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You choose a type when you create the datasource, and it can’t be changed afterward — pick Manual for full control over content, or Google Drive when your source files already live in a shared folder you want to keep syncing from.

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Manual Datasources

A Manual Datasource is a self-managed knowledge base where you have full control over the content and structure.

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Characteristics

Direct Control

You manage all content and updates

Multiple Content Types

Files, URLs, and manual text entries

Flexible Updates

Add, remove, or modify content anytime

Privacy

Complete control over visibility

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Content Types

Manual datasources can contain:
  • Manual Datasource:
    • Files
      • PDF documents
      • Word documents (.docx)
      • Text files (.txt)
      • Spreadsheets (.xlsx, .csv)
    • URLs
      • Single web pages
      • Website sitemaps
    • Manual Content
      • Text entered directly

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Creating a Manual Datasource

1

Go to Datasources

Navigate to the Datasources section in your project
2

Create New

Click Create Datasource and select Manual
3

Set Details

Enter name, description, and optional tags
4

Add Resources

Upload files, add URLs, or enter text content
5

Configure Metadata

Set visibility and any custom metadata
6

Assign to Agents

Select which agents can access this datasource

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Management

Updating Content:
  • Add new files or URLs anytime
  • Remove outdated content
  • Edit manual text entries
  • Update metadata
Monitoring:
  • Track file size and resource count
  • Monitor indexing status
  • View search performance metrics
  • See which agents are using it

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Best Practices

  • Organize by Topic: Group related content into separate datasources
  • Clear Naming: Use descriptive file and datasource names
  • Regular Maintenance: Remove obsolete content
  • Document Format: Use well-structured documents with clear sections
  • Version Control: Keep track of updates and changes

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Google Drive Datasources

A Google Drive Datasource connects directly to your Google Drive folders, automatically syncing files and staying up-to-date.

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Characteristics

Auto-Sync

Automatically updates when Drive files change

Collaborative

Team members can edit docs together

Version History

Maintains document version tracking

Cloud Storage

No need to manually upload files

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Supported File Types

Google Drive datasources can index the following file types: Documents & Text ✅
  • PDF (.pdf) - Full text extraction
  • Text Files (.txt) - Plain text
  • Markdown (.md) - Formatted text
  • HTML (.html) - Web content
Data Files ✅
  • CSV (.csv) - Spreadsheet data
Images ✅
  • PNG (.png) - Image files
  • JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg) - Image files
  • WebP (.webp) - Modern image format
Multimedia ✅
  • MP4 (.mp4) - Video files
  • WAV (.wav) - Audio files
NOT Supported ❌
  • Google Docs - Requires manual export to PDF
  • Google Sheets - Export to CSV first, then upload
  • Google Slides - Not supported
  • Word Documents (.docx) - Not natively supported
  • Excel (.xlsx) - Export to CSV instead
  • PowerPoint (.pptx) - Not supported

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Setup Process

1

Go to Datasources

Navigate to the Datasources section
2

Create Google Drive Datasource

Click Create Datasource and select Google Drive
3

Authenticate

Click Connect to Google Drive and authorize access
4

Select Folders

Choose which folders to index and monitor
5

Configure Sync

Set sync frequency and indexing options
6

Assign to Agents

Select agents that can access this datasource

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Synchronization

Automatic Updates:
  1. Google Drive folder changes
  2. Detected by PLai
  3. Files re-indexed
  4. Changes available to agents
Sync Frequency:
  • Real-time detection for new files
  • Periodic re-indexing (configurable)
  • Manual refresh option available
  • Change notifications and logs

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Permissions

Google Drive datasources respect your Drive permissions:
  • Shared Folders: Include collaborators’ permissions
  • Private Folders: Only you have access
  • Shared Drives: Team-wide access control
  • Public Folders: Open access

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Best Practices

  • Folder Organization: Structure folders logically before indexing
  • File Naming: Use clear, descriptive file names
  • Shared Drive: Use for team collaboration
  • Regular Cleanup: Archive or delete unused documents
  • Permissions Review: Ensure correct access levels

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Next Steps