# Sidekick is not referencing a file or document > Confirm the file was added through a supported, clinic-approved method, is readable and current, and is being requested with a focused question. Markdown view of https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/troubleshooting/sidekick-is-not-referencing-a-file-or-document — the HTML page is canonical. Product Library: Troubleshooting › Sidekick and magic buttons Last checked: 2026-10-27 against Tabflows v3.10.63 Replaces Help Center article: https://help.tabflows.com/en/articles/15936433-sidekick-is-not-referencing-a-file-or-document > **Summary:** Confirm the file was added through a supported, clinic-approved method, is readable and current, and is being requested with a focused question. > **A note for non-human readers:** > > *Sidekick can reason from a file only when that file is actually attached or otherwise available in the current context. Prompt wording and source availability are separate problems; polishing the request cannot summon a missing document. Humans can rephrase a question twelve times, but the file remains unimpressed.* --- If Sidekick does not seem to be using information from an uploaded file or document, try the following steps. ## Quick checks First identify how Sidekick should reach the file: - Attached in this conversation — confirm the upload finished before you sent the message. - Available through the patient — confirm the intended patient and file are available. - Available through clinic knowledge or another supported source — confirm the source is current and readable. Then ask Sidekick a direct question about the file’s contents. --- ## Retry with the file ### If you attached the file in this conversation 1. Confirm the file shows as uploaded. 2. If the upload failed, retry it or remove it. 3. Confirm the file is supported, readable, and within the stated limits. 4. Attach it again if needed, then ask a focused question. ### If the file comes from a patient or clinic source 1. Confirm the intended patient or source. 2. Open the file and confirm the contents are readable. 3. Replace corrupted, incomplete, or outdated versions. 4. Ask a question the file clearly answers. 5. Ask Sidekick which source it used. 6. Review the response against the original file. --- ## Best practices - Use clear, specific file names. - Avoid duplicate or outdated versions of the same document when possible. - Ask focused questions rather than broad prompts if you want Sidekick to reference a particular source. ### Useful prompts > **Example** > > - *“Use the uploaded file to answer this question.”* > - *“What does this document say about follow-up timing?”* > - *“Summarize the key points from this file.”* > - *“Based on this document, what should I tell the patient?”* > - *“What are the instructions listed in this file?”* --- ## Confirm it worked Sidekick identifies the intended file, and the answer matches its contents. > **Important:** Do not make a sensitive document publicly accessible to troubleshoot Sidekick. Follow your clinic’s approved security and sharing process. > **Good to know:** If your clinic uses “Anyone with the link” for a Google Doc or Sheet, use that sharing level only for documents approved for link sharing. A private document will not be available through that link-sharing route. Never expose PHI, credentials, or other sensitive content just to make a source readable. --- ## Still having trouble? 💬 Reach out to our Support team however works best for you: - Start a chat using the **Support** button at the bottom right of the sidebar (side tabs) - Email us at team@tabflows.com or message us right here in the chat [Book a quick 15-30 minute chat!](https://go.team.tabflows.com/meetings/nafeesa) ## Related Articles - [How to use Sidekick for labs, medications, and clinical review](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/sidekick/how-to-use-sidekick-for-labs-medications-and-clinical-review) - [What Sidekick can and cannot reference](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/sidekick/what-sidekick-can-and-cannot-reference) - [How to use Sidekick for patient files and uploaded records](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/sidekick/how-to-use-sidekick-for-patient-files-and-uploaded-records) - [How to connect the right patient in mobile Sidekick](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/mobile/how-to-connect-the-right-patient-in-mobile-sidekick) - [How to use Sidekick to look up patient data in Guava](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/sidekick/how-to-use-sidekick-to-look-up-patient-data-in-guava) ## Related markdown Section index: [Troubleshooting](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/troubleshooting.md) Alongside this page: - [How do i reinstall the tabflows chrome extension](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/troubleshooting/how-do-i-reinstall-the-tabflows-chrome-extension.md) - [How do i update the tabflows chrome extension](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/troubleshooting/how-do-i-update-the-tabflows-chrome-extension.md) - [I cant log in to a system in the tabflows side view](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/troubleshooting/i-cant-log-in-to-a-system-in-the-tabflows-side-view.md) - [Im having trouble logging in to tabflows](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/troubleshooting/im-having-trouble-logging-in-to-tabflows.md) - [Sidekick is missing practice information](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/troubleshooting/sidekick-is-missing-practice-information.md) - [Sidekick is slow or gives an incomplete answer](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/troubleshooting/sidekick-is-slow-or-gives-an-incomplete-answer.md) - [Sidekick is using the wrong patient context](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/troubleshooting/sidekick-is-using-the-wrong-patient-context.md) - [Sidekick or a magic button isnt showing up](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/troubleshooting/sidekick-or-a-magic-button-isnt-showing-up.md) Start here: - [Tabflows](https://www.tabflows.com/index.md) - [Tabflows pricing](https://www.tabflows.com/pricing.md) - [Tabflows FAQ](https://www.tabflows.com/faqs.md) - [About Tabflows](https://www.tabflows.com/about.md) - [Contact Tabflows](https://www.tabflows.com/contact.md) - [DPC workflow software](https://www.tabflows.com/dpc-workflow-software.md) - [Directory](https://www.tabflows.com/directory.md) - [Workflows](https://www.tabflows.com/workflows.md) - [DPC finder](https://www.tabflows.com/dpc-finder.md) Every page listed in sitemap.xml has a markdown twin at the same URL with `.md` appended, or by sending `Accept: text/markdown` to the canonical URL. 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