Forum Discussion
Using Files with Copilot
I am relatively new to the Microsoft 365 license for Copilot but I have quite a bit of training on ChatGPT 4, which, I believe, is the engine behind Copilot. When I tried to upload a file by clicking on the paperclip icon, I got a very limited list of files to choose from, rather than the ability to browse for any file that I had. After playing around for a while and opening, closing and moving some files, the file I wanted finally appeared on the list. This is very limiting.
As I said, I am new at this version of Copilot and it may just be a setting that I missed and need to adjust. Is anyone else experiencing the same?
- This has been a very common experience - as a work around, hopefully just for now, you can grab the file's URL and add it to the chat.
Digging a little deeper, I found that while using the "Work" tab in co-pilot is where I get the limited list of files to choose from. However, if I switch to the "Web" tab, I get access to my complete Windows Explorer file structure. It is as if the "Work" tab offers up recent files and the "Web" tab offers up all of my files.
I believe the "Work" tab, when generating output, will search across all Microsoft 365 files. I'm not sure if there is a hard demarcation between "Work" and "Web" or if they overlap to some degree.
- Hello
There are two main functionalities for uploading files in Microsoft Copilot, and it sounds like you might be encountering a quirk with one:
Copilot for Security: This version allows uploading files for security analysis. Here, the list you see might be limited due to security restrictions. The files might need to be in a specific location or meet certain criteria to show up.
Copilot Studio (Generative Answers): This version allows uploading files as a data source for generating responses in your Copilot conversations. Here, you should be able to browse any file on your device using drag-and-drop or clicking "Browse."Sajjad Thanks, how can I tell which version of Copilot I have, Copilot for Security or Copilot Studio? For that matter, how many Copilot versions are there? I know there was a free version that was very restricted, there is a version for Teams, there is the Microsoft 365 version.
My company is rolling it out slowly and I would like to have the capabilities I have away from work with full license versions of ChatGPT and Perplexity- Hello Bill,
There are actually five main versions of Copilot offered by Microsoft:
Free Copilot: This is the most basic version with limited features. It's available for anyone using Windows, Microsoft Edge, or the Bing website.
Copilot Pro: This paid version offers more features than the free tier and is also available to everyone using Windows, Microsoft Edge, or Bing. There's a monthly subscription fee for this version.
Copilot 365: This version is designed for Microsoft 365 subscribers and requires an additional monthly subscription on top of the existing 365 plan. It offers features that integrate with Microsoft 365 applications.
Copilot for Sales: This specialized version is not for coding assistance but helps with sales activities like lead scoring and deal tracking. It requires a separate subscription and often comes bundled with Copilot for Microsoft 365.
Copilot for Security: This version is also specialized, geared towards security analysts to help them identify threats and improve response times. Similar to Copilot for Sales, it has a separate subscription fee.
Bill,
I believe this is simply a feature that has not been fully implemented in this Preview version of Copilot for 365. It appears that the file list is "Most Recently Used" but the algorithm for this is very confusing. It should simply default to the home of your "My Files" and show that same collection of files and folders and allow you to navigate, but it does not.
MS if you are monitoring these posts please review how the file handling is done and make it a more robust and natural experience.- Bill you are not missing anything. Marketing team is several months ahead of tech teams. They make it seem like Copilot accesses all of your sharepoint files, but it doesn't (at least not for me). I have to go through hoops to open and close files to make them up in the limited menu, often it is only 3 files listed. This is frankly bizarre that someone thought this was a feature that could be released.
- Agree. I fully understand what a Preview means, but it is really incumbent on Microsoft to fully detail the roadmap and to explain what is implemented right now, how it works (or doesn't work) and what we can expect when the initial gold release is made. And Rob this applies to the entire spectrum of files we would want to access in our CoPilots: local attached storage, OneDrive files as well as ShareFile. Microsoft needs to step up and explain this ASAP.
- Rob, I think I have managed a limited workaround along the lines you are suggesting. I will open the file, save it to another location, maybe rename it, and then click the paper clip again, and it may appear.
- Yes, I do something like that too. Asinine! The Copilot Studio is really just an evolution of the Virtual Agent, which may be a fine bot building program, but for someone trying to build a company specific AI tool, it is massively over complicated. I am still not clear if it is accessing my Sharepoint or not -- I added it as a source. ChatGPT is light years easier to understand and implement. Oh my.
- If you grab the Share URL from the file in Explorer -> OneDrive or the upper right hand menu of the file, you can paste that into the Copilot window for use. Do not try to use Copilot to generate a new document based on a template. That is not something Copilot 365 can do.
- What are 2-3 things CoPilot CAN do that is specific to us being deep in the Microsoft ecosystem?
Copilot offers several benefits within the Microsoft ecosystem:
- Direct Access: Access Microsoft specific APIs and services directly from your code, streamlining development for familiar Microsoft tools.
- Azure Integration: Integrate with Azure cloud services for tasks like machine learning, expanding the capabilities of your applications.
- Enhanced IDE: Leverage IntelliSense for code completion within the VS Code IDE, boosting your coding efficiency within the familiar development environment.
- Has anyone gotten use out of CoPilot and sharepoint files?
- Bill, I don't think you are missing anything. The default list shown after clicking the paperclip icon, or typing "/" is from your Recently Used list of files. You can, however, start typing part of the file name and that list will refresh to show files it thinks you are looking for.
One technique I have used when I want a specific file, but have failed to get it to show in that list, is to use the "Share" feature of Word, PowerPoint, or Excel, to get a URL to the file. Then I put that URL in the request to CoPilot for Microsoft 365's "Work" request.DanRNeumann I found a workaround similar to what another person suggested. Go to file manager and right click on the file you want CoPilot to use and chose "Copy as path", then paste that into CoPilot box with your instructions. CoPilot seems to be able to access the file that way.
Why drag and drop or browse is not an option is mind boggling but at least I can get to use the files of my choice now.
