Writing a prompt is generally simple: a user asks for something, and Alix provides the answer. Yet how a prompt is written can significantly influence the quality and relevance of the responses generated by Alix.
What is a prompt?
A prompt is the text a user provides to Alix to get a desired output. Prompts can be generally categorized into a few main types: informational, instructional, creative, and conversational.
Alix specializes in instructional and informational prompts in providing tasks or directions and facts or data to users making requests.
The sections below dig deeper into best practices and practical techniques to consider when writing prompts.
Be specific and clear.
Before asking a new query that is unrelated to the previous one, select Clear chat and make sure the chat screen is empty. This ensures accurate results.
Clearly state and specify exactly what you want Alix to do;this will help Alix focus on the right tools and content to work with.
When possible, avoid asking vague questions or giving open-ended instructions, as this could result in an incorrect or undesirable response.
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Example: "Show me all Commitment Lines for PO-X where Cost Account ID is X.” is a specified and clear question. Whereas “List down the Commitment Line Items” is general and vague on what specific information the user is seeking.
Provide context.
Provide relevant context and details, when necessary, to help Alix better understand the full picture of your request. This can include elements such as background details, the purpose of your inquiry, or any specific preferences or limitations related to your request.
While context may not always be necessary, it can help Alix generate responses that are more relevant and aligned with your needs.
Avoid details which are not relevant to your current request and don’t assume that Alix knows a certain context related to your request.
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Example: “What is the Actual cost for PO-X in Project - X?” instead of "What is the Actual cost for PO-X in INR?".
Keep it simple.
Use simple and direct language, focusing on a specific request. A short and well-structured prompt will guide Alix to a more focused and relevant answer. If you have a complex request, break it down into smaller, manageable prompts to help Alix tackle each request separately.
Avoid complex or long-winded phrases whenever possible, as well as ambiguous terms or jargon, as these can result in scattered or incomplete responses.
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Example: “Provide the % Complete/PV Cost /Earned Hours and Earned Cost for Work Packages only in Project X for Period X, excluding any records where % Complete = 0, and display the results in a tabular format.”
This is a long-winded question, instead, break down each portion into its own request and make it a conversation.
Request explanations or reasoning.
If you want Alix to explain a process or provide reasoning on a particular subject, include this in your prompt.
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Example: "Explain how the Original Commitment, Approved Changes, and Current Commitment are calculated for WBS WBS-102, and why the Current Commitment increased between 2025-09-01 and 2025-10-15." This explicitly asks Alix to explain the process (how the fields are calculated) and to provide reasoning.
Make it a conversation.
Write as if you’re speaking to another person and express your thoughts in complete sentences. Use follow-up prompts to refine your request, if initial results don’t meet your expectations.
It’s an interactive and iterative process. Small changes can dramatically improve the quality of response from Alix and help fine-tune your approach to writing prompts.