Displays raw :codex-file-citation markup instead of a clickable file link

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Assessment

Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Newbie friendliness
48/100
Issue type
Bug
Clarity
Mostly clear
Activity status
Quiet
Tech stack
rust
Domain
cli

Research direction

The report identifies Codex CLI 0.145.0 on macOS but names no source file or test. Reproduce the raw :codex-file-citation output in the CLI, then trace the display path; done means the citation renders as a clickable file link instead of raw markup.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Description

bug CLI skills TUI
What version of Codex CLI is running?

codex-cli 0.145.0

What subscription do you have?

ChatGPT Business

Which model were you using?

gpt-5.6-sol medium

What platform is your computer?

Darwin 25.5.0 arm64 arm

What terminal emulator and version are you using (if applicable)?

zsh

Codex doctor report
{
  "schemaVersion": 1,
  "generatedAt": "1785014410s since unix epoch",
  "overallStatus": "warning",
  "codexVersion": "0.145.0",
  "checks": {
    "app_server.status": {
      "id": "app_server.status",
      "category": "app-server",
      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "background server is not running",
      "details": {
        "control socket": "/Users/dshema/.codex/app-server-control/app-server-control.sock",
        "daemon state dir": "/Users/dshema/.codex/app-server-daemon",
        "mode": "ephemeral",
        "pid file": "/Users/dshema/.codex/app-server-daemon/app-server.pid (missing)",
        "settings": "/Users/dshema/.codex/app-server-daemon/settings.json (missing)",
        "status": "not running",
        "update-loop pid file": "/Users/dshema/.codex/app-server-daemon/app-server-updater.pid (missing)"
      },
      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 0
    },
    "auth.credentials": {
      "id": "auth.credentials",
      "category": "auth",
      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "auth is configured",
      "details": {
        "auth file": "/Users/dshema/.codex/auth.json",
        "auth storage mode": "File",
        "stored API key": "false",
        "stored ChatGPT tokens": "true",
        "stored agent identity": "false",
        "stored auth mode": "chatgpt"
      },
      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 0
    },
    "config.load": {
      "id": "config.load",
      "category": "config",
      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "config loaded",
      "details": {
        "CODEX_HOME": "/Users/dshema/.codex",
        "config.toml": "/Users/dshema/.codex/config.toml",
        "config.toml parse": "ok",
        "cwd": "/Users/dshema/Library/CloudStorage/OneDrive-NVIDIACorporation/Documents/Projects/Mercury/RX/scrum",
        "enabled feature flags": "shell_tool, unified_exec, shell_snapshot, code_mode_host, terminal_resize_reflow, sqlite, hooks, enable_request_compression, multi_agent, apps, tool_search_always_defer_mcp_tools, tool_suggest, plugins, in_app_browser, browser_use, browser_use_full_cdp_access, browser_use_external, computer_use, remote_plugin, plugin_sharing, image_generation, resize_all_images, skill_mcp_dependency_install, skill_search, mentions_v2, steer, guardian_approval, goals, collaboration_modes, tool_call_mcp_elicitation, auth_elicitation, personality, fast_mode, tui_app_server, remote_compaction_v2, workspace_dependencies",
        "feature flag overrides": "none",
        "feature flags enabled": "36",
        "log dir": "/Users/dshema/.codex/log",
        "mcp servers": "1",
        "model": "gpt-5.5",
        "model provider": "openai",
        "sqlite home": "/Users/dshema/.codex"
      },
      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 0
    },
    "git.environment": {
      "id": "git.environment",
      "category": "git",
      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "git version 2.50.1 (Apple Git-155)",
      "details": {
        ".git entry": "directory",
        "PATH git #1": "/usr/bin/git",
        "PATH git entries": "1",
        "git branch": "main",
        "git build options": "git version 2.50.1 (Apple Git-155); cpu: arm64; no commit associated with this build; sizeof-long: 8; sizeof-size_t: 8; shell-path: /bin/sh; feature: fsmonitor--daemon; libcurl: 8.7.1; zlib: 1.2.12; SHA-1: SHA1_DC; SHA-256: SHA256_BLK",
        "git exec path": "/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/libexec/git-core",
        "git version": "git version 2.50.1 (Apple Git-155)",
        "repo detected": "true",
        "repo root": "/Users/dshema/Library/CloudStorage/OneDrive-NVIDIACorporation/Documents/Projects/Mercury/RX/scrum",
        "selected git": "/usr/bin/git"
      },
      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 100
    },
    "installation": {
      "id": "installation",
      "category": "install",
      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "installation looks consistent",
      "details": {
        "PATH codex #1": "/opt/homebrew/bin/codex",
        "current executable": "/opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@openai/codex/node_modules/@openai/codex-darwin-arm64/vendor/aarch64-apple-darwin/bin/codex",
