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

# Files on the Canvas

> Upload source files, reuse Workspace files, and give the agent the right context.

Add a file to a Canvas to place it beside the notes, records, and results you're working with.

## Add a file

* Drag a file from your computer onto the Canvas.
* Press `U` or choose **Upload files** from the insert menu.
* Use **Add from workspace** to select an existing file.
* Ask the agent to find a file through a connected app such as [Google Drive](/product/connectors/google-drive).

When reusing a Workspace file, choose a live reference to keep it linked to the original or a copy to work independently. See [Files in Cohesive](/product/files/overview#live-reference-or-copy).

## Wait for processing

A card can appear before its contents have finished processing. File summaries and content search become available as processing completes; not every format supports the same extraction or preview.

If the agent can't find a passage, check that processing has finished and open the original file to confirm the text is present.

## Work with the file

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select the source">
    Click the card, or select several cards for a comparison.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Ask a focused question">
    Press `C` and ask, for example: *"Compare the delivery dates in these proposals and cite the source for each date."*
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check the answer">
    Open the source files and verify the cited details before using the result.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Use **Add to workspace** to make a Canvas file available for reuse across that Workspace. Removing a live reference only removes its placement; archiving an original file affects all its references.