Reference files and Skills in a message

What is this?

You can point Pave Agent at exactly what you want it to use, right from the chat box:

• Type @ to reference a file from your file library. Pave Agent opens the file before it answers.
• Type / to use a specific Skill. Pave Agent loads that Skill before it starts on your message.

The chat box reminds you of both: Ask about your compensation data, @ for context, / for skills.

You do not have to reference anything. Pave Agent still picks the relevant Skill from your question and can find files in your library on its own. Referencing removes the guesswork when you already know what it should use.

Reference a file with @

1. In the chat box, type @ at the start of your message or after a space.
2. Start typing the file name to filter the list.
3. Select the file, or use the arrow keys and press Enter or Tab.

[Screenshot: The @ menu open above the chat box, listing files with file-type icons]

The list shows the files in your file library, newest first: files you uploaded and files Pave Agent created and saved, including files shared with your company. If you have more than one file with the same name, only the newest one appears.

The file appears in your message as a green chip with a file icon. To remove it, press Backspace right after it, or hover over the chip and select it.

When you send the message, Pave Agent opens each referenced file before it answers.

"Compare our merit increases to the budget in @2026 merit guidelines.pdf"

Use a Skill with /

1. In the chat box, type / at the start of your message or after a space.
2. Start typing the Skill's name to filter the list. Each Skill shows its title and description.
3. Select the Skill, or use the arrow keys and press Enter or Tab.

[Screenshot: The / menu open above the chat box, with a Skill's details card showing "By Pave" and its description]

Hover over a Skill in the list to see its full description and whether it is By Pave or By your company.

The Skill appears in your message as a blue chip. To remove it, press Backspace right after it.

When you send the message, Pave Agent loads the Skill and follows it for that message.

"/Evaluate an Offer or Offer Exception for a Senior Data Scientist in Austin at $185,000 base"

Combine references

You can reference up to five files and Skills in one message, in any mix. Once you reach five, the menu stops opening.

"/Investigate Employee or Manager Comp Complaint using @engineering promotion history.csv"

Things to know

The menu opens only at the start of a message or after a space. Typing an email address or "and/or" does not open it. To close the menu without choosing anything, press Escape.

Only active Skills appear. If a Skill is missing from the list, it may be turned off. Turn it back on from the Skills tab in Context. See the article on setting up Skills.

@ lists files in your library. To use a file across conversations, upload it to your library. See the article on uploading files and exporting results.

A reference applies to the message you send it with. Pave Agent loads the Skill or opens the file for that message. If you want it to apply a Skill again later in the conversation, reference it again.

A file or Skill that is gone cannot be used. If a referenced file was deleted or a Skill was turned off after you selected it, Pave Agent tells you the selected file or Skill is no longer available. Remove the reference and send your message again.

You can reference files and Skills in queued messages. If you send a message while Pave Agent is still answering, it waits in the queue with its references. See the article on queuing, editing, and stopping messages.

Long file and Skill names are shortened in the chip.

Past conversations keep their references. When you reopen a conversation, references show as chips again as long as the file or Skill still exists under the same name. Otherwise they show as plain text.