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In order to add context and background information for your Playlab app, you can upload reference documents or links to fine-tune your app’s performance. Think of external references as giving your Playlab app additional knowledge to guide its responses.
Playlab now supports multiple file uploads (up to 20 files at once) for efficient setup of your app.

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Understanding References

Just as you’d consult textbooks or online resources to enhance your teaching, you can provide similar resources to AI to make its responses more accurate, relevant, and tailored to your Playlab app.

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Watch How to Add References

Watch a short clip of how to add references to your Playlab app.

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Adding References Process

1

Navigate to Your App

Access the app you want to enhance with references.
  1. Go to your Playlab workspace dashboard
  2. Find and open the app you wish to modify in edit mode
2

Access References Tab

Open the References section.
  1. Click on the “References” tab in the sidebar menu
Add References
3

Add References

Choose your reference type.
  1. Click the blue “Add reference to app” button
Add References
  1. Select from these reference options:
    • File Upload: Upload documents directly from your computer (up to 20 files at once)
    • Public URL: Link to publicly accessible web resources
    • Browse Library: Access pre-curated reference collections
      • Global Workspace Library
      • Global References (curricula and standards)
Reference Types
4

Upload Multiple Files (Optional)

Efficiently add multiple references at once.
  1. When selecting “File Upload”, you can now select up to 20 files simultaneously
  2. Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) to select multiple files
  3. All selected files must be in supported formats (PDF, DOCX, TXT, CSV, JSON, XLSX)
  4. Each file must be under 30 MB
Multiple References Upload
5

Test Your References

Verify the effectiveness of your references.
  1. Test your app with references checked and unchecked
  2. Ensure references are improving the app’s outputs as expected

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Supported Reference Types

Playlab supports various reference formats to ensure flexibility:
  • Document Files: PDF, DOCX, TXT
  • Data Files: CSV, JSON, XLSX
  • URL Links: Links to websites, articles, and online resources
  • Embedded Content: Videos, presentations, and interactive content
  • Playlab Library Resources: Pre-vetted educational materials
File Upload Limits
  • Maximum of 20 files can be uploaded at once
  • Each file has a maximum size limit of 30 MB
  • All files must be in supported formats

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Using References Effectively

References require fine-tuning to get the best results. Be specific in your app instructions on how and when to leverage the reference files.

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Examples of Effective Reference Usage:

  • “Using the attached syllabus, generate a weekly schedule for the ‘Introduction to Biology’ course”
  • “Referring to the list of Illustrative Mathematics 7th-grade math concepts and real-world scenarios, create a set of 10 word problems that apply algebraic thinking to everyday situations”
  • “Based on the provided science fair rulebook, generate a checklist for students to ensure their projects meet all safety and presentation requirements”
  • “Suggest creative and engaging science fair project ideas suitable for 7th-grade students across various scientific disciplines”
  • General brainstorming where specific source material isn’t required

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References Best Practices

When adding references to your Playlab app, keep these tips in mind:
  • Start Small: Begin with 3-5 core references that cover your app’s main functionality
  • Expand Gradually: Add more references as needed. More is not always better
  • Quality Over Quantity: Prioritize comprehensive, high-quality references over a large number of superficial ones
  • Use Batch Upload Wisely: The ability to upload 20 files at once is great for efficiency, but ensure each file serves a clear purpose
💡 For each reference you add, ask yourself: does this improve the output? If it does not, it might not be worth including.
  • Use Appropriate Formats: Choose formats that preserve formatting and are easily parsed (e.g., PDF, markdown, structured text)
  • Optimize File Sizes: Large files can slow down processing. Break up very large documents into smaller, focused files
  • Ensure Readability: Use clear formatting and structure within documents for easier AI parsing
  • Tables > Paragraphs: Tables are much stronger reference files since they’re easier for the AI to parse and categorize information
  • Organize Before Upload: When uploading multiple files, organize them logically and ensure they complement each other
  • Test your apps with references checked and unchecked to verify if the references are helping
  • Sometimes key information from a reference is best just inserted into the prompt itself
  • When using multiple references, test to ensure they work well together and don’t create conflicting information
  • Curate Carefully: Choose high-quality, relevant resources that align with your educational objectives
  • Be Specific: Clearly instruct the AI on how to use the provided resources
  • Combine Resources: Use multiple types of resources for more comprehensive responses
  • Update Regularly: Especially for public links, ensure your resources stay current
  • Respect Copyright: Always use resources that you have permission to use or that are openly licensed
  • Group Related Files: When uploading multiple files, consider grouping related content together for better organization

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Frequently Asked Questions

Playlab supports various reference formats including PDF, DOCX, TXT, CSV, JSON, and XLSX files. Each file has a maximum size limit of 30 MB, and you can upload up to 20 files at once.
Start with 3-5 core references that cover your app’s main functionality. Quality is more important than quantity. Each reference should have a clear purpose and improve your app’s output. While you can upload up to 20 files at once, focus on relevance over volume.
Yes! You can now upload up to 20 files simultaneously. Simply hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) while selecting your files. All files must be in supported formats and under 30 MB each. This feature is designed to streamline your workflow when setting up apps with multiple reference materials.
When uploading multiple files at once, organize them by topic or purpose before uploading. For example, group all curriculum documents together, or upload related worksheets and answer keys in the same batch. This helps ensure your references work well together and don’t create conflicting information.
When you select multiple files, they all upload simultaneously in the background. You’ll see a progress indicator showing the overall upload status. If one file fails to upload, the others will still process successfully.
Absolutely! You can select a combination of PDFs, Word documents, text files, CSVs, JSON files, and Excel spreadsheets in a single upload session, as long as you don’t exceed the 20-file limit.
Global References are available as building blocks for all Playlab users. These include curricula and standards, starting with Illustrative Mathematics, with more coming soon.
Test your app with references checked and unchecked to verify if they’re improving the output. If you don’t see a difference, you might need to be more specific in your instructions about how to use the references.
The system will limit you to 20 files per upload session. If you need to add more references, you can perform multiple upload sessions or remove existing references to make room for new ones.
If one file encounters an error (such as unsupported format or file too large), the other files in your selection will continue to upload successfully. You’ll receive a notification about which specific file failed and why, so you can address the issue and re-upload if needed.

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Need Support?

If you encounter any issues while adding references: Last updated: August 8, 2025