File previews
How the Files panel shows each type of file when you open it.
By file type
| File type | Extensions | Opens as | Can edit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Markdown | .md, .markdown, .mdx |
Formatted page, with its Mermaid diagrams and SVG images drawn as in the chat. ‹ › Code shows the source, with long lines wrapped. | Yes, in the source view |
| HTML | .html, .htm |
Rendered page, with its scripts running. ‹ › Code shows the source. | Yes, in the source view |
| CSV and TSV | .csv, .tsv |
Table. ‹ › Code shows the source. | Yes, in the source view |
.pdf |
Your browser's PDF viewer. | No | |
| Image | .png, .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, .webp, .svg, .bmp, .ico, .avif, .tif, .tiff |
Image. | No |
| PowerPoint, Word, and Excel | .pptx, .ppt, .docx, .doc, .xlsx, .xls |
PDF, converted by LibreOffice. See PowerPoint, Word, and Excel files. | No |
| Plain text | .txt |
Editor, with long lines wrapped. | Yes |
| Other text | Any file that contains text | Editor. | Yes |
| Other binary | Any other file | "Can't preview this file", with ⬇ Download instead. | No |
Diagrams in Markdown
A Markdown file's code blocks marked
mermaid or svg are drawn as in a chat response, in the light or dark theme you use, with Copy source and Download. If a diagram can't be drawn, the preview shows its text and the reason. For more information, see See diagrams and images in a response.
When changes are highlighted, a changed diagram is drawn inside its mark. A diagram that was removed shows as its text among the deletions.
HTML pages
An HTML page runs its scripts in the preview, under the same rules as a shared file: it can't load anything from the internet or from other files, or open connections. So a page that loads a chart library from the internet shows without its charts, as it would for the people you share it with.
The page runs on an address of its own, never on the one Knowledge Worker Agent uses. If the preview doesn't load, for example because your sign-in to the workspace expired, select Open in a new tab.
When scripts can't run in the workspace, the preview shows the page without them, and says why.
PowerPoint, Word, and Excel files
Knowledge Worker Agent converts these files to PDF with LibreOffice, and shows the PDF. You see Preparing preview while it converts. The file itself isn't changed: the conversion works on a copy, with macros turned off.
LibreOffice isn't part of the workspace image. The first time you open one of these files, you see LibreOffice isn't installed, with the download size, 217 MB, and the space it takes, about 546 MB:
-
Select Install LibreOffice. The preview shows how the install is going, then opens the file by itself. The install needs about 1.1 GB free while it runs, and needs to reach
downloadarchive.documentfoundation.org. -
Or select Download file to open the file in another app.
LibreOffice is installed in your Knowledge Worker Agent folder, so it stays installed when the workspace restarts. If LibreOffice is already installed in the workspace, it's used, and there's nothing to install.
When a file can't be converted, you see Preview failed and what went wrong. Select Try again, or Download file.
When the assistant changes the file, the preview converts it again, and shows the earlier version until the new one is ready. An unchanged file opens at once from a stored copy of the PDF. A stored PDF that isn't opened for 30 days is removed.
People you share a chat with can download these files, but not preview them.
Line wrapping
In the source view, Markdown and plain text files wrap long lines at the width of the panel, so a paragraph doesn't scroll sideways. Code files keep each line on one row, as in most code editors, so their indentation stays easy to follow.
Other types
Your browser shows images and PDF files itself. A format your browser doesn't support, such as TIFF in most browsers, doesn't display.
The assistant can read PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and PDF files even when you can't preview them. Attach them to a message, or ask about files in the chat's folder.
Code highlighting
The editor highlights code in these files:
-
JavaScript and TypeScript:
.js,.jsx,.ts,.tsx -
Python:
.py -
HTML and components:
.html,.vue,.svelte -
CSS:
.css,.scss -
Markdown:
.md,.markdown -
JSON:
.json -
YAML:
.yaml,.yml
Other text files open without highlighting.
Size limit
Files larger than 2 MB can't be opened in the panel, except PDF, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel files. Download them instead.
Updates while a file is open
The open file is checked for changes while the assistant works, and when it finishes:
| View | When the assistant changes the file |
|---|---|
| Editor, Markdown, CSV | The new content appears, unless you have unsaved changes. |
| PDF, HTML, image | The view reloads with the new version. |
| PowerPoint, Word, Excel | The file is converted again, and the new version replaces the earlier one when it's ready. |
An unchanged file is left as it is, so a PDF keeps your place while the assistant works on other files. To see changes made another way, for example in VS Code, close the file and open it again.