PrimeFlow File and PDF Nodes

PrimeFlow has a family of nodes for working with files on a canvas. Add one File node and pick any file - PrimeTask shows it the right way: audio plays, video plays, PDFs read, code is highlighted, text is readable, archives list their details, and anything else opens in the app you'd normally use.

For the concept behind the whole family - zero-storage linking, workflows, and scenarios - see PrimeFlow File Linking. For linking a whole folder, see PrimeFlow Folder Node.

What you can do

The File node is a smart picker

The File node is the one node you need for most files. Add it to the canvas, pick a file, and PrimeTask shows the right view for that file:

• Audio → an Audio File node with an inline player
• Video → a Video File node with an inline player
• PDF → a PDF node with a page-by-page reader
• Code → a Code File node with syntax highlighting
• Plain text → a Text File node with a readable view
• Archive → a Compressed File node reference card
• Anything else → a Generic File node that opens in your usual app

You never have to tell PrimeTask what kind of file it is. It already knows.

Three ways to bring a file onto the canvas

When you add a file, you pick how it lives on the canvas:

• Link - PrimeTask points at the file where it lives on your computer. Zero extra storage. This is the default for most files. See PrimeFlow File Linking.
• Upload - a copy is stored with the canvas. Use this when you want an independent copy.
• URL - a reference to a file on the web.

Each file node carries a small marker that tells you where the file came from - Linked, Local (uploaded), or URL - so you always know at a glance.

Audio File node

The Audio File node plays audio inline on the canvas. Use it for samples, voice memos, podcasts, and any other sound file.

• Play, pause, scrub, adjust volume, loop directly on the node.
• Send to the universal floating player to keep the sound playing as you move around the app - even out of PrimeFlow. See Media Player.
• Open in Folder reveals the file in Finder or Explorer.
• Linked audio loads only when you press play, so large sample libraries stay responsive.

Supported formats include MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, M4A, AAC, and more.

Video File node

The Video File node plays video inline on the canvas. Use it for raw footage, exports, reference clips, and tutorial videos.

• Play, pause, scrub, adjust volume, loop, and fullscreen directly on the node.
• Send to the universal floating player to keep the video playing as you work anywhere in PrimeTask. See Media Player.
• Open in Folder reveals the file on your computer.
• Linked video loads only when you press play.

Supported formats include MP4, WebM, MOV, MKV, AVI, and more.

PDF node

The PDF node is a real inline reader. Open the file on the canvas and read page by page, with text selection and zoom, right where the PDF belongs.

• Page navigation with next and previous.
• Text selection you can toggle on to copy passages.
• Zoom so the pages fit the way you want.
• Connect the PDF to the task, project, or deal it belongs to.

PDFs are uploaded when you drop them in so PrimeTask can read and render the pages. PDFs referenced by URL open as a bookmark in your default browser instead, because browsers block web PDFs from being rendered in other apps.

Code File node

The Code File node is a read-only, syntax-highlighted view of a source file. Use it to drop reference code next to a planning canvas, architecture map, or design discussion.

• Language detection picks the highlighting automatically.
• Line numbers make it easy to reference a specific spot.
• One-click copy of the file's contents.
• Toggle text selection so you can highlight without moving the node.

Supported languages include JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Java, Kotlin, C, C++, C#, Go, Rust, Ruby, PHP, Swift, SQL, HTML, CSS, SCSS, JSON, XML, YAML, and more.

Text File node

The Text File node is a readable view for plain text files - notes, logs, markdown drafts, READMEs. It shows the text with word and character counts, scroll, and copy.

Compressed File node

The Compressed File node is a reference card for archives - ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, GZ, BZ2, XZ. It shows the archive's details. Use Open in Folder or Download to extract the archive with your operating system.

Generic File node

For files that don't have a specialist view - office documents, design files, project files - the Generic File node is the fallback. It shows the file's details and lets you open it in the app your computer uses for that file type.

Actions every file node gives you

• Download - for uploaded and URL files, saves a copy to your computer.
• Open in Folder - reveals the file in Finder on macOS or Explorer on Windows.
• Unlink - for linked files, removes the link without deleting the original.
• Pin - when a file node was generated from a task or project note attachment, you can pin it so it stays on the canvas when the parent collapses.
• Remove from Canvas - takes the node off the canvas without affecting the original file.

Missing files

If a linked file is moved, renamed, or unavailable, the node shows that the file can't be found and offers to Relink (point at the new location) or Remove (take the node off the canvas).

Connections

Every file node can connect to other nodes on the canvas. Use connections to show which task a video belongs to, which project a sample is for, which deal a PDF supports, or which contact a reference file is about.

For connection behavior, see PrimeFlow Connections and Edges.

Color theme support

All file nodes follow the canvas color theme and any per-node appearance override so chrome stays readable with any theme. Appearance is canvas-only.

See PrimeFlow Color Themes.

Things worth knowing

Images live in the Media and Link Nodes article

The Image node covers pictures from Unsplash, uploads, and URLs in one place - see PrimeFlow Media and Link Nodes. The File node's image view shares the same on-canvas behavior.

Linked files never leave your computer

When a file is linked, PrimeTask reads it where it lives. Moving or renaming the file on your computer breaks the link - relink the node from the missing-file state when that happens.

Source markers tell you what kind of reference each node is

The Linked, Local, or URL marker on every file node tells you where the file actually lives.

Resize

Every file node can be resized on the canvas. Players scale with their node.

Open in Folder is desktop-native

"Open in Folder" opens Finder on macOS and Explorer on Windows.

Common questions

Where to go next