FAQ
Common questions about the Docling for IBM watsonx service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Docling for IBM watsonx?
Docling for IBM watsonx is a fully managed document intelligence service that converts complex documents into AI-ready formats like Markdown, JSON, and HTML. It's built on the open-source Docling toolkit and provides enterprise-grade infrastructure for production workloads.
API & Integration
Do I need to poll for results?
If you decide to use the API directly, you will receive a task_id when you submit a conversion request. Use this task_id to access the status endpoint until the request is done.
Alteratively, the Python SDK handles the status checking internally. It polls in the background and returns the final result. It is recommended in most use cases.
What happens if conversion fails?
Task-level failures return task_status: "failure" with failure and error_message fields explaining the issue. This is reserved for internal failures that affect the task as a whole. User input problems should normally be rejected during request validation or reported as document-level failures in /v1/result/{task_id} with num_failed > 0 and a document-level status. Always check the result counters and each document's status.
Common validation or document-level failure reasons:
- Service URL or API key is incorrect
- Unsupported file format
- Corrupted or invalid file
- File size exceeds limits
- Timeout or processing limits for an individual document
The task-level failure object will guide you on how to resolve task-level errors. Task-level internal failures are generally service-side; contact support if they persist.
Can I process documents in parallel?
Yes. To convert more than one document, submit them together through the batch endpoint — see Converting Multiple Documents for a handful of documents and Batch Conversion for large collections, including ingestion from cloud storage. You may also submit multiple requests simultaneously; the service handles concurrent requests and queues them appropriately.
Performance & Optimization
How can I optimize for speed?
For faster processing:
- Use the low-latency option - Set
"low_latency": truein options for real-time applications - Process smaller documents - Break large documents into sections if possible
- Use appropriate output formats - Markdown is typically faster than JSON
- Convert collections with the batch endpoint - Submit document collections through the batch endpoint rather than one request at a time
- Cache results - Store converted documents to avoid re-processing
What is low-latency mode?
Low-latency mode ("low_latency": true) optimizes for speed over accuracy. It is suitable for any real-time applications such as agentic workflows.
Security & Compliance
Can I use this for sensitive documents?
Yes, but follow these best practices:
- Use dedicated API keys per application
- Implement proper access controls
- Monitor API usage and audit logs
- Review IBM's data processing agreements
For more clarification, contact support about your specific use case.
Troubleshooting
See Troubleshooting for common issues and solutions.
Getting Help
Where can I learn more about the features I can use?
- Code Examples - Practical examples for common use cases
- API Reference - Complete API documentation
How do I get support?
Contact the support team at https://www.ibm.com/mysupport/.