Writing effective AI prompts

[!NOTE] AI prompts live in the Custom columns panel for each document group. Client users see the results once you publish the section to them.

Overview

Prompts ask Agentive to read a document and return a specific answer, summary, or data point. They work best when you clearly describe what you expect to see and reference the columns or values that provide context. This guide walks through the full authoring flow.

Step 1: Open the custom columns panel

1. Select a document group on the workflow canvas.
2. Open Custom columns to review existing prompts and formulas.
3. Click Add AI prompt to start a new prompt.

Step 2: Give the prompt context

• Use @ mentions to pull in fields from the matching table, like invoice numbers or dates.
• Mention engagement details, such as the period or client name, when that helps the model understand the scenario.
• Keep each prompt focused on a single document or row so the answer stays specific.

Step 3: Draft the instructions

1. Name the column with the outcome you expect (for example, “Summary of approval”).
2. Write short, direct instructions. Tell the model what to look for and how to format the answer.
3. Add bullet points when you want the response broken into steps or key facts.
4. Save often; the panel stores your changes automatically.

Step 4: Test and refine

1. Use the play icon next to the prompt to run it on the current set of documents.
2. Review the output in the grid. If it feels off, adjust the wording or add more context.
3. Rerun the prompt as needed until you are satisfied with the result.

Step 5: Run prompts from the canvas

• Choose Run AI prompts from the workflow toolbar to refresh every prompt in a document group at once.
• Use Run all automations when you want to chain prompts with matching or formula runs.

Prompt writing tips

• Be specific. Clearly describe what to find (“Highlight the approval date”) instead of saying “Summarize this document.”
• Point to evidence. Mention fields that confirm the answer, such as invoice totals or employee names.
• Set the format. Ask for numbered lists, short paragraphs, or a single value so responses are consistent.
• Start small. Test with one document before applying the prompt to an entire group.

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