# Assistant API - Error with files **URL:** \ **Category:** API\ **Created:** [November 9, 2023, 12:13am UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559 "2023-11-09T00:13:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sam.b](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sam.b](https://community.openai.com/u/sam.b)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 12:13am UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/1 "2023-11-09T00:13:32Z")
Hi- I created an assistant that uses retrieval and I uploaded the files using the web interface. It works using the test playground but when I when I call it from the python API, I get this error: Since you have uploaded a file that is not accessible with the myfiles\_browser tool, I won’t be able to directly make use of the contents of the file for assisting you. ---
**Author:** ![joshg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/90db22/32.png) [@joshg](https://community.openai.com/u/joshg)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 12:37am UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/2 "2023-11-09T00:37:26Z")
This is killing me. I have a 42% failure rate with reading files now, all with this kind of error. Sometimes re-running with the same file works, sometimes it fails. Seems like some data cluster consistency issue maybe? ---
**Author:** ![sam.b](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sam.b](https://community.openai.com/u/sam.b)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 12:41am UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/3 "2023-11-09T00:41:38Z")
Painful 🙂 Now I am getting this error: It seems there has been a misunderstanding. The file you have uploaded is not accessible using the `myfiles_browser` tool as it may be. ---
**Author:** ![joshg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/90db22/32.png) [@joshg](https://community.openai.com/u/joshg)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 12:46am UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/4 "2023-11-09T00:46:18Z")
It seems to cycle through a few different messages, all on the same theme of myfiles\_browser not working. ---
**Author:** ![joshg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/90db22/32.png) [@joshg](https://community.openai.com/u/joshg)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 1:15am UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/5 "2023-11-09T01:15:20Z")
FWIW - I added a 10 second delay between uploading a file and using it and it improved my success rate. Either that or something was fixed on the API side 🙃 ---
**Author:** ![james40](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/james40/32/251975_2.png) [@james40](https://community.openai.com/u/james40)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/6 "2023-11-09T15:03:55Z")
I am also getting a lot of wonky behaviour with the Assistant API and files. Lots of “I cannot access the file” even though it was uploaded minutes ago, and it’s just a simple text file. ---
**Author:** ![mattrosine](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/mattrosine/32/511259_2.png) [@mattrosine](https://community.openai.com/u/mattrosine)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 3:07pm UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/7 "2023-11-09T15:07:39Z")
I just posted this in a different thread: When I try to upload a .csv to the playground assistant I get this error: `Failed to create assistant: UserError: Failed to index file: Unsupported file file-tYMNCZxn29GoTc9xtg4kAu6D type: application/csv` Even though it is a correct .csv and the data is prepared properly. Its frustrating not knowing if I’m doing something wrong or if this is to do with the outages or rollout. ---
**Author:** ![joshg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/90db22/32.png) [@joshg](https://community.openai.com/u/joshg)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 4:55pm UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/8 "2023-11-09T16:55:20Z")
Late last night I started getting a new error > openai.BadRequestError: Error code: 400 - {‘error’: {‘message’: “Failed to index file: () The index ‘document\_chunks\_hnsw\_432’ for service ‘retrieval-search-index-prod-11’ was not found.\nCode: \nMessage: The index ‘document\_chunks\_hnsw\_432’ for service ‘retrieval-search-index-prod-11’ was not found.”, ‘type’: ‘invalid\_request\_error’, ‘param’: None, ‘code’: None} ---
**Author:** ![camil.popa.nica](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/camil.popa.nica/32/258195_2.png) [@camil.popa.nica](https://community.openai.com/u/camil.popa.nica)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2023, 11:18pm UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/9 "2023-11-23T23:18:23Z")
> [@joshg](#): > > - {‘error’: {‘message’: “Failed to index file: () The index ‘document\_chunks\_hnsw\_432’ for service ‘retrieval-search-index-prod-11’ wa Hi, did you find a fix for this ? ---
**Author:** ![apariyallc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@apariyallc](https://community.openai.com/u/apariyallc)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2024, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/10 "2024-01-28T22:59:21Z")
I create the assistants and everything was working perfectly fine until I had to go on a trip and when I returned and tried my application, then everything started to fail with this error! So, is this issue still open and no expertise could address it?! ---
**Author:** ![IAmJackHarper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/iamjackharper/32/511408_2.png) [@IAmJackHarper](https://community.openai.com/u/IAmJackHarper)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2024, 1:44am UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/11 "2024-01-29T01:44:52Z")
Getting the same error with the new gpt-4-0125-preview ---
**Author:** ![h.gurgenci](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/h.gurgenci/32/135479_2.png) [@h.gurgenci](https://community.openai.com/u/h.gurgenci)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2024, 3:45am UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/12 "2024-01-29T03:45:02Z")
The same problem for me. I have posted a full description of my experience [here](https://community.openai.com/t/uploaded-files-to-assistant-api-randomly-fail-with-file-not-accessible-with-tool-when-referenced/500566/6). It is similar to what people reort above. ---
**Author:** ![imam.muhammad](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/imam.muhammad/32/147759_2.png) [@imam.muhammad](https://community.openai.com/u/imam.muhammad)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/13 "2024-02-04T22:42:42Z")
I also have the same problem for me. is there any solutions for this ? ---
