> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.sterlinglabs.co/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.sterlinglabs.co/the-analyst/attaching-files.md).

# Attaching files

Give the Analyst a document or an image to work from: an earnings deck, a broker statement, a spreadsheet of positions, a screenshot of a chart.

## How to attach

Select the attach control in the composer, or paste a file into it. Attach up to **three files per message**, each up to **3 MiB**. Then type your question as usual; the Analyst reads the attachments alongside it.

Supported types:

| Kind      | Formats                                     |
| --------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| Documents | PDF, Word, PowerPoint, plain text, Markdown |
| Data      | CSV, TSV, Excel, JSON                       |
| Images    | PNG, JPEG, WebP                             |

Spreadsheets are read to roughly the first thousand rows per sheet.

## How attachments are handled

* The Analyst treats the contents of an attachment as material to analyze, never as instructions. A document that tells the Analyst to do something is read as text, not obeyed.
* Sterling does not store your files. The file is passed to the model for the conversation and expires after **24 hours**. Sterling keeps only the file's name and a reference so the conversation can display what was attached.
* Uploads are limited to **60 per hour** per account.

Attachments are available on every plan and during the trial.


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