Pre-prompting
- Patrick Law |
- 14 steps |
- 58 seconds
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- Open your web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox).
- Go to [[[ChatGPT]]](https://chat.openai.com/)
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Log in to ChatGPT
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#### **Key Elements of a Preprompt**
Crafting a clear preprompt involves defining ChatGPT’s **role**, setting the **intent**, and establishing **limitations**. Here’s how each element works and how to apply it.
#### **A. Role Definition: Telling ChatGPT What It Is**
- **Purpose:** Assigning a role to ChatGPT focuses its responses on the expertise level and voice you need.
- **Steps to Define the Role:**
1. Begin with a phrase that assigns ChatGPT a role that matches your task.
2. Example roles include:
- "You are an engineering assistant specializing in thermodynamics."
- "You are a process engineer with expertise in fluid mechanics."
3. **Use Case Tip:** Adjust the role based on the task. For detailed calculations, specify the field (e.g., thermodynamics). For broader tasks, use roles like “technical writer” or “engineering document specialist.”
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#### **B. Intent Specification: Stating the Task Clearly**
- **Purpose:** This part tells ChatGPT exactly what you need it to do—whether calculating, summarizing, or analyzing.
- **Steps to Set Intent:**
1. Use a clear instruction to describe the task.
2. Start with action-oriented language, like:
- "Calculate the heat transfer area required for a heat exchanger."
- "Summarize the water treatment process, highlighting key stages."
- "Draft a technical report on pipeline friction loss analysis."
3. **Use Case Tip:** Include keywords like "calculate," "analyze," or "summarize" to set a clear objective.
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#### **C. Setting Limitations: Adding Constraints and Requirements**
- **Purpose:** Limitations ensure ChatGPT’s output meets your standards, including preferred units, level of detail, or formatting style.
- **Steps to Establish Limitations:**
1. Identify specific constraints, like units, detail level, or formatting.
2. Use specific instructions, such as:
- "Use SI units throughout and provide each calculation step."
- "Structure the response in sections: Background, Methodology, Results, Conclusion."
- "Keep the summary under 200 words, and include only key findings."
3. **Use Case Tip:** For technical calculations, require specific units and detailed steps. For summaries, focus on conciseness and critical points.
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Creating Your First Engineering Preprompt
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The following is an example to help you construct a preprompt. You can modify this example or type a preprompt of your own to suit a different engineering task, such as writing a technical summary, generating a process outline, or conducting an analysis.
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- **Step 1:** Type this preprompt into the **"Send a message"** text box to set ChatGPT’s role, intent, and limitations.
- **Step 2:** Press **Enter** to submit and observe how ChatGPT responds. This example can be adapted for different tasks by adjusting the task description, data, or requirements.
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Result should look like this
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Structuring Preprompts for Organized Documentation
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- **Step 1:** Start a fresh chat by clicking **New Chat**.
- **Step 2:** Enter a preprompt that includes section headings for documentation.
- **Step 3:** Submit and review ChatGPT’s response, ensuring it provides each section as requested.
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Click here
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Multi-Step Preprompts for Complex Tasks
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- **Step 1:** Start a **New Chat**.
- **Step 2:** Enter a multi-step preprompt, outlining specific steps or sections for a comprehensive analysis.
**Step 3:** Submit and review each step to ensure ChatGPT follows the sequence accurately.
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Click here
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Remember, the examples provided here are just a starting point—feel free to adapt them to fit the unique requirements of your projects.
