Processing CSV Files with OpenAI Assistant Manager

The OpenAI Assistants API can process CSV files effectively when the Code Interpreter tool is enabled.

Unlike the File Search tool, which does not support CSV files natively, Code Interpreter allows the assistant to parse and analyze CSV data.

In this short tutorial, you’ll learn how to set up an OpenAI Assistant to interact efficiently with a pre-uploaded CSV file.

Step 1 – Prepare the Data

Properly formatting your CSV file before uploading is critical for seamless processing. Follow these guidelines:

• Structure: Ensure the CSV is well-organized with clear, descriptive headers (e.g., Name, Age, Email) and consistent data rows.
• Delimiter: Use a standard delimiter, such as a comma (,), semicolon (;), or tab, and maintain consistency throughout the file.
• Encoding: Save the file in UTF-8 encoding to support special characters or non-ASCII text.
• Validation: Open the file in a text editor (e.g., Notepad, VS Code) or spreadsheet program (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets) to confirm it’s clean and readable. The Code Interpreter treats the CSV as plain text, so avoid hidden characters, inconsistent formatting, or missing values that could confuse parsing.

Tip: If your data includes numbers or dates, ensure they’re formatted consistently (e.g., 2025-03-02 vs. 03/02/2025) to avoid errors during analysis.

Step 2 – Enable Code Interpreter

The File Search tool alone cannot process CSV files (despite some earlier documentation suggesting otherwise). To handle CSVs, you must enable the Code Interpreter tool for your assistant. Here’s how:

Via the API

When creating or updating your assistant programmatically, include the code_interpreter tool in the configuration. Below is an example JSON setup:

{
  "name": "CSV Analyzer",
  "instructions": "You are a data analyst who interprets CSV files to answer questions.",
  "model": "gpt-4o",
  "tools": ["code_interpreter"]
}

• name: A descriptive name for your assistant.
• instructions: Clear guidance on its role (customize as needed).
• model: Specify the desired model (e.g., gpt-4o).
• tools: Enable “code_interpreter” to process CSV files.

Via the OpenAI Platform

When creating or configuring your assistant via the OpenAI platform simply toggle the Code Interpreter switch to “On.”

Step 3 – Upload the CSV & Test

After enabling Code Interpreter, upload your prepared CSV file to the assistant via the API or platform. The assistant can then access and analyze it.

Testing the Code Interpreter

Once set up, test your assistant by asking questions like, “What’s the average value in column X?” or “How many rows match this condition?” to ensure it processes the CSV correctly.

Limitations: Code Interpreter works best with small to medium-sized files. For very large CSVs (e.g., millions of rows), consider preprocessing the data externally before uploading.

Code Interpreter Logic

When using Code Interpreter with the Assistant, the way results are presented differs depending on the interface:

OpenAI Platform: In the Platform (e.g., Assistants Playground), the thread includes the Code Interpreter’s internal logic alongside the response. This may appear as raw, technical outputs—such as Python code (e.g., pandas.read_csv(…)) or unpolished analysis—displayed in logs or sidebars for transparency and debugging purposes.

API Response: When retrieving the thread via the API (e.g., client.beta.threads.messages.list), the Code Interpreter logic is hidden. Only the final, polished answer is returned to the user, adhering to instructions like “provide only the final result” without any code or process details.

This distinction allows the Platform to serve as a debugging tool while the API delivers a streamlined, user-friendly experience.

Step 4 – OpenAI Assistant Manager for WordPress

Now that you know how to “train” an assistant with a CSV, you’re ready to integrate the assistant chatbox into your WordPress site with the OpenAI Assistant Manager.

Plugin Settings & Integration

Follow these steps to set up the plugin and start chatting:

Step 1- Setup your API key from the OpenAI settings

Navigate to the OpenAI settings in your WordPress admin dashboard.

Enter your OpenAI API key (you’ll need to provide your own key) to connect the plugin to OpenAI’s services.

Step 2- Import or create an assistant

To import an existing assistant using the assistant ID or create a new one go to the Assistant Manager section in your admin dashboard.

To import an assistant

Enter the assistant ID of an existing OpenAI assistant to bring it into the plugin.

To create an assistant

Use the option to build a new assistant directly within the dashboard.

Step 3 – Start a thread

Start a Thread from admin dashboard

Click the “Add New Assistant Thread” button to begin a conversation with your assistant. Pick a thread name, select an assistant and press “Update”.

Start a thread from front website

Visit the assistant’s permalink (a public URL generated by the plugin) to interact with it from the front end.

You are now ready to chat with your assistant, whether from the admin panel or your live website!

Advanced Implementation

For developers looking to customize access to the assistant, the plugin offers hooks to implement custom licensing logic. Use the following filters:

add_filter('lam_assistant_can_assist', function($can, $assistant, $user_id) {

    // Add your logic using $user_id

    return $can;

}, 10, 3);

add_filter('lam_user_can_post', function($can, $user_id, $assistant, $thread) {

    // Add your logic using $user_id

    return $can;

}, 10, 4);

These hooks allow you to control who can interact with the assistant and under what conditions, tailoring the experience to your site’s needs.