fix: type handling in file component (#9965)

* Add better type conversion for file uploads

* fix var

* [autofix.ci] apply automated fixes

* [autofix.ci] apply automated fixes (attempt 2/3)

* Starter projects

* Add test

* noqa

* ruff

* [autofix.ci] apply automated fixes

* [autofix.ci] apply automated fixes (attempt 2/3)

* Update test_base_file.py

---------

Co-authored-by: autofix-ci[bot] <114827586+autofix-ci[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Eric Hare <ericrhare@gmail.com>

Author: 3 people

src/backend/base/langflow/base/data/base_file.py

@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import ast
-import json
 import shutil
 import tarfile
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
@@ -8,6 +7,7 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 from zipfile import ZipFile, is_zipfile
 
+import orjson
 import pandas as pd
 
 from langflow.custom.custom_component.component import Component
@@ -222,7 +222,6 @@ def load_files_base(self) -> list[Data]:
             # Delete temporary directories
             for temp_dir in self._temp_dirs:
                 temp_dir.cleanup()
-
             # Delete files marked for deletion
             for file in final_files:
                 if file.delete_after_processing and file.path.exists():
@@ -254,11 +253,25 @@ def load_files_message(self) -> Message:
 
         sep: str = getattr(self, "separator", "\n\n") or "\n\n"
 
+        # Files are loaded in as Data objects. Converts their content to strings for the Message.
         parts: list[str] = []
         for d in data_list:
-            # Prefer explicit text if available, fall back to full dict, lastly str()
-            text = (getattr(d, "get_text", lambda: None)() or d.data.get("text")) if isinstance(d.data, dict) else None
-            parts.append(text if text is not None else str(d))
+            try:
+                data_text = d.get_text()
+                if data_text and isinstance(data_text, str):
+                    parts.append(data_text)
+                elif data_text:
+                    # get_text() returned non-string, convert it
+                    parts.append(str(data_text))
+                elif isinstance(d.data, dict):
+                    # convert the data dict to a readable string
+                    parts.append(orjson.dumps(d.data, indent=2, default=str))
+                else:
+                    parts.append(str(d))
+            except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001
+                # Final fallback - just try to convert to string.
+                # TODO: Consider downstream error case more. Should this raise an error?
+                parts.append(str(d))
 
         return Message(text=sep.join(parts))
 
@@ -325,10 +338,10 @@ def load_files_structured(self) -> DataFrame:
     def parse_string_to_dict(self, s: str) -> dict:
         # Try JSON first (handles true/false/null)
         try:
-            result = json.loads(s)
+            result = orjson.loads(s)
             if isinstance(result, dict):
                 return result
-        except json.JSONDecodeError:
+        except orjson.JSONDecodeError:
             pass
 
         # Fall back to Python literal evaluation

src/backend/base/langflow/components/input_output/chat.py

@@ -75,12 +75,18 @@ class ChatInput(ChatComponent):
     ]
 
     async def message_response(self) -> Message:
+        # Ensure files is a list and filter out empty/None values
+        files = self.files if self.files else []
+        if files and not isinstance(files, list):
+            files = [files]
+        files = [f for f in files if f is not None and f != ""]
+
         message = await Message.create(
             text=self.input_value,
             sender=self.sender,
             sender_name=self.sender_name,
             session_id=self.session_id,
-            files=self.files,
+            files=files,
         )
         if self.session_id and isinstance(message, Message) and self.should_store_message:
             stored_message = await self.send_message(

src/backend/base/langflow/initial_setup/starter_projects/Basic Prompt Chaining.json

