• DATABASE
  • SPREADSHEET
  • HUMAN
  • CHAT

How to extract text from documents with your AI

Connect FileStack once. From there, your agent handles the heavy lifting of reading files and pulling out the data you need.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I pull text from scanned files using my AI?

Your agent uses FileStack to run OCR on images and PDFs, turning visual data into text. You can then direct that text into your database or spreadsheets. Here is how the process works.

Data destinations

Where your data lands.

The AI processes the files and routes the results to these destinations.

DATABASE

Structured records

The agent pulls specific fields from a scan and inserts them into your database. This turns a messy image into a clean row.

SPREADSHEET

Organized lists

Text from invoices or receipts goes directly into your sheets. It keeps your logs updated without manual typing.

HUMAN

Manual review

If a scan is too blurry or messy, the agent flags it for you. You decide if the extraction is accurate enough to use.

CHAT

Instant answers

You can ask your agent questions about the content of a file immediately after it reads it. It acts as a searchable archive.

The workflow

What your AI does when a file arrives.

The agent handles the conversion from pixels to text so you don't have to.

  1. Read the file

    The agent identifies the file type and prepares the image or PDF for processing.

    get_ocr

  2. Extract text

    The agent runs the OCR tool to pull every readable character from the document.

    get_ocr

  3. Structure data

    The agent looks at the raw text and organizes it into the specific fields you requested.

    get_ocr

  4. Verify accuracy

    The agent checks the extracted text against your requirements to ensure it makes sense.

    get_ocr

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to kick off the extraction process.

Starting points

Swap the bracketed text for your actual file names or database names.

Filestack Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_KGFK0vBlAyeq8lyImuHLANnNzsFyop3aMeVzgPza/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — Filestack capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filestack-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_KGFK0vBlAyeq8lyImuHLANnNzsFyop3aMeVzgPza/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Extract the total amount and vendor name from the invoice in my Google Drive.

  • Read this scanned PDF and format the data as a JSON object for my database.

  • Look at the image I just uploaded and list all the names found in the document.

  • Pull the address and phone number from this receipt and add it to my spreadsheet.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect FileStack once, then ask.

Just click to connect. Your login stays encrypted on our end, and you can find the full technical details on the Connector page.

Connect FileStack to your AI

FAQ

How this task behaves.

  • 01

    Can the AI edit the original PDF file?

    No. The agent only reads the content of the file. It cannot modify or overwrite your original documents.

  • 02

    What happens if the image is too blurry to read?

    The OCR tool will fail to find text. In these cases, the agent will tell you it couldn't read the file so you can check it manually.

  • 03

    Can I use this to extract text from handwritten notes?

    It depends on the handwriting. The agent uses OCR to read the text, but very messy handwriting may result in errors.

  • 04

    Does the AI save my files?

    No. The agent processes the files you provide through the connection, but it does not store your documents in its own memory.

  • 05

    Can the AI automatically delete files after reading them?

    No. The agent has no tool to delete or manage your file storage. It only reads the data.

  • More questions about FileStack? The Connector page answers them. See everything the FileStack Connector can do

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