Ask AI to work with files: provide inputs and completion criteria
Translated from Korean. View original
If attaching material did not produce the result you wanted, the request may have been unclear. Specify what to read, what to do, where to put the result and how to check it. You do not need a long memorized prompt. Start with a familiar file, such as meeting notes or customer inquiries, and missing information is easier to spot.
What should I say after uploading a file?
Give the filename and the task together. If there are several files, identify the authoritative source. ‘Separate decisions and items deferred to the next meeting from meeting.txt’ is easier to verify than ‘Organize this.’
Check whether the app accepts attachments or reads a working folder on your computer. Writing a path in chat does not mean every app can read that file.
Is there a template for a first request?
Adapt the following four lines to your task. Once the necessary conditions are included, the request need not be longer.
Material: Read notes/meeting.txt. Task: Separate decisions from follow-up action items. Result: Save as output/meeting-summary.md and preserve the original. Check: Use only owners and deadlines in the source; mark missing ones as undecided.
If the app cannot save files, change the result line to ‘Show text I can copy from the conversation.’
Should I provide all files at once?
First explain the role of each file. If last month's report is a formatting reference and this month's table is the source of numbers, the distinction matters. Otherwise last month's figures could be mixed into the result.
Example request: ‘Use format-example.md only for the outline and tone, and take figures from september.csv. Do not copy company names or numbers from the example. Mark values missing from the table as needing confirmation.’
When should I split the task?
If the material is large or its structure is unfamiliar, start by checking the file list. Ask ‘First tell me the file types and anything you cannot read’ so you can spot omissions before analysis begins.
Divide the work into reviewable stages such as inspecting material, drafting and final review. You do not have to repeat the same explanation at every stage; identify what to change in the previous result.
How do I review the result?
Natural-sounding writing and accurate content are different things. Compare high-impact details such as dates, totals, names and decision status with the source first. If several files were used, you can ask where key claims came from.
Example review request: ‘Compare the dates and owners in the result with the original. List items not found in the source, files you could not read and any assumptions separately.’
Frequently asked questions
Q. The AI says it cannot read the file. A. Check the file format, permissions and whether the app supports attachments. Also check whether you provided only a filename or attached the actual file.
Q. What if I reuse the same request often? A. Keep changing filenames in the request and consider moving repeated organization criteria into a skill.