@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@
                 "show": true,
                 "title_case": false,
                 "type": "code",
-                "value": "from langflow.base.data.utils import IMG_FILE_TYPES, TEXT_FILE_TYPES\nfrom langflow.base.io.chat import ChatComponent\nfrom langflow.inputs.inputs import BoolInput\nfrom langflow.io import (\n    DropdownInput,\n    FileInput,\n    MessageTextInput,\n    MultilineInput,\n    Output,\n)\nfrom langflow.schema.message import Message\nfrom langflow.utils.constants import (\n    MESSAGE_SENDER_AI,\n    MESSAGE_SENDER_NAME_USER,\n    MESSAGE_SENDER_USER,\n)\n\n\nclass ChatInput(ChatComponent):\n    display_name = \"Chat Input\"\n    description = \"Get chat inputs from the Playground.\"\n    documentation: str = \"https://docs.langflow.org/components-io#chat-input\"\n    icon = \"MessagesSquare\"\n    name = \"ChatInput\"\n    minimized = True\n\n    inputs = [\n        MultilineInput(\n            name=\"input_value\",\n            display_name=\"Input Text\",\n            value=\"\",\n            info=\"Message to be passed as input.\",\n            input_types=[],\n        ),\n        BoolInput(\n            name=\"should_store_message\",\n            display_name=\"Store Messages\",\n            info=\"Store the message in the history.\",\n            value=True,\n            advanced=True,\n        ),\n        DropdownInput(\n            name=\"sender\",\n            display_name=\"Sender Type\",\n            options=[MESSAGE_SENDER_AI, MESSAGE_SENDER_USER],\n            value=MESSAGE_SENDER_USER,\n            info=\"Type of sender.\",\n            advanced=True,\n        ),\n        MessageTextInput(\n            name=\"sender_name\",\n            display_name=\"Sender Name\",\n            info=\"Name of the sender.\",\n            value=MESSAGE_SENDER_NAME_USER,\n            advanced=True,\n        ),\n        MessageTextInput(\n            name=\"session_id\",\n            display_name=\"Session ID\",\n            info=\"The session ID of the chat. If empty, the current session ID parameter will be used.\",\n            advanced=True,\n        ),\n        FileInput(\n            name=\"files\",\n            display_name=\"Files\",\n            file_types=TEXT_FILE_TYPES + IMG_FILE_TYPES,\n            info=\"Files to be sent with the message.\",\n            advanced=True,\n            is_list=True,\n            temp_file=True,\n        ),\n    ]\n    outputs = [\n        Output(display_name=\"Chat Message\", name=\"message\", method=\"message_response\"),\n    ]\n\n    async def message_response(self) -> Message:\n        message = await Message.create(\n            text=self.input_value,\n            sender=self.sender,\n            sender_name=self.sender_name,\n            session_id=self.session_id,\n            files=self.files,\n        )\n        if self.session_id and isinstance(message, Message) and self.should_store_message:\n            stored_message = await self.send_message(\n                message,\n            )\n            self.message.value = stored_message\n            message = stored_message\n\n        self.status = message\n        return message\n"
+                "value": "from langflow.base.data.utils import IMG_FILE_TYPES, TEXT_FILE_TYPES\nfrom langflow.base.io.chat import ChatComponent\nfrom langflow.inputs.inputs import BoolInput\nfrom langflow.io import (\n    DropdownInput,\n    FileInput,\n    MessageTextInput,\n    MultilineInput,\n    Output,\n)\nfrom langflow.schema.message import Message\nfrom langflow.utils.constants import (\n    MESSAGE_SENDER_AI,\n    MESSAGE_SENDER_NAME_USER,\n    MESSAGE_SENDER_USER,\n)\n\n\nclass ChatInput(ChatComponent):\n    display_name = \"Chat Input\"\n    description = \"Get chat inputs from the Playground.\"\n    documentation: str = \"https://docs.langflow.org/components-io#chat-input\"\n    icon = \"MessagesSquare\"\n    name = \"ChatInput\"\n    minimized = True\n\n    inputs = [\n        MultilineInput(\n            name=\"input_value\",\n            display_name=\"Input Text\",\n            value=\"\",\n            info=\"Message to be passed as input.\",\n            input_types=[],\n        ),\n        BoolInput(\n            name=\"should_store_message\",\n            display_name=\"Store Messages\",\n            info=\"Store the message in the history.\",\n            value=True,\n            advanced=True,\n        ),\n        DropdownInput(\n            name=\"sender\",\n            display_name=\"Sender Type\",\n            options=[MESSAGE_SENDER_AI, MESSAGE_SENDER_USER],\n            value=MESSAGE_SENDER_USER,\n            info=\"Type of sender.\",\n            advanced=True,\n        ),\n        MessageTextInput(\n            name=\"sender_name\",\n            display_name=\"Sender Name\",\n            info=\"Name of the sender.\",\n            value=MESSAGE_SENDER_NAME_USER,\n            advanced=True,\n        ),\n        MessageTextInput(\n            name=\"session_id\",\n            display_name=\"Session ID\",\n            info=\"The session ID of the chat. If empty, the current session ID parameter will be used.\",\n            advanced=True,\n        ),\n        FileInput(\n            name=\"files\",\n            display_name=\"Files\",\n            file_types=TEXT_FILE_TYPES + IMG_FILE_TYPES,\n            info=\"Files to be sent with the message.\",\n            advanced=True,\n            is_list=True,\n            temp_file=True,\n        ),\n    ]\n    outputs = [\n        Output(display_name=\"Chat Message\", name=\"message\", method=\"message_response\"),\n    ]\n\n    async def message_response(self) -> Message:\n        # Ensure files is a list and filter out empty/None values\n        files = self.files if self.files else []\n        if files and not isinstance(files, list):\n            files = [files]\n        files = [f for f in files if f is not None and f != \"\"]\n\n        message = await Message.create(\n            text=self.input_value,\n            sender=self.sender,\n            sender_name=self.sender_name,\n            session_id=self.session_id,\n            files=files,\n        )\n        if self.session_id and isinstance(message, Message) and self.should_store_message:\n            stored_message = await self.send_message(\n                message,\n            )\n            self.message.value = stored_message\n            message = stored_message\n\n        self.status = message\n        return message\n"
               },
               "files": {
                 "_input_type": "FileInput",