**Author:** ![ashot1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/ashot1/32/334800_2.png) [@ashot1](https://community.openai.com/u/ashot1)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2024, 11:47pm UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/14 "2024-03-15T23:47:45Z")
I also have the same issue, 1 month later. Wonder why they don’t address this, or respond here. ---
**Author:** ![mrjonesbot](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/mrjonesbot/32/448598_2.png) [@mrjonesbot](https://community.openai.com/u/mrjonesbot)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 6:47pm UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/15 "2024-04-19T18:47:04Z")
Having the same issues here with gpt-4-turbo-preview ---
**Author:** ![mrjonesbot](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/mrjonesbot/32/448598_2.png) [@mrjonesbot](https://community.openai.com/u/mrjonesbot)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/16 "2024-04-20T18:10:35Z")
Hi all, Given the latest changes to assistants (now OpenAI-beta =\> assistants=v2), I was able to follow this guide to get file search up and running with my assistants: [https://platform.openai.com/docs/assistants/tools/file-search/quickstart?context=streaming&lang=python](https://platform.openai.com/docs/assistants/tools/file-search/quickstart?context=streaming&lang=python) The guide describes two ways to access files: 1. Create a vector store, upload a file and attach to vector store; then modify you assistant to reference the vector store. Then do the thread and run creation. or 1. Upload file, create assistant, create a thread with a nested message which includes the file\_id as a file\_search attachment (will show an example), then create a run. I’ve had success with #2, the assistant is able to access the file and I don’t need to handle vector stores or modifying assistants directly (2 fewer api calls). Here’s some partial examples: Create assistant: ```auto 34 def create_assistant 35 url = "#{@base_url}/assistants" 36 37 body = { 38 model: 'gpt-4-turbo-preview', 39 name: "My assistant", 40 instructions: "You will analyze documents", 41 tools: [ 42 { type: 'file_search' } 43 ] 44 }.to_json 45 46 res = HTTParty.post(url, body: body, headers: headers) 47 48 res 49 end ``` Upload a file (body): ```auto 140 def upload_file_body 141 { 142 file: @file, 143 purpose: 'assistants' 144 } 145 end ``` Create a thread: ```auto def create_thread(file_id:) 119 url = "#{@base_url}/threads" 120 121 body = { 122 messages: [ 123 { 124 role: 'user', 125 content: content(file_id), 126 attachments: [ 127 { file_id: file_id, tools: [{ type: 'file_search' }] } 128 ] 129 } 130 ] 131 } 132 133 res = HTTParty.post(url, body: body.to_json, headers: headers) 134 135 res 136 end ``` Headers for all api calls: ```auto 147 def headers 148 { 149 'Authorization' => "Bearer #{@api_key}", 150 'Content-Type' => "application/json", 151 "OpenAI-Beta" => "assistants=v2" 152 } 153 end ``` Creating the assistant, uploading the file, and creating a thread in this way allow my runs to succeed as the assistant is able to locate the file and run analysis. Be sure to OpenAI-Beta header to v2 as well. Hope this helps! ---
**Author:** ![tristanjw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/58956e/32.png) [@tristanjw](https://community.openai.com/u/tristanjw)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2024, 6:50am UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/17 "2024-04-30T06:50:58Z")
This is interesting, thanks. From my reading of the documentation, the file\_search tool uses vectorStore files. This is because they are broken into vector components that facilitate easy and rapid search. Therefore, you need to add the file to a vectorStore and then add that store as a tools\_resource in your thread. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/original/4X/8/f/c/8fcc2a129055c14cf3b887cc17de24460c8f3c27.png) It looks like your thread payload doesn’t put the file in a vectorStore nor does it give the ‘file\_search’ tool access to a vectorStore. I’m not too sure what to make of this if your assistant is operating effectively! ---
**Author:** ![mrjonesbot](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/mrjonesbot/32/448598_2.png) [@mrjonesbot](https://community.openai.com/u/mrjonesbot)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2024, 3:37pm UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/18 "2024-04-30T15:37:19Z")
You can bypass creating a vector store directly, since threads created with a Message attachment, will do so automatically; this is described in step 4 of the documentation previously linked. > You can also attach files as Message attachments on your thread. **Doing so will create another `vector_store` associated with the thread** , or, if there is already a vector store attached to this thread, attach the new files to the existing thread vector store. When you create a Run on this thread, the file search tool will query both the `vector_store` from your assistant and the `vector_store` on the thread. [https://platform.openai.com/docs/assistants/tools/file-search/step-4-create-a-thread](https://platform.openai.com/docs/assistants/tools/file-search/step-4-create-a-thread) All that should be needed, is the `file_id` from step 2 (upload files), referenced in your prompt. ---
**Author:** ![StudioProjectie](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/studioprojectie/32/356699_2.png) [@StudioProjectie](https://community.openai.com/u/StudioProjectie)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2024, 4:26pm UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/19 "2024-05-01T16:26:51Z")
The OpenAI backend needs some time to transform the file into a searchable vector index and add it to the vector database. The time that takes changes (depending on server load and filesize). I find that in most cases it will have the file available in 30 seconds. However, documentation says that it will normally try for 60 seconds. You will need to add polling functionality to check when the vector database is updated. ---
**Author:** ![james.novotny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e47c2d/32.png) [@james.novotny](https://community.openai.com/u/james.novotny)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 6:19pm UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559/20 "2024-05-17T18:19:41Z")
I’ve found that even if you have a Vector Store attached to an Assistant, it will not automatically be available via the API. When you retrieve the assistant via API, you can see the tool resources. However, the Assistant will not have access to them. What I’ve done is retrieve the Assistant, pull the tool\_resources from it and then attach those to the Thread. I’d say there is a bug here. If a Vector Store is attached to an Assistant, why have to jump through hoops to use it via the API? [Next page](https://community.openai.com/t/assistant-api-error-with-files/485559.md?page=2)