record excerpt.xlsx]] for data checks. Return source-backed facts, gaps, assumptions, and SME questions.
```

See [Reference attachments and context](/chat/reference-context) for the full workflow.

## Use Workspace search

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](/workspaces/workspace-knowledge) for how to include useful files, documents, and meetings while excluding noisy or stale sources.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open or add the Workspace">
    Start from the Workspace, or click **+**, choose **Add context**, and select the Workspace.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Turn on Workspace search">
    Open the sliders menu and enable **Workspace search**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Ask a source-specific question">
    Name what Sofie should find, compare, summarize, or extract from the Workspace files.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Use Workspace search for "what do we have?" questions. Use a specific CoDraft, CoSheet, or CoMeeting context for "use this exact artifact" questions.
</Tip>

## Use Web search

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:

```text theme={null}
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.
```

<Warning>
  Web search uses external sources. Review source quality, date, scope, and applicability before using results in controlled work.
</Warning>

## 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 Sofie Guide

Use **Sofie Guide** when your question is about Sofie documentation. It searches the Sofie docs site from chat and can return documentation citations.

Use Sofie Guide for:

* How-to questions about Sofie features.
* Choosing between Sofie surfaces.
* Finding docs for Plan Mode, Workspaces, CoDraft, CoSheet, CoMeeting, Orchestrations, Saved prompts, Memory, or Directives.
* Team onboarding or training prompts.

Sofie Guide does not search your Workspace files or the public web. See [Sofie Guide](/chat/sofie-guide) for detailed examples.

## 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](/chat/file-studio) when Sofie needs to create or transform a file in a code sandbox.

| Need                                                       | Use                                                                |
| ---------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Ask what a chart, figure, diagram, or slide shows          | File Query                                                         |
| Compare visual content in a file against a written claim   | File Query                                                         |
| Create a downloadable PowerPoint or Word file              | File Studio                                                        |
| Transform JSON, CSV, or TSV data into another file         | File Studio                                                        |
| Run code-based statistical analysis or batch processing    | File Studio                                                        |
| Create a chart, flow, timeline, or process diagram in chat | [Chart and diagram generation](/chat/chart-and-diagram-generation) |
| Create or edit an illustrative image in chat               | [Image Generation](/chat/image-generation)                         |
| Import and edit spreadsheet data interactively             | CoSheet                                                            |

Good prompt:

```text theme={null}
Use File Studio to create a PowerPoint file from the approved summary. Include source gaps in the appendix and return the download link.
```

Another:

```text theme={null}
Use File Query to inspect the attached PDF figures and tables before summarizing the evidence.
```

## Use Plan Mode with search

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](/chat/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:

```text theme={null}
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:

| Section      | What to ask Sofie to return                               |
| ------------ | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| Facts        | Source-backed information from the file or Workspace.     |
| Gaps         | Missing or ambiguous information.                         |
| Assumptions  | Statements Sofie inferred but cannot verify from sources. |
| Questions    | Follow-up questions for SMEs or document owners.          |
| Next sources | Files, 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](/chat/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.

<Warning>
  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.
</Warning>