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File Readers understand how your files are formatted and extract data to use in automations. They process different document types and transform unstructured content into structured information that can be used throughout your workflow.

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File Reader Types

Elementum provides specialized File Readers for different document formats and use cases:

Text File Reader

Extract raw text from images, text documents, and PDFs using OCR technology

Purchase Orders Reader

Process purchase orders with OCR trained specifically on PO fields and formats

Table File Reader

Read Excel and CSV files with support for thousands of rows and multiple sheets

Elementum Intelligence Reader

AI-powered document analysis for complex text, image, and PDF documents

JSON File Reader

Parse JSON data with AI-assisted field detection and automatic type mapping

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How File Readers Work

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Integration with Automations

File Readers are used within automation workflows to process documents when specific events occur: 
Document Uploaded → File Reader Processes → Structured Data → Automation Actions
Example Workflow:
  1. Email Received trigger fires with PDF attachment
  2. File Reader action processes the PDF
  3. Create Record action uses extracted data
  4. Send Email Notification confirms processing

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Processing Pipeline

1

File Input

Documents are uploaded or received through triggers like Email Received or Attachment Added
2

Content Extraction

File Reader analyzes the document using OCR, AI, or structured parsing
3

Data Mapping

Extracted information is mapped to defined fields with appropriate data types
4

Automation Integration

Structured data flows into subsequent automation actions

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Choosing the Right File Reader

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By Document Type

Text-Based Documents
  • Text File Reader: Simple OCR extraction
  • Elementum Intelligence: AI-powered analysis with custom prompts
Structured Business Documents
  • Purchase Orders Reader: Specialized for PO processing
  • Elementum Intelligence: Custom business document analysis
Data Files
  • Table File Reader: Excel and CSV processing
  • JSON File Reader: JSON data parsing

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By Use Case

Document Processing Automation 
PDF Invoice → Purchase Orders Reader → Create Record → Start Approval Process
Data Import Workflows 
CSV Upload → Table File Reader → Transform Data → Update Records
Intelligent Document Analysis 
Contract PDF → Elementum Intelligence Reader → Extract Key Terms → Create Alerts

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File Reader Configuration

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Basic Setup

  1. Navigate to File Readers in your application
  2. Click + File Reader to create a new reader
  3. Select Document Type based on your needs
  4. Configure Fields to extract required information
  5. Test with Sample Data to validate extraction

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Field Configuration

All File Readers support configuring fields for extraction:
Available across all reader types:
  • Text - String values
  • Number - Integer values
  • Decimal - Floating point numbers
  • Date - Date values with format detection
  • Boolean - True/false values
Specific to certain reader types:
  • Address - Structured address information
  • Phone - Phone number formatting
  • Email - Email validation
  • Currency - Monetary values

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Testing and Validation

Always test File Readers with sample documents before using in production automations. This ensures accurate field extraction and proper data mapping.

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Common Integration Patterns

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Document Processing Workflow

Automate document handling from receipt to completion: 
Email Received → File Reader → AI Classification → Create Record → Route for Approval

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Data Import Pipeline

Process batch data uploads systematically: 
File Upload → Table File Reader → Transform Data → Validate → Update Records

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Intelligent Document Analysis

Extract insights from complex documents: 
Document Upload → Elementum Intelligence Reader → AI Summarization → Create Insights

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Best Practices

Choose the Right Reader

Select specialized readers for better accuracy - Purchase Orders Reader for POs, Table Reader for spreadsheets

Test with Real Data

Use actual business documents during testing to ensure accurate field extraction

Validate Field Types

Ensure extracted data types match your automation requirements

Handle Errors Gracefully

Use IF conditions in automations to handle missing or invalid data

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Advanced Features

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Multi-Sheet Processing

Table File Readers can process multiple Excel sheets:
  • Configure field mapping across sheets
  • Use cell references for dynamic data
  • Handle complex workbook structures

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AI-Powered Analysis

Elementum Intelligence Readers provide:
  • Custom system prompts for specific extraction needs
  • Multimodal AI support (text, images, PDFs)
  • Advanced field detection and validation

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Batch Processing

Process multiple documents efficiently:
  • Use Repeat For Each actions for document batches
  • Configure error handling for failed extractions
  • Implement progress tracking for large volumes

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Error Handling

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Common Issues and Solutions

Symptoms: Inaccurate text extraction from images or PDFsSolutions:
  • Use higher resolution source documents
  • Consider Elementum Intelligence Reader for better accuracy
  • Implement validation checks in automations
Symptoms: Expected fields return empty valuesSolutions:
  • Verify field names match document structure
  • Test with multiple sample documents
  • Use IF conditions to handle missing data
Symptoms: Data type mismatches in automation actionsSolutions:
  • Review field type configurations
  • Use Transform Data actions for type conversion
  • Implement data validation steps

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Getting Started

To begin using File Readers in your automations:
1

Identify Document Types

Determine what types of documents you need to process
2

Select Appropriate Readers

Choose the right File Reader type for each document format
3

Configure and Test

Set up field extraction and test with sample documents
4

Integrate with Automations

Add File Reader actions to your automation workflows

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Next Steps

Automation System

Learn how to integrate File Readers with automation workflows

AI Services

Configure AI providers for Elementum Intelligence File Readers

Best Practices

Follow proven patterns for document processing workflows

Troubleshooting

Get help with common File Reader issues
File Readers transform your documents into structured data that powers intelligent automation workflows. Choose the right reader type for your documents and integrate them seamlessly with your business processes.
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