# Generate a table from documents

Use the App's table review experience to generate a table from explicitly selected App files. Files from external storage must first be imported into the App. A current provider file is not automatically part of the draft's source set.

## Select the source basis

Choose the documents to include. For a new table without supplied definitions, identify a reference document whose structure will guide the initial fields. If several documents are selected, choose the reference deliberately; if a single selected document remains, it can serve as the reference.

Select a suitable document profile or use discovery where the App offers it. Give the table a clear purpose and check the proposed field meanings. The source membership and reference matter more than a familiar filename.

## Generate

Choose **Generate table**. Strive saves the intent, captures and verifies the source bytes, processes their text or OCR, extracts fields and values, and validates the candidate against the captured text. Generation creates a review candidate, not active table rows.

Progress can move through capturing and extracting before review becomes available. Closing and reopening the App can recover the same draft. Reopening a review should not be treated as a command to start another extraction.

## Initial drafts after upload

An App can prepare its first draft automatically after the specific upload batch is indexed. It uses successful files in upload order and retains failed-file feedback. Existing tables or a prior initial draft suppress repeated automatic generation. Later document additions or edits require explicit updates.

## Review before saving

Inspect columns, preview rows, missing or unresolved values, and evidence. A quote verification does not prove exhaustive discovery or perfect interpretation. Explicitly accept the review when ready.

See [review and acceptance](/docs/tables/review-and-accept), [refreshing](/docs/tables/refresh-and-conflicts), and [limits](/docs/tables/limits).