LatentWorkUsing LatentWork
Prompts and attachments
Everything you ask starts in the message box at the bottom of a task. Attach files, point at files in the workspace, run commands and skills, and steer the agent while it works.
Write a task
Type what you want in the message box (Describe your task...) and press Enter or select Run task. Shift+Enter starts a new line.
Good tasks say what to produce and where:
- Summarize the attached contract in one page and save it as contract-summary.md.
- Rename every photo in this folder to its date, like 2026-03-14-001.jpg.
- Read sales.xlsx and make a slide deck of the five biggest changes since last quarter.
The agent works in the task's workspace folder. When it creates a file, it tells you the path so you can open it; see Files, artifacts and the browser.
Long pasted text collapses into a chip such as Pasted · 12 lines. The full text is sent.
Attach files
Attach files to a message in any of these ways:
- Select the paperclip (Attach files) and choose files.
- Drag files onto the message box.
- Paste an image or file from the clipboard.
- To add a whole folder, select Upload a folder next to the paperclip, or drag one folder onto the message box. See Upload a folder.
Attached files show as chips above the message. Select Remove on a chip to take it off. You can attach up to 8 files per message; extra files are left out with a warning.
While attached PDFs are being prepared for the agent, a Preparing N files… row shows under your message. It goes away once the agent starts on the task.
| Type | Extensions | Size limit |
|---|---|---|
| 100 MB | ||
| Images | .png .jpg .jpeg .gif .webp .bmp .svg .avif .heic .tif .tiff .ico | 25 MB |
| Word | .docx | 25 MB |
| Excel | .xlsx .xls | 25 MB |
| CSV and TSV | .csv .tsv | 10 MB |
| Text and code | .txt .md .json .yaml .html .css .py .js .ts .sql and many more | 5 MB |
Text taken from a single file is limited to 200,000 characters. Anything beyond that is cut off, and the model is told the file was truncated.
Files that can't be attached
These are refused when you attach them, with a message saying what to do instead:
| Files | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| .pptx .ppt .pptm (PowerPoint) | Export to PDF and attach that. |
| .doc .docm (older Word) | Save as .docx. |
| .rtf | Save as .docx. |
| .odt .ods .odp (OpenDocument) | Save as .docx, .xlsx or PDF. |
| .key .numbers .pages (Apple iWork) | Export to PDF or an Office format. |
Other unknown types are refused with .xyz files aren't supported yet. Files with no extension are refused unless they're a well-known text file such as README or LICENSE.
Delete an attached document
LatentWork keeps a copy of each document you attach so the agent can read it. To delete that copy after sending, hover over the attachment's chip in the conversation, select the bin (Delete …), and confirm. The agent can no longer read the document. The chip stays in the conversation but no longer opens.
Page references in PDF answers
When Cite pages from attached PDFs is on in Settings → LatentRouter, answers taken from an attached PDF include a reference to the page used. Clicking it opens the PDF at that page in the side panel. Your organization's administrator has to allow it first.
Upload a folder
To give the agent a whole folder of documents, select Upload a folder (the folder button next to the paperclip) and choose a folder, or drag one folder onto the message box.
- The folder is copied into the workspace at
uploads/<folder name>, with its subfolders kept. If that name is already taken, a number is added, such asuploads/reports-2. - The folder isn't attached to your message, so the 8-attachment limit doesn't apply. Ask the agent about its files by name or path, for example "Summarize every PDF in uploads/reports".
- Common dependency, build and system folders and files, such as .git, node_modules, build output and .DS_Store, are skipped.
- Drop one folder at a time.
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Files per folder | 5,000 |
| Total size | 200 MB |
| Size of one file | 100 MB |
While it uploads, a notice shows Uploading X of N files…. Select Cancel to stop. The upload is all or nothing: if any file fails, nothing is saved and you can try again.
If some file names can't be stored in the workspace, Some files can't be uploaded lists them with the reason. Select Cancel to rename them first, or Upload the other N to upload the folder without them. For other messages, see Troubleshooting.
Mention files with @
Type @ to mention a file from the workspace. Keep typing to search; the list shows up to 8 matches, including files you used recently. Use ↑ ↓ and Enter or Tab to insert one, or Esc to close the list.
Commands and skills
Type / in an empty message box to list commands and skills. Keep typing to filter. Choosing a command inserts it, such as /compact; choosing a skill inserts a skill chip, and the agent follows that skill for the task.
| Built-in command | What it does |
|---|---|
| /compact | Summarizes the task so far to free up context. Use it when the context meter warns you. Needs a task with messages. |
The plug button (Commands, skills, and MCPs) opens the same things as a menu with four tabs:
| Tab | Shows |
|---|---|
| Commands | Commands available in this workspace. |
| Skills | Installed skills. Choosing one inserts it into your message. |
| Extensions | Enabled built-in extensions. Choosing one starts your message for you, for example "Use the LatentWork Browser extension to ". |
| MCPs | Apps connected to this workspace and their status. |
Configure in that menu opens the matching settings page. See Apps, skills and extensions.
While the agent is working
You can keep typing while the agent works. What happens to the message depends on the button you choose:
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| Steer | Sends now and lets the agent adjust mid-task. |
| Queue | Sends once the agent finishes the current task. The button shows how many are waiting, such as 2 queued, and the waiting messages are listed above the message box, where you can remove them. |
| Stop | Stops the agent. |
Pressing Enter while the agent is working doesn't send: the Steer and Queue buttons shake to remind you to pick one. Pressing Esc shows Hit Escape again to stop the agent; press it again within 3 seconds to stop.
Controls under the message box
| Control | What it sets |
|---|---|
| Model | The model this task uses. Its button shows the model name. |
| Organization | Which organization the task runs under. Shown only if your key belongs to more than one. |
| Teams | The team whose model list and limits apply, or No team. Shows the team's name once you pick one. |
| Behavior | Model variants such as reasoning effort. Shown only when the model offers them. |
They can't be changed while the agent is working. See Models, teams and usage.