The 3 Tools
Every workspace has 3 tools. Each tool processes documents differently and feeds data into your flows.
How Tools Fit In
Upload Document ──► Tool (AI processes it) ──► Extracted Data ──► Flow (types data into software)
Table Extraction ──► Structured rows/columns ──► Middle section columns ──► Auto data entry
Text Extraction ──► Raw text blocks ──► Available as text ──► Text-based entry
Bulk Bill Gen ──► Generated bills ──► Output files ──► Download/Print
1. Table Extraction
What it does
Upload images, PDFs, or Excel files. The AI reads the document and extracts structured data in rows and columns — like turning a photo of an invoice into a spreadsheet.
When to use it
- Entering invoices, bills, or purchase orders into accounting software
- Copying data from scanned forms into any desktop application
- Transferring spreadsheet data between applications that don't integrate
- Any task where you have documents with tabular data to enter
Input → Output
| Input | Output |
|---|---|
| Images (JPG, PNG, TIFF) | Rows and columns of extracted data |
| PDF files (scanned or digital) | Each row = one record (one invoice, one entry) |
| Excel / CSV files | Data ready for the flow's Middle section |
Example
Upload a photo of an invoice → DashX extracts:
┌──────────────┬────────────┬────────────┬─────────┐
│ Invoice No │ Date │ Party │ Amount │
├──────────────┼────────────┼────────────┼─────────┤
│ INV-001 │ 15/06/2026 │ Acme Corp │ 12,500 │
│ INV-002 │ 16/06/2026 │ Beta Ltd │ 8,750 │
│ INV-003 │ 17/06/2026 │ Gamma Inc │ 23,100 │
└──────────────┴────────────┴────────────┴─────────┘
Each column becomes a Middle Column in your flow. Each row is processed one at a time when the flow runs.
2. Text Extraction
What it does
Upload images or PDFs. The AI extracts raw text content — not structured into columns, but as continuous text blocks.
When to use it
- Documents that don't have tabular structure (letters, contracts, reports)
- When you need the full text content, not individual fields
- Text-based automation where the entire document content matters
Input → Output
| Input | Output |
|---|---|
| Images / PDFs | Raw text content extracted by AI |
3. Bulk Bill Generation
What it does
Takes extracted data and a template, and generates invoices/bills in bulk. Useful for creating multiple documents from a single data source.
When to use it
- Generating multiple invoices from a list of transactions
- Creating bulk receipts, challans, or delivery notes
- Any repetitive document generation task
Tool vs Flow — What's the Difference?
| Aspect | Tool | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An AI engine that processes documents | An automation recipe that types data |
| Input | Documents (images, PDFs) | Extracted data from a tool |
| Output | Structured data | Data entered into desktop software |
| Configuration | Built-in, no setup needed | You build or record it |
| One per workspace? | Yes, all 3 are always present | Each tool gets its own flow |
Key insight: The Tool does the reading (AI extraction). The Flow does the writing (auto-typing).
You need both for the full automation pipeline.
Next: Learn how to build a Flow to automate your data entry,
or record one by just doing your task.