File Attachments

Overview#

Artifi's attachment system lets you attach files -- invoices, receipts, contracts, photos -- to any entity type through natural conversations with Claude. The system combines AI-powered content extraction with frictionless file uploads, making all document content immediately searchable.

Key Features#

• AI-First: Claude analyzes documents and extracts text, amounts, dates, and metadata automatically
• Universal: The same attachment pattern works across bills, invoices, assets, expenses, journals, and more
• Two-Path Upload: Metadata is captured immediately; the original file can be uploaded asynchronously via a simple link
• Searchable: Full-text search across all extracted content and metadata

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How It Works#

The attachment flow is designed around immediate value and minimal friction:

User uploads a file to Claude
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Claude analyzes the document (vision/OCR)
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Claude creates the transaction + attachment with extracted metadata
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Claude generates a temporary upload link for the original file
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User clicks the link and uploads (no login required)
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Original file stored securely; attachment record updated

Why This Pattern?#

1. Immediate value -- Claude extracts all content right away, making it searchable before the original file is even uploaded
2. No friction -- The upload link requires no login; just click and drop
3. Async upload -- Users can upload the original file at their convenience
4. Complete audit trail -- Both the extracted content and the original file are preserved

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Supported Entity Types#

Attachment Types#

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Attachment Operations#

Create Attachment#

Create an attachment record linked to any entity. Claude typically handles this automatically when processing a document, capturing:

• Entity type and ID (what the attachment is linked to)
• File name and content type
• Extracted text (from OCR or document analysis)
• Extracted amounts (totals, tax, subtotals)
• Extracted metadata (vendor name, invoice number, dates)
• Attachment type and descriptive tags

Generate Upload Link#

After creating the attachment record, a temporary upload link is generated:

• Time-limited (default 15 minutes, maximum 60 minutes)
• Single-use (deleted after successful upload)
• Bound to the specific attachment record
• No authentication required -- just click and upload

Confirm Upload#

After the file is uploaded, the attachment record is updated with:

• File size and content hash (SHA256 verification)
• Storage location
• Confirmation status

Delete Attachment#

Attachments can be soft-deleted, with an option to also remove the file from storage.

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Upload Link Security#

Upload links are designed to be secure while remaining frictionless:

• Token-based access -- Links use cryptographically secure tokens (32 bytes)
• Time-limited -- Tokens expire after a configurable period (default 15 minutes)
• Single-use -- Each token is deleted after a successful upload
• Entity-bound -- Tokens are tied to a specific attachment record

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Searchable Content#

All content extracted by Claude is searchable across your organization:

This means you can search for an invoice by vendor name, amount, date, or any text that appeared in the document -- without needing to open or download the original file.

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Example: Complete Invoice Flow#

User uploads invoice.pdf to Claude

Claude responds:

I've analyzed the invoice from Acme Corporation:

• Invoice #: INV-2025-001
• Amount: $5,432.10
• Due Date: February 14, 2025

I've created AP invoice #AP-0123 and captured all the details.

To attach the original PDF, click here: [Upload Link] (expires in 15 minutes, no login required)

User clicks the link and uploads the file.

Result:

• All invoice content is searchable immediately
• The original PDF is preserved in secure storage
• A complete audit trail is maintained

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Storage#

Files are stored in Cloudflare R2, organized by organization, entity, and entity type. Storage costs are minimal:

A typical small business can expect approximately $0.22/month in attachment storage costs.

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Best Practices#

1. Always extract content -- Let Claude analyze every document for text, amounts, dates, and metadata before attaching
2. Create the attachment record first -- Capture extracted content immediately, then generate the upload link
3. Provide the upload link -- Always give users the option to attach the original file
4. Use descriptive tags -- Tags make it easier to filter and find attachments later
5. Include clear instructions -- Let users know the link expires and no login is required