src/backend/base/langflow/initial_setup/starter_projects/Basic Prompting.json

@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@
                 "show": true,
                 "title_case": false,
                 "type": "code",
-                "value": "from langflow.base.data.utils import IMG_FILE_TYPES, TEXT_FILE_TYPES\nfrom langflow.base.io.chat import ChatComponent\nfrom langflow.inputs.inputs import BoolInput\nfrom langflow.io import (\n    DropdownInput,\n    FileInput,\n    MessageTextInput,\n    MultilineInput,\n    Output,\n)\nfrom langflow.schema.message import Message\nfrom langflow.utils.constants import (\n    MESSAGE_SENDER_AI,\n    MESSAGE_SENDER_NAME_USER,\n    MESSAGE_SENDER_USER,\n)\n\n\nclass ChatInput(ChatComponent):\n    display_name = \"Chat Input\"\n    description = \"Get chat inputs from the Playground.\"\n    documentation: str = \"https://docs.langflow.org/components-io#chat-input\"\n    icon = \"MessagesSquare\"\n    name = \"ChatInput\"\n    minimized = True\n\n    inputs = [\n        MultilineInput(\n            name=\"input_value\",\n            display_name=\"Input Text\",\n            value=\"\",\n            info=\"Message to be passed as input.\",\n            input_types=[],\n        ),\n        BoolInput(\n            name=\"should_store_message\",\n            display_name=\"Store Messages\",\n            info=\"Store the message in the history.\",\n            value=True,\n            advanced=True,\n        ),\n        DropdownInput(\n            name=\"sender\",\n            display_name=\"Sender Type\",\n            options=[MESSAGE_SENDER_AI, MESSAGE_SENDER_USER],\n            value=MESSAGE_SENDER_USER,\n            info=\"Type of sender.\",\n            advanced=True,\n        ),\n        MessageTextInput(\n            name=\"sender_name\",\n            display_name=\"Sender Name\",\n            info=\"Name of the sender.\",\n            value=MESSAGE_SENDER_NAME_USER,\n            advanced=True,\n        ),\n        MessageTextInput(\n            name=\"session_id\",\n            display_name=\"Session ID\",\n            info=\"The session ID of the chat. If empty, the current session ID parameter will be used.\",\n            advanced=True,\n        ),\n        FileInput(\n            name=\"files\",\n            display_name=\"Files\",\n            file_types=TEXT_FILE_TYPES + IMG_FILE_TYPES,\n            info=\"Files to be sent with the message.\",\n            advanced=True,\n            is_list=True,\n            temp_file=True,\n        ),\n    ]\n    outputs = [\n        Output(display_name=\"Chat Message\", name=\"message\", method=\"message_response\"),\n    ]\n\n    async def message_response(self) -> Message:\n        message = await Message.create(\n            text=self.input_value,\n            sender=self.sender,\n            sender_name=self.sender_name,\n            session_id=self.session_id,\n            files=self.files,\n        )\n        if self.session_id and isinstance(message, Message) and self.should_store_message:\n            stored_message = await self.send_message(\n                message,\n            )\n            self.message.value = stored_message\n            message = stored_message\n\n        self.status = message\n        return message\n"
