Multimodal data
What is a document column?
A document column stores a PDF or similar file so pages and passages can be split, embedded, and cited from the row.
Updated · Part of What is a typed media column?
How it works
- The file stays addressable after you split it.
- A view emits one row per passage or page and points back at the file.
- Answers can cite the passage because the source row still exists.
What it is not
It is not pasted text in a string field, and it is not a blob the engine cannot page.
document column: this, and the thing it is confused with
| This | Not this | |
|---|---|---|
| Stored | The file, typed as a document | Text pasted into a string |
| Child rows | Passages or pages | A single vector for the whole file |
| Citation | A pointer back to the file | A chat window with no source |
Where Pixeltable fits
Pixeltable types it as pxt.Document. A document-splitter view is how passages stay tied to the file.
Questions
How does document column work?
The file stays addressable after you split it. A view emits one row per passage or page and points back at the file. Answers can cite the passage because the source row still exists.
What is document column often confused with?
It is not pasted text in a string field, and it is not a blob the engine cannot page.
Next step
Install the Pixeltable skill, or sign up for Cloud and run the same file on a hosted database.