> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sky-scribe.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Templates

> Build and manage templates that define what information to extract from your transcripts.

## Overview

Templates tell the AI what information to extract from your transcripts and how to format it. SkyScribe provides pre-defined templates for common use cases, and you can create custom templates for your specific needs.

## What are Templates?

Templates are instructions that guide AI to:

* Identify relevant information in transcripts
* Structure information in a specific format
* Focus on what matters for your use case

**Think of templates as:**

* A recipe for extracting specific insights
* Instructions for organizing information
* A reusable format for consistent results

## Accessing Templates

Navigate to the **Templates** tab to:

* View all available templates
* Create new templates
* Edit existing templates
* Delete custom templates

<Note>
  Pre-defined templates (Executive Summary, Team Meeting, Candidate Interview, Lecture Notes, YouTube Summary) cannot be deleted but can be used as inspiration for custom templates.
</Note>

## Creating a Custom Template

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Templates tab">
    Navigate to the **Templates** tab in your dashboard.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Create New Template">
    Click the **Create New Template** or **+ New Template** button.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name your template">
    Give your template a clear, descriptive name that reflects its purpose.

    **Examples:**

    * "Sales Call Summary"
    * "Product Feedback Analysis"
    * "Weekly Standup Notes"
    * "Customer Support Insights"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Write template instructions">
    Define what information you want extracted and how it should be formatted.

    **Good template instructions include:**

    * What sections to create
    * What information to include in each section
    * How to format the output
    * Any specific focus areas
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test your template">
    Save the template and test it on a sample transcript to see if it extracts the right information.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Refine as needed">
    Edit and improve your template based on the results.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Writing Effective Templates

### Template Structure

A well-structured template clearly defines sections and what belongs in each:

```
[Section Name]
- What to extract
- How to format it
- Level of detail

[Another Section]
- Different focus area
- Specific formatting
```

### Example: Sales Call Template

```
Call Overview
Provide a brief summary of the call including the prospect name, company,
and main topics discussed.

Pain Points & Needs
List the key challenges and needs mentioned by the prospect. Include
specific examples they shared.

Product Interest
Outline which products or features the prospect showed interest in and why.

Objections & Concerns
Document any objections, concerns, or hesitations raised during the call.

Next Steps
List all agreed-upon action items with owners and timelines:
• Action item - Owner - Timeline

Opportunity Score (1-10)
Rate the likelihood of closing this deal based on the conversation, with
brief reasoning.
```

### Tips for Better Templates

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Be Specific" icon="bullseye">
    Clear instructions produce better results

    **Good:** "List all action items with owners and deadlines"

    **Bad:** "Summarize the meeting"
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use Formatting" icon="list">
    Define how you want information structured

    Use bullets, numbers, sections, or tables to organize output
  </Card>

  <Card title="Provide Examples" icon="lightbulb">
    Show the AI what you want

    Include sample outputs or formats in your template
  </Card>

  <Card title="Focus Content" icon="filter">
    Tell the AI what matters most

    Prioritize important information over comprehensive coverage
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Pre-defined Template Examples

Learn from SkyScribe's pre-defined templates:

### Team Meeting Template

```
Overview
The team reviewed company progress, key milestones, and upcoming goals.
Leadership shared updates on product development, funding, and growth
strategies. Teams highlighted recent wins and challenges. The meeting
concluded with a Q&A and a discussion on cross-functional collaboration
for the next quarter.

Timeline Outline
• Company Progress & Key Milestones
• Product Development Updates
• Funding & Growth Strategies
• Team Wins & Challenges
```

**What makes this effective:**

* Clear overview section
* Structured timeline with bullet points
* Focuses on key topics
* Easy to scan

### Candidate Interview Template

```
Candidate Background
[Summary of experience, education, and current role]

Key Qualifications
• Qualification 1
• Qualification 2
• Qualification 3

Strengths
[Notable strengths demonstrated in interview]

Areas of Concern
[Any concerns or gaps identified]

Cultural Fit
[Assessment of how candidate aligns with company values]

Recommendation
[Hire/No hire with reasoning]
```

**What makes this effective:**

* Organized decision-making framework
* Clear sections for different criteria
* Actionable recommendation
* Consistent evaluation across candidates

## Editing Templates

To modify an existing template:

1. Navigate to the **Templates** tab
2. Find the template you want to edit
3. Click the **Edit** icon
4. Make your changes
5. Save the updated template

<Warning>
  Editing a template affects future extractions but does not update previous extracts created with that template.
</Warning>

## Deleting Templates

To remove a custom template:

1. Navigate to the **Templates** tab
2. Find the template you want to delete
3. Click the **Delete** icon
4. Confirm deletion

<Note>
  Only custom templates can be deleted. Pre-defined templates are permanent but you can create modified versions with different names.
</Note>

## Template Best Practices

### 1. Start with Pre-defined Templates

Use SkyScribe's templates as starting points and modify them for your needs.