        "install context": "npm (package /opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@openai/codex/node_modules/@openai/codex-darwin-arm64/vendor/aarch64-apple-darwin, bin /opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@openai/codex/node_modules/@openai/codex-darwin-arm64/vendor/aarch64-apple-darwin/bin, resources /opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@openai/codex/node_modules/@openai/codex-darwin-arm64/vendor/aarch64-apple-darwin/codex-resources, path /opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@openai/codex/node_modules/@openai/codex-darwin-arm64/vendor/aarch64-apple-darwin/codex-path)",
        "managed by bun": "false",
        "managed by npm": "true",
        "managed by pnpm": "false",
        "managed package root": "/opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@openai/codex",
        "npm update target": "/opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@openai/codex"
      },
      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 162
    },
    "mcp.config": {
      "id": "mcp.config",
      "category": "mcp",
      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "MCP configuration is locally consistent",
      "details": {
        "configured servers": "1",
        "disabled servers": "0",
        "streamable_http servers": "1"
      },
      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 3420
    },
    "network.env": {
      "id": "network.env",
      "category": "network",
      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "network-related environment looks readable",
      "details": {
        "proxy env vars": "none"
      },
      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 0
    },
    "network.provider_reachability": {
      "id": "network.provider_reachability",
      "category": "reachability",
      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "active provider endpoints are reachable over HTTP",
      "details": {
        "ChatGPT base URL": "https://chatgpt.com/backend-api/ reachable (HTTP 403)",
        "reachability mode": "ChatGPT auth"
      },
      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 149
    },
    "network.websocket_reachability": {
      "id": "network.websocket_reachability",
      "category": "websocket",
      "status": "warning",
      "summary": "Responses WebSocket failed; HTTPS fallback may still work",
      "details": {
        "DNS": "2 IPv4, 0 IPv6, first IPv4",
        "auth mode": "chatgpt",
        "connect timeout": "15000 ms",
        "endpoint": "wss://chatgpt.com/backend-api/<redacted>",
        "handshake transport error": "http 401 Unauthorized: Some(\"{\\n  \\\"\")",
        "model provider": "openai",
        "provider name": "OpenAI",
        "proxy env vars": "none",
        "supports websockets": "true",
        "wire API": "responses"
      },
      "remediation": "Check proxy, VPN, firewall, DNS, custom CA, and WebSocket policy support.",
      "durationMs": 456
    },
    "runtime.provenance": {
      "id": "runtime.provenance",
      "category": "runtime",
      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "running npm on macos-aarch64",
      "details": {
        "commit": "unknown",
        "current executable": "/opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@openai/codex/node_modules/@openai/codex-darwin-arm64/vendor/aarch64-apple-darwin/bin/codex",
        "install method": "npm (package /opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@openai/codex/node_modules/@openai/codex-darwin-arm64/vendor/aarch64-apple-darwin, bin /opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@openai/codex/node_modules/@openai/codex-darwin-arm64/vendor/aarch64-apple-darwin/bin, resources /opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@openai/codex/node_modules/@openai/codex-darwin-arm64/vendor/aarch64-apple-darwin/codex-resources, path /opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@openai/codex/node_modules/@openai/codex-darwin-arm64/vendor/aarch64-apple-darwin/codex-path)",
        "platform": "macos-aarch64",
        "version": "0.145.0"
      },
      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 0
    },
    "runtime.search": {
      "id": "runtime.search",
      "category": "search",
      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "search is OK (bundled)",
      "details": {
        "search command": "/opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@openai/codex/node_modules/@openai/codex-darwin-arm64/vendor/aarch64-apple-darwin/codex-path/rg",
        "search command readiness": "file exists",
        "search provider": "bundled"
      },
      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 0
    },
    "sandbox.helpers": {
      "id": "sandbox.helpers",
      "category": "sandbox",
      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "sandbox configuration is readable",
      "details": {
        "approval policy": "OnRequest",
        "codex-linux-sandbox helper": "none",
        "execve wrapper helper": "/Users/dshema/.codex/tmp/arg0/codex-arg0WlAO8j/codex-execve-wrapper",
        "filesystem sandbox": "restricted",
        "network sandbox": "restricted"
      },
      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 0
    },
    "state.paths": {
      "id": "state.paths",
      "category": "state",
