Using Assistants

Start a conversation with an Assistant to get AI help. You can type questions, attach files, use suggested questions, and work with streaming responses and citations.

Start a Conversation

1. Open an Assistant (Home screen card or Assistants page)
2. You’ll see its name, description, and often suggested questions
3. Type your message and press Enter / Send

You can also click a Suggested Question to send it instantly.

How to Ask Questions That Get Better Results

Use this structure:

Goal + Context + Constraints + Output format

Example:

“Create a customer-ready summary of these QA findings. Keep it non-technical, 6–8 bullets, and include next steps.”

If you don’t know what to ask, start with:

• “What are the key risks here?”
• “What information do you need from me to proceed?”
• “Give me 3 options and recommend one.”

Attach Files to a Chat

Attaching files lets the Assistant read and use content as context.

1. Click the Attach (paperclip) icon
2. Select one or more files (PDF, Word, text, images, etc.)
3. Send your message with instructions (e.g., summarize, extract, compare)

Referencing Knowledge Base Files Inline with

In many places you can type # to open a selector for Knowledge Base files. It inserts a reference like #filename#. Use this when you want the assistant to ground its answer in a specific known file.

Knowledge Base Citations in Answers

When an Assistant is configured to use the Knowledge Base:

• Decoder retrieves relevant documents
• The Assistant uses them as context
• The response shows citations (e.g., [1], [2])

Click a citation to view the source.

If you expected citations but don’t see them:

• The assistant may not have Knowledge Base enabled
• Or no relevant documents were found
• Or your prompt didn’t clearly connect to KB content

Fix: Rephrase your question and mention the document or topic explicitly.

Message Actions (Copy, Edit, Export)

On Assistant responses you may see:

• Copy — Copies the response text (typically without citations)
• Add to Editor — Opens a rich text editor for polishing
• Export — Export as PDF, Word, Google Docs, or Email Draft (if configured)

When Export Options Don’t Appear or Fail

Most often:

• The needed integration (Google / Gmail / Outlook) isn’t connected
• A pop-up blocker prevented OAuth windows
• Your User Settings → Email Client is not configured

Prompt Optimizer (Magic Wand)

Use this when your prompt feels messy or you want to improve clarity.

1. Type your draft question
2. Click Optimize Prompt
3. Optionally add “enhancement instructions” (e.g., “Focus on technical details”, “Make it executive-friendly”)
4. Click Enhance Prompt
5. Review → Use Enhanced Prompt → Send

Skills (Structured Q&A Flows)

Some assistants include Skills — guided flows that ask you a set of questions, then produce a tailored output.

Use Skills when:

• You need consistent formatting (e.g., a standardized QA report)
• You want the assistant to ask you the right questions instead of guessing
• You want repeatable outcomes across users

Follow-up Suggestions

After a response, you may see:

• Follow-up Questions — Click to ask next
• Follow-up Actions — Click to run a recommended action/workflow

Use these to move from “answer” → “next step” quickly.

Assistant Troubleshooting Checklist