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Teaching Tofie for Improved Data Extraction

The basics of how to train Tofie AI for better entity-level knowledge and more accurate extractions!

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Written by Cristina Michelini
Updated over a month ago

Ways to Teach Tofie

Tofie is Tofu’s built-in AI that learns how to extract data from your invoices. The more you teach it, the more accurate and efficient it becomes. There are three ways to teach Tofie:

1. Self Prompt

Use this method during your initial setup or when adding a new contact/entity with historical transaction data.

If your entity is connected to Xero or QuickBooks Online:
• Tofie will automatically pull past transactions from your accounting software.
• It analyzes these documents and builds the knowledge base for future extractions.

If your entity is not integrated to any accounting system:

• You can upload a CSV file to provide historical transaction data.
• Tofie will use this data to learn coding patterns and build the knowledge base.

To run Self Prompt:
• Go to your Entity settings.
• Select Self Prompt.
• Choose the source (accounting software or CSV upload, if available).
• Start the process and wait for it to complete.
• Review the Knowledge Base entries and adjust any rules if needed.

📕 Note: Self Prompt can take some time, especially if there are many historical documents. No need to wait around. You can come back once it’s done.

After Self Prompt is complete, review the knowledge base entries to ensure they look accurate. You can edit or delete any rules as needed.

💡 Best for: First-time setup

2. Tofie Icon

Click the Tofie icon at the top right of the screen when you're reviewing an extraction.

  • This lets you create or update rules based on the current extraction

  • Tell Tofie how to handle documents from a specific contact/entity or document format directly from the document view.

💡 Best for: Teaching on the fly while reviewing invoices

3. Knowledge Base

The Knowledge Base allows you to review, edit, and manage Tofie’s learned rules. To access:

  • Go to Settings → Knowledge Base

From here, you can:

  • Add or edit rules manually

  • View existing learned knowledge

  • Delete or adjust rules

  • Use templates for faster setup

Knowledge is applied based on the selected entry type.

💡 Important:
Always select the correct entry type (AP Bills, AR Invoices, Direct Expenses, or Bank Statements). Knowledge is tied to the selected type and ensures rules apply to the correct documents.

💡 Best for: Reviewing or editing extraction rules in detail

Contacts and Entry-Type–Specific Knowledge

The Contacts section stores contact-specific knowledge and is filtered based on the selected entry type.

  • AP Bills / Direct Expenses: supplier or vendor knowledge

  • AR Invoices: customer knowledge

When you change the entry type dropdown, the Contacts list refreshes automatically to show only relevant knowledge. Any active contact search is cleared to avoid confusion.


Templates by Entry Type

Knowledge Base templates are organized by entry type.

When you switch the entry type, the template list updates automatically to show only templates relevant to that workflow (for example, AP Bills, AR Invoices, or Direct Expenses).

This makes it easier to apply the correct templates for each extraction type.


Ways to Teach Tofie

1. Introduction to Teaching Tofie

  • Understand the process from document review to extraction review.

  • Learn how to enhance Tofie, the AI assistant, for better data extraction.

2. Starting a Conversation with Tofie

  • Access Tofie from the invoice review view by clicking the Tofie icon.

  • Begin a dialogue with Tofie to provide instructions.

3. Providing Instructions to Tofie

  • Enter instructions in your own words.

  • Example: Request to aggregate all line items into a single description.

💡 Before giving instructions, make sure the correct entry type is selected (AP Bills, AR Invoices, Direct Expenses, or Bank Statements). This ensures Tofie applies your instructions to the right type of document.

💡 Instructions can be entered in any language.

4. Generating Valid Prompts

  • Understand that complex requests may require multiple prompts.

  • Ask Tofie to generate a valid prompt for your instruction.

5. Saving Instructions

  • Review the generated prompt to ensure it meets your needs.

  • Save the prompt and confirm successful knowledge appending.

6. Accessing the Knowledge Base

  • Recall the knowledge base from settings to input instructions directly.

  • Note that knowledge can also be added directly through Tofie.

7. Using Templates for Instructions

  • Access templates for easier guideline addition.

  • Choose relevant templates (e.g., GST and VAT) and edit as necessary.

8. Inserting Edited Prompts into Knowledge Base

  • After editing, insert the prompt into the knowledge base.

  • The knowledge base is automatically updated.

9. Reattempting Data Extraction 2:43

  • Return to the extraction and reattempt the extraction process.

  • Verify that the input instructions are working correctly.

Request help when prompts still aren’t working

If you’ve tried re-extracting a few times or made several Knowledge Base updates and the result still isn’t right, you can request help directly from the extraction review.

  • Open the extraction you’re working on.

  • Hover over the Extract button and click Request help.

  • Tofu pre-fills the message with the extraction link. Add your notes and send.

10. Conclusion

  • Review the results of the extraction to ensure it meets expectations.

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