> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.elementum.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # File Reader Overview > Transform documents and data files into structured information for your automation workflows 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. **Maximum File Size**: File Readers can process files up to **250MB** in size. This limit applies to all file types and reader types. Processing time may vary based on file size and complexity. ## File Reader Types Elementum provides specialized File Readers for different document formats and use cases: Extract raw text from images, text documents, and PDFs using OCR technology Process purchase orders with OCR trained specifically on PO fields and formats Read Excel and CSV files with support for thousands of rows and multiple sheets AI-powered document analysis for complex text, image, and PDF documents Parse JSON data with AI-assisted field detection and automatic type mapping ## How File Readers Work ### Integration with Automations File Readers are used within [automation workflows](/workflows/automation-system) 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 ### Processing Pipeline Documents are uploaded or received through triggers like Email Received or Attachment Added File Reader analyzes the document using OCR, AI, or structured parsing Extracted information is mapped to defined fields with appropriate data types Structured data flows into subsequent automation actions ## Choose the Right File Reader **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 **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 ``` **Need flexible, prompt-driven analysis instead of fixed field extraction?** If your documents vary in structure or you need summarization, classification, or open-ended reasoning, consider using [Run Agent Task](/workflows/agent-task-automation#file-inputs) with a multimodal agent instead of a File Reader. File Readers are best when you need the same named fields extracted consistently from every document. ## Performance Comparison | Feature | Text File Reader | Elementum Intelligence | Purchase Orders | | --------------- | ---------------- | ---------------------- | --------------- | | **Speed** | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | **Accuracy** | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | **Flexibility** | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | | **Cost** | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ## File Reader Configuration ### Basic Setup 1. **Navigate to File Readers** in your App 2. **Click + File Reader** to create a new reader 3. Enter a **name** 4. **Select Document Type** based on your needs 5. Follow the steps for File Reader setup (uploading a file, configuring fields, etc.) 6. **Test with Sample data** to validate accuracy **Always test File Readers** with sample documents before using in production automations. This ensures accurate field extraction and proper data mapping. ### 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 ## Common Integration Patterns Automate document handling from receipt to completion: ``` Email Received → File Reader → AI Classification → Create Record → Route for Approval ``` Process batch data uploads systematically: ``` File Upload → Table File Reader → Transform Data → Validate → Update Records ``` Extract insights from complex documents: ``` Document Upload → Elementum Intelligence Reader → AI Summarization → Create Insights ``` ## 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. ## Advanced Features Table File Readers can process multiple Excel sheets: * Configure field mapping across sheets * Use cell references for dynamic data * Handle complex workbook structures Elementum Intelligence Readers provide: * Custom system prompts for specific extraction needs * Multimodal AI support (text, images, PDFs) * Advanced field detection and validation Process multiple documents efficiently: * Use **Repeat For Each** actions for document batches * Configure error handling for failed extractions * Implement progress tracking for large volumes ## Error Handling ### Common Issues and Solutions **Symptoms**: Inaccurate text extraction from images or PDFs **Solutions**: * Use higher resolution source documents * Consider Elementum Intelligence Reader for better accuracy * Implement validation checks in automations **Symptoms**: Expected fields return empty values **Solutions**: * Verify field names match document structure * Test with multiple sample documents * Use IF conditions to handle missing data **Symptoms**: Data type mismatches in automation actions **Solutions**: * Review field type configurations * Use Transform Data actions for type conversion * Implement data validation steps ## Next Steps Learn how to integrate File Readers with automation workflows Configure AI providers for Elementum Intelligence File Readers Follow proven patterns for document processing workflows 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.*