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Important

This feature is in Public Preview.

This article explains how to upload CSV and Excel files directly into a Genie space for analysis using natural language and in combination with other tables in the space. To enable file uploads, contact your Databricks account team.

Overview

Uploading files to a Genie space enables ad hoc analysis of CSV and Excel data. Files can be added to spaces with Unity Catalog tables, making it possible to analyze them alongside existing data. Instead of manually importing and transforming datasets, you can drag and drop a file into a conversation and start exploring the data immediately. This supports ad hoc analysis, quick data validation, and integration of external datasets without additional setup.

Requirements

  • Genie spaces must be enabled in your workspace. See Set up Genie.
  • Preview access must be enabled. Contact your Databricks account team to request access.
  • A workspace admin must enable the preview from the Previews page. Use the Genie - Upload File tile to manage access.
  • You must have at least MANAGE privileges on a Unity Catalog schema.

Enable file uploads in a Genie space

File uploads can be enabled in new or existing Genie spaces. Users with at least CAN MANAGE access can configure file upload settings. To allow users to upload files:

  1. Open the Genie space settings.
    • For new spaces, this is the setup form. For more information about how to set up a Genie space, see Set up and manage an AI/BI Genie space.
    • For existing spaces, click the Gear icon to access the settings.
  2. Select Genie file upload to allow users to upload files to conversations.
  3. Select the catalog and schema where files should be stored.

A set up screen showing Genie file uploads enabled with drop-down menus to select a catalog and schema.

Note

Uploaded files are stored in a user- and space-specific Unity Catalog managed volume. The volume is not listable and does not appear in the schema browser. For more information about managed volumes, see What is a managed volume?.

Upload a file

Uploaded files are available only within the conversation where they were added. During the preview period, files must be smaller than 200 MB and contain fewer than 100 columns. Users can upload files in one of the following ways:

  • Drag and drop the file into the chat window.
  • Click Attach file to select a file from the browser.

A file is added to the space using drag and drop.

After the file is uploaded and processed, Genie displays the data in the response. Users can ask questions about the uploaded file and any other data in the Genie space.

Note

Permissions on uploaded files do not need to be managed manually. Users are automatically granted USE CATALOG, USE SCHEMA, READ VOLUME, and WRITE VOLUME privileges on their uploaded files.

Remove a file

To remove a file and its associated conversation record, delete the conversation.

To remove only the file, click the Trash icon next to the file in the attached files list.

An expanded file list showing a trash icon to the right of a file name.

FAQ

Who can access uploaded files?

Uploaded files are scoped to a specific conversation. Only the user who uploaded the file can access it. Users with sufficient privileges on the schema can grant themselves READ VOLUME privileges to access the uploaded data.

What data is sent to the LLM?

Unlike tables in Genie, a subset of the data from uploaded files is sent to the external model and used to improve the response quality and properly parse the files.