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What file types does sideBar support?

sideBar accepts a wide range of formats:
  • Documents: PDFs, Word documents, plain text
  • Images: JPG, PNG, and other common image formats
  • Audio: audio recordings and common audio formats
  • Video: video files
  • Spreadsheets: Excel workbooks and CSV files
  • Presentations: PowerPoint and similar formats
See Files for the full list.

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How do I add a file?

Tap the + button in the Files tab to open the file picker and choose a file from your device. You can also share files directly from other apps using the sideBar Share extension. See Widgets and Extensions for setup instructions.

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What is ingestion and how long does it take?

After you add a file, sideBar indexes its content so it can search and reference it in conversations. This moves through three stages: uploading, processing, then ready. You can watch the status update in real time on the file card. Most files complete in seconds, though large documents may take longer. If something goes wrong, the card shows an error with a Retry button.

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Can sideBar read and work with my files?

Yes. Once a file reaches the ready state its content is indexed and sideBar can search and reference it during any conversation. You can also attach a specific file to a chat message to give sideBar focused context on that file.

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Can I view files inside sideBar?

Yes, for many file types:
  • PDFs: full-page viewer with page navigation and pinch-to-zoom
  • Spreadsheets: scrollable grid view with column headers
  • YouTube videos: in-app player alongside the extracted plain-text transcript
  • Images: full-screen display
  • Text and Markdown: rendered preview

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Can I search my files?

Yes. Tap the search field in the Files tab and start typing. Search matches against file names and the indexed content of ready files, so you can find something by what it contains, not just what it is called.

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What is the difference between pinning and archiving a file?

Pinning keeps a file at the top of your list for quick access. Archiving moves it out of the main view without deleting it; you can restore it at any time. The number of archived files appears at the bottom of the list. Deleting a file is permanent and also removes its index.

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Can I delete a file?

Yes. Tap the menu on any file card and choose Delete, or swipe left on the file. Deletion is permanent and removes both the file and its index. You will be asked to confirm before anything is removed.

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Do files sync across my devices?

Yes. Files and their indexed content sync across all devices where you are signed in to sideBar.