Understanding Templates
Templates in ChatPRD provide structured frameworks for your documents, helping you create consistent and comprehensive product documentation. They include predefined sections and guidance to ensure you cover all necessary aspects of your product requirements.
Using Existing Templates
Selecting a Template for a New Chat
When starting a new chat, you'll see template options in the template selector available by clicking the terminal icon in the bottom left of the chat window.
Click on the template dropdown to view available templates.
Browse through the templates and select the one that best fits your needs.
After selecting a template, start your chat with ChatPRD, which will guide you through creating a document based on the selected template.
Switching Templates Mid-Conversation
In an active chat, click on the template selector on the left side of the chat box.
Select a different template from the dropdown menu.
ChatPRD will adapt the conversation to the new template structure.
Creating Custom Templates
Creating a New Template
Navigate to Settings > Templates.
Click the Add New Template button.
You can add a new template manually, by pasting in text, or uploading a PDF.
Fill in the template details:
Template Title: Give your template a descriptive name
Template Description: Provide a brief explanation of the template's purpose and use cases
Add sections to your template:
Click Add Section to create a new section
Enter a Section Title (required)
Add an optional Section Description to guide users
Arrange sections in the desired order.
Click Save Template to create your custom template.
Editing Existing Templates
Navigate to Settings > Templates.
Find the template you want to edit and click the Edit button.
Modify the template title, description, or sections as needed.
Add or remove sections using the respective buttons.
Click Save to update the template.
Setting Default Templates
To set a template as your default:
Navigate to Settings > Templates.
Find the template you want to set as default.
Click the Make Default button next to the template.
The template will now be marked as "Default" and will be automatically selected when starting new chats.
Sharing Templates with Your Team
On Team plans, you can share templates with your team members:
When creating or editing a template, toggle the Share Template option to ON.
Save the template.
The template will now be available to all members of your organization.
Team members can use shared templates but cannot edit them unless they are the creator.
Template Best Practices
Start with the basics: Begin with ChatPRD's default templates to understand the structure.
Customize for your needs: Create templates that reflect your organization's specific documentation requirements.
Keep it focused: Create different templates for different types of documents (PRDs, specs, briefs, etc.).
Include guidance: Add helpful descriptions to each section to guide users.
Iterate and improve: Refine your templates based on feedback and evolving needs.
Share knowledge: Share effective templates with your team to establish consistent documentation practices.
Troubleshooting Templates
If you encounter issues with templates:
Template not saving: Ensure you've filled in all required fields, especially section titles.
Template not appearing: Refresh the page or check if you have the necessary permissions.
Cannot edit template: Verify that you are the creator of the template or have admin permissions.
Default template not applying: Make sure you've clicked the "Make Default" button and not just selected the template.
For additional help with templates, contact ChatPRD support.