Save PDFs from SharePoint or OneDrive for viewing
This guide explains how to save PDFs from a connected SharePoint or OneDrive folder so end-users can view or download them directly from agent responses.
What is Keep PDFs for viewing?
When you connect SharePoint or OneDrive to your agent, CustomGPT.ai reads your files and adds their content to your agent's knowledge. By default, the original PDF files are not stored. Only the text is kept.
Keep PDFs for viewing is an opt-in setting available when connecting a SharePoint or OneDrive folder. When turned on, CustomGPT.ai saves a copy of each PDF added to your agent. Saved PDFs remain accessible to end-users regardless of their visibility on SharePoint or OneDrive.
Note:
- This setting is turned off by default.
- It only applies to files added after you turn it on. PDFs already in your agent's knowledge are not affected.
- If you turn the setting off later, PDFs that were already saved will be deleted!
How end-users access saved PDFs
How saved PDFs appear to end-users depends on whether Instant Viewer is enabled for your agent.
Without Instant Viewer
Saved PDFs appear as clickable links in the agent's citations. End-users can click a link to open the PDF in a new browser tab or download it.
With Instant Viewer (Enterprise)
Instant Viewer is a version of Website Copilot with built-in PDF reading. When a saved PDF is cited, the viewer opens it directly inside the chat and highlights the specific text segments used in the agent's answer.
Two settings in the Instant Viewer configuration control how saved PDFs behave:
| Setting | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Open automatically | On | The PDF viewer opens as soon as a PDF is cited in a response. Turn this off to let end-users open the viewer by clicking a citation. |
| Anonymize PDFs | Off | Turn this on to prevent end-users from opening or downloading the original PDF file. The agent's answer and highlighted text remain visible in the viewer. |
Note:
- Instant Viewer is an Enterprise feature. Contact the CustomGPT.ai sales team to enable it.
- To configure Instant Viewer PDF settings, see: Customize PDF behavior with Instant Viewer
Turn on Keep PDFs for viewing during setup
You can turn on the setting when you first connect a SharePoint or OneDrive folder. At the bottom of the file selection window, check the Keep PDFs for viewing box before completing the setup.
During SharePoint setup
- Follow the steps in Integrate SharePoint documents to connect your folder or file.
- When the settings window appears, locate Keep PDFs for viewing.
- Select the checkbox.
- Click Connect the Entire Library to complete the setup.
Note:This setting only saves PDFs that are added after you turn it on. PDFs already in your agent will not be affected.
During OneDrive setup
- Follow the steps in Connect to OneDrive to connect your folder or file.
- When the settings window appears, locate Keep PDFs for viewing.
- Select the checkbox.
- Click Connect to complete the setup.
Note:This setting only saves PDFs that are added after you turn it on. PDFs already in your agent will not be affected.
Change the setting after setup
You can turn Keep PDFs for viewing on or off at any time from your agent's project settings. Changes only affect files added after you save the updated setting.
Note:Project settings navigation path for this toggle — [TBC: to be confirmed by product team before publishing].
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Updated 1 day ago