      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "state paths and databases are inspectable",
      "details": {
        "CODEX_HOME": "/Users/dshema/.codex (dir)",
        "active rollout files": "44 files, 27480494 total bytes, 624556 average bytes",
        "archived rollout files": "2 files, 1032787 total bytes, 516393 average bytes",
        "goals DB": "/Users/dshema/.codex/goals_1.sqlite (file)",
        "goals DB integrity": "ok",
        "log DB": "/Users/dshema/.codex/logs_2.sqlite (file)",
        "log DB integrity": "ok",
        "log dir": "/Users/dshema/.codex/log (missing)",
        "memories DB": "/Users/dshema/.codex/memories_1.sqlite (file)",
        "memories DB integrity": "ok",
        "sqlite home": "/Users/dshema/.codex (dir)",
        "state DB": "/Users/dshema/.codex/state_5.sqlite (file)",
        "state DB integrity": "ok",
        "thread history DB": "/Users/dshema/.codex/thread_history_1.sqlite (missing)",
        "thread history DB integrity": "skipped (missing)"
      },
      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 167
    },
    "state.rollout_db_parity": {
      "id": "state.rollout_db_parity",
      "category": "threads",
      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "rollout files and state DB thread inventory agree",
      "details": {
        "default model provider": "openai",
        "rollout DB active files": "44",
        "rollout DB active rows": "44",
        "rollout DB archive mismatches": "0",
        "rollout DB archived files": "2",
        "rollout DB archived rows": "2",
        "rollout DB duplicate DB paths": "0",
        "rollout DB duplicate rollout thread ids": "0",
        "rollout DB malformed file names": "0",
        "rollout DB missing active rows": "0",
        "rollout DB missing archived rows": "0",
        "rollout DB model providers": "openai=46",
        "rollout DB rows": "46",
        "rollout DB scan cap reached": "false",
        "rollout DB scan errors": "0",
        "rollout DB sources": "subagent:other=25, cli=18, subagent:thread_spawn=3",
        "rollout DB stale rows": "0"
      },
      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 166
    },
    "system.environment": {
      "id": "system.environment",
      "category": "system",
      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "OS language en-IL",
      "details": {
        "EDITOR": "not set",
        "LANG": "C.UTF-8",
        "VISUAL": "not set",
        "os": "Mac OS 26.5.2 [64-bit]",
        "os language": "en-IL",
        "os type": "Mac OS",
        "os version": "26.5.2"
      },
      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 2
    },
    "terminal.env": {
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      "category": "terminal",
      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "terminal metadata was detected",
      "details": {
        "COLORTERM": "truecolor",
        "TERM_PROGRAM": "vscode",
        "VSCODE_INJECTION": "present",
        "color output": "enabled",
        "effective locale": "C.UTF-8",
        "stderr is terminal": "true",
        "stdin is terminal": "true",
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        "terminal": "VS Code",
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    "terminal.title": {
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      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "terminal title configured",
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        "terminal title source": "configured"
      },
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    },
    "updates.status": {
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      "category": "updates",
      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "update configuration is locally consistent",
      "details": {
        "cached latest version": "0.145.0",
        "check for update on startup": "true",
        "last checked at": "2026-07-25T17:39:27.456801Z",
        "latest version": "0.145.0",
        "latest version status": "current version is not older",
        "npm update target": "/opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@openai/codex",
        "update action": "npm install -g @openai/codex",
        "version cache": "/Users/dshema/.codex/version.json"
      },
      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 600
    }
  }
}
What issue are you seeing?

When an OpenAI artifact plugin (for example, Spreadsheets) produces a file, the assistant’s final response contains markup such as:

:codex-file-citation{path="/absolute/path/output.xlsx" purpose="output" artifact_kind="workbook"}

Codex displays this markup verbatim instead of rendering it as a clickable file link or attachment.

This occurs across multiple chats and is reproducible whenever the plugin instructs the assistant to cite a generated file.

What steps can reproduce the bug?

Uploaded thread: 019f9ae9-e637-7c33-9e76-585d68214087

What is the expected behavior?

The file-citation marker should render as a clickable local-file link or artifact attachment.

If the CLI does not support this artifact syntax, it should gracefully fall back to a normal Markdown link or display the output path without exposing internal markup.

Additional information

No response

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