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- Upload File
ActionAnthropicUpdated May 2026
How do I upload a file (PDF, image, text) to Anthropic?
Short answer: Drop the "Anthropic → Upload File" action anywhere in your workflow, map the inputs from upstream nodes, and publish.
Inputs
The fields this action accepts.
Every field can be mapped from an upstream trigger, AI step, table row, or hard-coded literal.
| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
File URL file_url | string | Required | Public HTTPS URL the executor will fetch and upload as the file body. Anthropic's Files API requires a real binary upload — pass a URL that returns the raw file bytes (PDF, image, text, etc.). Signed S3 / CDN URLs work; one redirect is followed. |
Filename (optional) filename | string | Optional | Override the filename Anthropic stores. If empty, the executor derives it from the URL's path. |
Sample request
{"file_url": "e.g. https://example.com/files/report.pdf","filename": "e.g. report.pdf"}
Returns
{"id": "file_abc","filename": "report.pdf","mime_type": "application/pdf","created_at": "2026-05-10T10:00:00Z","size_bytes": 12345}
Use these fields in downstream nodes for routing, logging, or error handling.
Triggered by
Apps that pair well as the trigger for Upload File.
Any of these apps can fire this action as part of a workflow.
FAQ
Questions about Upload File.
What does the Upload File action do in Anthropic?
Uploads a file (PDF, image, text) to Anthropic for use in messages via document blocks. Returns a file_id you reference instead of re-sending the bytes on every call.
What inputs does Upload File require?
Required: File URL. Every input accepts a static value or a variable from any upstream node in your workflow.
Can I use dynamic inputs from earlier workflow nodes?
Yes. Any field on this action can pull values from upstream nodes, whether that's a form response, a trigger payload, an AI output, or a lookup result.
What happens if Anthropic returns an error?
The workflow pauses on the failed node, the error message is captured in the run log, and you can retry the run with one click. Auto-retry policies are configurable per workflow with exponential backoff up to 5 attempts.
Does Upload File support batch operations?
Yes. Run Upload File inside a Loop node to process arrays. Tiny Command handles Anthropic's rate limits automatically so you don't have to throttle manually.
More actions
Other Anthropic actions.
Action
Analyze Image
Sends an image to Claude for analysis (vision), via URL or base64 bytes alongside a text prompt. Use for OCR, chart extraction, accessibility alt-text, or visual QA flows.
ActionCancel Message Batch
Cancels a message batch that is still processing. Already-completed entries in the batch keep their results; in-flight ones get cancelled with no charge.
ActionComputer Use
Sends a message with the computer-use tool, letting Claude take screenshots and click/type on a virtual desktop. Requires Opus 4.x or Sonnet 4.x; you provide the sandboxed desktop environment.
ActionCount Tokens
Counts the number of tokens a Messages API call would consume without actually sending the message. Useful for cost estimation and to stay under context-window limits.
ActionCreate Message
Sends a message to a Claude model and gets a response. The core Anthropic action; supports system prompts, multi-turn conversation, temperature, and stop sequences.
ActionCreate Message Batch
Creates a batch of messages for async processing on the Messages API, with a 50% cost reduction and up to 24-hour turnaround. Perfect for bulk classification, summarization, or labeling jobs.
Send upload file from your workflows.
Triggered by anything in the catalog. Free tier available. No credit card.