### 2. Test and Iterate

Create the template, test it on real transcripts, refine based on results.

### 3. Keep Templates Focused

Better to have multiple specific templates than one that tries to do everything.

### 4. Use Consistent Naming

Name templates clearly so they're easy to find and understand:

* ✅ "Product Demo Follow-up"
* ✅ "Weekly Team Sync Notes"
* ❌ "Template 1"
* ❌ "New Template"

### 5. Document Your Templates

Add context in template names or instructions about when to use them.

## Common Template Types

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Meeting Templates" icon="users">
    **Use for:** Team meetings, standups, planning sessions

    **Common sections:**

    * Meeting overview
    * Key decisions
    * Action items with owners
    * Discussion topics
    * Blockers and challenges
    * Next steps and timeline
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Interview Templates" icon="user-tie">
    **Use for:** Job interviews, customer interviews, research

    **Common sections:**

    * Participant background
    * Key insights or qualifications
    * Strengths and weaknesses
    * Notable quotes
    * Recommendations or next steps
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Content Summary Templates" icon="file-alt">
    **Use for:** Podcasts, webinars, lectures, videos

    **Common sections:**

    * Content overview
    * Main topics covered
    * Key takeaways
    * Notable quotes
    * Chapter breakdown with timestamps
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Analysis Templates" icon="chart-line">
    **Use for:** Research analysis, feedback collection, data review

    **Common sections:**

    * Overview of findings
    * Key themes
    * Supporting examples
    * Insights and patterns
    * Recommendations
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Template Examples by Industry

### Customer Support

```
Call Summary
Brief overview of the customer issue and resolution.

Customer Information
• Name, Account ID
• Product/Service affected
• Priority level

Issue Description
Detailed description of the problem reported.

Troubleshooting Steps
List all steps taken to diagnose and resolve the issue.

Resolution
Final solution and outcome.

Follow-up Required
Any pending actions or customer follow-ups needed.
```

### Product Management

```
User Feedback Summary
Overview of feedback session and participant details.

Feature Requests
• Feature 1 - User pain point
• Feature 2 - User pain point

Pain Points
Current frustrations and challenges mentioned.

Positive Feedback
What users love about the product.

Competitive Mentions
Any competitor products mentioned and why.

Action Items
Product team next steps based on feedback.
```

### Sales & Business Development

```
Prospect Overview
Company, contact person, and call purpose.

Current Situation
Prospect's current challenges and needs.

Budget & Timeline
Discussed budget and decision timeline.

Decision Makers
Who is involved in the decision process.

Competitive Landscape
Other solutions being considered.

Next Steps
• Step 1 - Owner - Date
• Step 2 - Owner - Date

Win Probability: [Score/10]
```

## Troubleshooting

### Extract Doesn't Match Template

**Problem:** AI extraction doesn't follow your template structure

**Solutions:**

* Make instructions more specific
* Provide example formats
* Break complex sections into simpler parts
* Test with different transcripts

### Missing Information

**Problem:** Important details not included in extract

**Solutions:**

* Explicitly list what to include
* Add section specifically for that information
* Check if information exists in transcript
* Edit transcript to fix any errors

### Too Much Detail

**Problem:** Extract is too long or includes unnecessary information

**Solutions:**

* Add length guidelines ("Keep to 3-5 bullet points")
* Specify what to exclude
* Focus template on key priorities only
* Use "brief summary" or "highlights only" language

## Need Help?

If you have questions about creating templates:

* See the [Extract guide](/guides/extract) for how to use templates
* Check [example templates](#pre-defined-template-examples) for inspiration
* Contact our support team at [support@sky-scribe.com](mailto:support@sky-scribe.com)
* Share your template ideas to help us improve
