How To Reference Files Using Copilot In Word By Copy Pasting The URL

First off, I have no idea why what I'm about to type is not published in the existing Copilot in Word training materials produced by Microsoft. Nevertheless, if you are trying to use the pre-fetched files or trying to type in file names and they aren't showing up....here is how to get around all of that. Also, it does require some pre-work in step number 1 - but this is a one time deal.

• Search for clipboard settings in your Windows settings
  • Tap the windows button on your keyboard and type clipboard...select "clipboard settings"
  • Turn on "Clipboard History" to "On" if it isn't on already
• Navigate to the location of the file you want to reference (OneDrive/SharePoint)
  • Open the details pane for the file and scroll down to the bottom to the "Path" section and click the icon. This copies the absolute URL (just the straight up path - no garbage included) to the file
  • Repeat as necessary until you have up to 3 file paths copied
• Go to your Copilot prompt and type what you want to happen with the files you are about to reference from your clipboard (summarize, rewrite, create new file based on.....)
• Within that same prompt, hold down the windows button and press "V"
  • This will bring up your clipboard history (if you followed the 1st step above correctly)
  • Now you can paste in the URLs of the files you want to reference
  • You will know the files were found/accepted after you hit the space bar as the URL will resolve into a hyperlink with the title of the file
  • 3 files is currently the max you can reference in one prompt

Yes this is a bit manual - however I see no other way to reference a file if it doesn't show up in the prefetch window or when you start typing the name of the file.

Update!

After you go through the steps above, when you come back later....typing out the file name seems to work. I guess there is some caching going on.

Good luck and please let us know if this works for you!