Persistent Files vs Attachments
Upload PDFs, spreadsheets, and documents once for cross-chat retrieval, automated summaries, and chunked vector reading.
Persistent Files vs Chat Attachments
In most AI tools, uploading a 50-page financial report or technical whitepaper means re-uploading the file every time you open a new chat window. If you ask three different agents about the same document, you upload it three separate times—flooding your context window and consuming massive token allowances.
ARMES introduces a clear separation between Persistent Files and Chat Attachments.
Comparison Table
| Attribute | Chat Attachment | Persistent File (Library) |
|---|---|---|
| How to Add | Paperclip in composer | Drag & drop into Context → Files |
| Storage Location | Attached only to that specific chat | Stored in your personal File Library |
| Lifespan | Ephemeral (~10 day retention window) | Permanent until you explicitly delete it |
| Agent Availability | Only the active agent in that thread | Every agent across all chats |
| Token Handling | Injected directly into immediate prompt | Summary-first + chunked retrieval |
| Project Scoping | Tied to thread | Can be assigned to specific projects |
How Persistent Files Work
When you upload a document to your Persistent File Library (/context → Files):
- Intelligent Extraction: Text, tabular data, and visual hierarchy are extracted securely without third-party retention.
- Automated AI Summary: An executive summary and table of contents are generated and saved to the file's metadata card.
- Targeted On-Demand Access: When an agent needs to reference the file, it doesn't flood your conversation with the entire document. Instead:
- The agent consults the file summary first to pinpoint the exact section or chapter needed.
- It retrieves only the relevant portions on-demand.
- This keeps your conversation fast, responses razor-sharp, and token consumption minimal.
Supported File Types
ARMES supports documents up to 8 MB per file:
- Documents: PDF (
.pdf), Microsoft Word (.docx,.doc), Plain Text (.txt,.rtf,.md, 'html'). - Data & Tables: CSV (
.csv), Microsoft Excel (.xlsx,.xls), JSON, YAML, XML. - Presentations: Microsoft PowerPoint (
.pptx). - Images: PNG, JPEG, WebP (for visual analysis and OCR).
Promoting Attachments to Library
If you attached a document directly inside a chat composer and later decide it should be permanent, simply click the file badge and select "Save to Library". The document is immediately promoted to your persistent storage and made available to your entire agent roster.
External Cloud Storage (Google Drive)
In addition to ephemeral attachments and persistent vault files, ARMES supports connecting your Google Drive:
- Browse your live Google Docs and Sheets directly in the Command right panel or Context sidebar.
- Drag and drop documents or click "Attach to Chat" to reference them directly in your conversation.
- Export ARMES Notes as Google Docs or import Google Drive files into your Persistent Vault.
- Learn more in our dedicated guide: Google Drive Integration.