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CCAO-F · Study Guide

← Domain 5: Configuration and Knowledge Management

5.2 · Lesson 2 of 4

Uploaded Knowledge and Connectors

What you need to know

Information can reach Claude by upload or by connector. An uploaded file is a snapshot that goes stale. A connector, such as to a drive or mailbox, reads current content when you use it. Choose based on how often the source changes.

Snapshot versus live

  • Uploads — fixed copies; right for stable reference such as a finished style guide.
  • Connectors — live content you have permission to see; suit information that changes often (Drive, Gmail, and similar).

When unsure how often a source changes, assume it will. Prefer a connector or a replace discipline over a forgotten snapshot.

Connect with care

Connectors respect your existing access, but you still decide what is appropriate to include. Check organisational policy before connecting sources that hold sensitive information, and share only what the task needs.

Worked example

Upload a team plan from a shared drive, change a date in the live file, then ask a question that depends on that date via the upload — Claude still answers from the snapshot. Ask through a connector (when available) and the answer updates. Write a rule for five of your sources: upload vs connector, plus the privacy questions to settle before connecting.

Exam traps

  • Claude will notice a stale file

    It will not. You maintain the knowledge.

  • Fix wrong answers only by rephrasing the prompt

    When the fact in the Project is outdated, fix the upload or connector.

  • Upload fast-changing material once and forget it

    Stable reference material suits uploads. Fast-changing material needs a connector or frequent replace.

  • Connect any source without checking policy

    Consider permissions, privacy, and organisational policy before connecting.

Practice scenario

A team’s Project answers still quote last quarter’s refund rules after the policy changed in a shared drive. An old PDF remains uploaded. What should they do?

Choose one answer

Build exercise

Compare an Uploaded File With a Live Connector

5.2 · Intermediate · ~35 min · claude.ai

What you will practise

  • How uploaded files are a snapshot and connected sources can stay current.
  • When a stale upload causes a confident wrong answer.
  • What a connector gives access to and the permissions it needs.
  • How to choose between upload and connector for a given source.

Complete the Domain 5 upload-vs-connector exercise and record a rule for five sources.

Open Domain 5 exercises

Path: /learn/claude-associate/exercises/5-configuration-knowledge

Sources

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