File explorer

Files is the SoAI WebUI workspace browser. It shows the workspace assigned to the signed-in account and does not expose the host's whole file system. Paths in Files are relative to that workspace. Use the page to organize files, inspect supported content, and prepare files for a chat.

Open your workspace

  1. Select Files in the sidebar.
  2. Open a folder to enter it. Use Previous location, Next location, Up one level, or Navigate to root. Select Edit current path, enter a known workspace path, then select Go.
  3. Use Sort files to sort by name, type, size, or modified time. Use List view or Icon view to change the layout.
  4. Type in Search files and folders... to search from the folder you are viewing.

Open a file to inspect it. Text files open in an editable preview. Images, audio, and video use the matching in-app viewer when the browser supports the format. Other files, including documents, open a file panel where you can download or attach them.

View images

Pinch or use the mouse wheel to zoom around the point you are viewing, then drag to inspect a magnified image. Zooming out returns to the fitted image size. A pinch can stretch slightly beyond the zoom limits before settling back, and a released touch drag slows naturally. Double-tap or double-click to switch between fitted and original size; an image that already fits at original size zooms to 200% instead.

When an image is fitted, swipe horizontally to move through the images in the current folder, or swipe downward to close the preview. Short swipes return to the current image. You can also use the previous and next buttons or the left and right arrow keys, and press Escape to close. The image position, metadata, and download and attach actions follow the displayed image. Reduced-motion preferences disable momentum and animated settling.

Create, upload, and edit files

Select Add and choose Create folder, Create file, Upload files, or Upload folder. Creating a file opens an editable text preview. Saving a text preview writes its content back to the workspace. You can also change the file title before saving. These actions require Files writing (FILE_EXPLORER_WRITE); Upload folder also requires Files administration (FILE_EXPLORER_ADMIN).

Uploads do not replace existing entries; choose another name or destination. A batch can partly complete, and cancellation can leave saved files. Review individual results before retrying. If the final state is uncertain, check the destination and delete unwanted retained files through the normal controls. See Recover file uploads and attachment reads.

If the listing or preview cannot refresh after a save, refresh the view; the content remains saved. A failed rename leaves that content at its original path, as reported in the preview.

Work with a selection

Select Select, then choose one or more files or folders. The action bar changes with the selection.

Control When it appears Result
Attach One or more selected entries Copies a SoAI file link token. Paste that token into a SoAI chat conversation to use the file as context.
Copy or Move One or more selected entries Lets you browse to a destination. Select Copy here or Move here to start the operation.
Delete One or more selected entries Deletes one item after confirmation. Batch deletion runs as a tracked task.
Download One or more selected entries Downloads one file directly or prepares the selected set for download.
Info One or more selected entries Shows path, type, size, modified time, permissions, MIME type, and a stored SHA-256 value when one is available. It shows - otherwise.
Rename Exactly one selected entry Prompts for a new leaf name.

Batch copy, move, and delete operations appear in the Files page Tasks card. Expand that card to check progress and the task identifier. For the header task panel and its cancellation controls, see Tasks and notifications.

Closing Files does not cancel accepted work. Use task cancellation to stop it, then review the final result; completed deletions remain in effect. Refresh the folder before repeating a deletion whose result is uncertain. If another application holds a file open, close it before retrying.

Workspace limits and access

An Administrator with Configuration changes (CONFIG_PATCH) selects the Settings button at the right of the header, then Settings, selects the page-header Advanced toggle, then selects Data. Select the page-header Save control after editing. The service can be disabled with DATA.FILE_EXPLORER.ENABLED. By default, SoAI rejects symlinks in the workspace; administrators can review DATA.FILE_EXPLORER.ALLOW_SYMLINKS before changing that policy.

The Files sidebar requires Files reading (FILE_EXPLORER_READ). Creating and editing entries, uploading individual files, and copying, moving, or deleting one entry require Files writing (FILE_EXPLORER_WRITE). Folder uploads and multi-item copy, move, or delete operations also require Files administration (FILE_EXPLORER_ADMIN). The API hash task requires Files hashing (FILE_EXPLORER_HASH) as well as read access. An Administrator with ACL administration (ACL_ADMIN) manages these permissions in Settings > ACL.

Archive downloads are limited by DATA.FILE_EXPLORER.MAX_DOWNLOAD_ARCHIVE_SIZE_MB and DATA.FILE_EXPLORER.MAX_DOWNLOAD_ARCHIVE_MEMBERS. Text previews use DATA.FILE_EXPLORER.TEXT_PREVIEW_LIMIT_KB, and list pages use DATA.FILE_EXPLORER.LISTING_PAGINATION_LIMIT.

File Explorer API

Scripts can use the authenticated /api/v1/file-explorer API in the same assigned workspace. The API provides directory listing, metadata, reads, search, text writes, folder creation, uploads, downloads, previews, single and batch copy or move, and single and batch deletion. POST /api/v1/file-explorer/hash starts a SHA-256 task for a path. The WebUI shows a SHA-256 field in Info, but it does not request a hash or expose a separate Hash command.

For chat attachments and file context, see Attachments and file context. Agent file and shell tools are documented separately in File and shell tools.

Related documentation