Smart Extract is designed to help you extract structured, usable data from files that don’t follow a standard tabular format.
The complexities that Smart Extract works with are:
Global or local metadata
Multiple header rows/multiple tables within a sheet
Summary or total rows
Shifted data tables
Hierarchical data
You’ll be prompted to use Smart Extract when Flatfile detects these characteristics during the initial data upload and extraction process.
Note: Smart Extract is an add-on to the Flatfile Projects product. There may be an additional cost to enable it on your account. Reach out to success@flatfile.com if you’re interested in learning more. Currently, Smart Extract only supports CSV and Excel files (.XLSX). |
Navigate to the Files section of your dashboard and upload your file by clicking or dragging an XLSX or CSV file into the drop zone.
Allow AI to analyze your file. If complexities are detected, Flatfile will recommend using Smart Extract to proceed.
Click the “Smart Extract” button that appears beside the file name.
Review the preview and refine with any changes you want to make via the chat assistant window.
Confirm and click the “Import” button that appears beside the file name.
Smart Extract is specifically designed to handle the six types of complexities outlined early in the guide. There are a few limitations to keep in mind. Smart Extract is unable to:
Extract data from file types other than CSV or XLSX
Interpret visual-only formatting (e.g., colors, shading)
Handle files with entirely unstructured text blocks
Guess context with no repeatable structure or signal
Why don’t I see Smart Extract in my account?
To have Smart Extract enabled in your account, reach out to the Success team (success@flatfile.com).
What file types are currently supported?
Smart Extract currently supports CSV and Excel (XLSX) files. Other file types, like PDF, aren’t yet supported.
Does Smart Extract use my existing schema, validation rules, or mappings?
No, each file is analyzed independently. Smart Extract doesn’t use past mappings, validation rules, or destination schemas from your project setup.
What if Smart Extract doesn’t work for my file?
If Smart Extract isn’t a good fit for your use case, you can use a custom extractor plugin. Custom extractors let you write your own logic for handling complex or unsupported file types, and then run them inside your Flatfile environment. You can find a library of prebuilt plugins here.
Why isn’t Smart Extract triggering when I upload the file?
Files with standard row-column layouts won’t trigger Smart Extract. If your file does not contain any of the complexities that Smart Extract analyze for, it will go through the normal import process.
Can I manually trigger the Smart Extractor for a file if it doesn’t automatically trigger?
Yes. Under Files, navigate to the three dot icon to the right of your file name and click on Smart Extract from the drop down menu to trigger it manually.
My Smart Extract’s output isn’t accurate; how can I fix this?
If the structure you see in the preview isn’t correct, you can provide context and refine via the chat assistant.
Does Smart Extract modify my source files?
Never. All processing happens on a secure copy on our platform.
What if I need additional help?
We have a full guide to using Smart Extract available for download here. If you’re still stuck or have questions, reach out to our team at support@flatfile.com.