+                "value": "from langflow.base.data.utils import IMG_FILE_TYPES, TEXT_FILE_TYPES\nfrom langflow.base.io.chat import ChatComponent\nfrom langflow.inputs.inputs import BoolInput\nfrom langflow.io import (\n    DropdownInput,\n    FileInput,\n    MessageTextInput,\n    MultilineInput,\n    Output,\n)\nfrom langflow.schema.message import Message\nfrom langflow.utils.constants import (\n    MESSAGE_SENDER_AI,\n    MESSAGE_SENDER_NAME_USER,\n    MESSAGE_SENDER_USER,\n)\n\n\nclass ChatInput(ChatComponent):\n    display_name = \"Chat Input\"\n    description = \"Get chat inputs from the Playground.\"\n    documentation: str = \"https://docs.langflow.org/components-io#chat-input\"\n    icon = \"MessagesSquare\"\n    name = \"ChatInput\"\n    minimized = True\n\n    inputs = [\n        MultilineInput(\n            name=\"input_value\",\n            display_name=\"Input Text\",\n            value=\"\",\n            info=\"Message to be passed as input.\",\n            input_types=[],\n        ),\n        BoolInput(\n            name=\"should_store_message\",\n            display_name=\"Store Messages\",\n            info=\"Store the message in the history.\",\n            value=True,\n            advanced=True,\n        ),\n        DropdownInput(\n            name=\"sender\",\n            display_name=\"Sender Type\",\n            options=[MESSAGE_SENDER_AI, MESSAGE_SENDER_USER],\n            value=MESSAGE_SENDER_USER,\n            info=\"Type of sender.\",\n            advanced=True,\n        ),\n        MessageTextInput(\n            name=\"sender_name\",\n            display_name=\"Sender Name\",\n            info=\"Name of the sender.\",\n            value=MESSAGE_SENDER_NAME_USER,\n            advanced=True,\n        ),\n        MessageTextInput(\n            name=\"session_id\",\n            display_name=\"Session ID\",\n            info=\"The session ID of the chat. If empty, the current session ID parameter will be used.\",\n            advanced=True,\n        ),\n        FileInput(\n            name=\"files\",\n            display_name=\"Files\",\n            file_types=TEXT_FILE_TYPES + IMG_FILE_TYPES,\n            info=\"Files to be sent with the message.\",\n            advanced=True,\n            is_list=True,\n            temp_file=True,\n        ),\n    ]\n    outputs = [\n        Output(display_name=\"Chat Message\", name=\"message\", method=\"message_response\"),\n    ]\n\n    async def message_response(self) -> Message:\n        # Ensure files is a list and filter out empty/None values\n        files = self.files if self.files else []\n        if files and not isinstance(files, list):\n            files = [files]\n        files = [f for f in files if f is not None and f != \"\"]\n\n        message = await Message.create(\n            text=self.input_value,\n            sender=self.sender,\n            sender_name=self.sender_name,\n            session_id=self.session_id,\n            files=files,\n        )\n        if self.session_id and isinstance(message, Message) and self.should_store_message:\n            stored_message = await self.send_message(\n                message,\n            )\n            self.message.value = stored_message\n            message = stored_message\n\n        self.status = message\n        return message\n"
               },
               "files": {
                 "advanced": true,