Overview
Flow ID: new-chat-template
Category: Chat Interactions
Estimated Duration: 1-3 minutes
User Role: All Users
Complexity: Simple
Purpose: This flow allows users to create a new chat conversation using a predefined template that includes pre-configured settings, personas, prompts, and behaviors. Templates streamline common workflows like creating social media content, generating proposals, or conducting multi-perspective analysis.
Related Flows
- Create New Empty Chat - Alternative without template
- Entourage Mode Manage Chat Personas - Templates include personas
- Chat with Dataset Query Enabled - Dataset templates
Prerequisites
Before starting, users must have:
- Application running
- At least one chat model available
- Templates configured (default templates or custom ones)
- For dataset templates: Active dataset available
Step-by-Step Flow
Main Path (Happy Path)
Step 1: Navigate to New Chat
- User Action: Click "Chat" in navigation (if no chat open) OR click "New Chat" button
- System Response: New chat creation screen displays
- UI Elements Visible:
- Large text input for starting conversation
- Template selection buttons below input
- Each template showing:
- Name (e.g., "LinkedIn Post", "Sales Proposal", "Legal Review")
- Brief description
- Disclaimer text at bottom
- Visual Cues: Template buttons prominent and clickable
Step 2: Review Available Templates
- User Action: Read template names and descriptions
- System Response: Templates displayed
- UI Elements Visible:
- 3-6 template buttons (varies by configuration)
- Common templates:
- Social Media Content
- Sales Proposal
- Multi-Agent Team Discussion
- Legal Review
- Dataset Query Only (Pure Search)
- Each button styled consistently
- Visual Cues: Buttons arranged in grid or list
Step 3: Select Template
- User Action: Click desired template button
- System Response:
- Chat creates with template configuration
- If template requires dataset: Dataset query auto-enabled and locked
- If template has multiple personas: All personas loaded
- Chat interface loads
- UI Elements Visible:
- Loading indicator briefly
- Chat interface appears
- Template-specific settings visible:
- May see multiple persona names
- Dataset query may be enabled and locked
- Special instructions or context may be shown
- Text input ready for first message
- Visual Cues:
- Smooth transition to chat interface
- Template indicator may show in header
Step 4: Observe Template Configuration
- User Action: Notice template-specific setup
- System Response: Chat displays with template configurations applied
- UI Elements Visible:
- Chat header shows chat name (may be template-based)
- Subtitle may indicate template used
- For multi-persona templates: Multiple persona indicators
- For dataset templates: Dataset selector locked "ON"
- Text input with template-appropriate placeholder
- Visual Cues:
- Template branding or indicators
- Special UI elements based on template
Step 5: Enter First Message
- User Action: Type message appropriate for template purpose
- System Response: Text appears, send button enables
- UI Elements Visible:
- Text input with message
- Template-specific controls active
- Send button ready
- Visual Cues: Standard input behavior
Step 6: Send Message
- User Action: Click send or press Enter
- System Response:
- Template-specific processing:
- Single persona: Standard response
- Multi-persona: Multiple responses from different perspectives
- Dataset-only: Search results without generation
- Response(s) generate according to template
- Template-specific processing:
- UI Elements Visible:
- Loading indicators
- Template-appropriate response format
- Multiple persona responses if applicable
- Visual Cues: Template-specific response styling
Final Step: Template Chat Active
- Success Indicator:
- Chat created with template configuration
- Settings match template
- Can use immediately
- Template behavior works as expected
- System State Change:
- New chat created
- Template settings applied
- Chat marked with template ID for reference
- Can modify settings if needed
- Next Possible Actions:
- Continue conversation using template
- Modify template settings if needed
- Save chat for reuse
- Create more template-based chats
Alternative Paths & Strategies
Strategy A: Type Then Select Template
When to use: User starts typing then realizes template would be better
Steps:
- Start typing in text input
- Before sending, click template button
- Template loads and may preserve typed text
- Continue with template configuration
QA Note: Text preservation not confirmed. May lose typed text when selecting template.
Strategy B: Modify Template After Creation
When to use: Template is close but needs adjustment
Steps:
- Create chat from template
- Open advanced settings
- Modify personas, prompts, or settings
- Save changes
- Use modified template configuration
Error States & Recovery
Error 1: Template Requires Dataset But None Available
Cause: Template needs dataset but no dataset is active
User Experience:
- Error message: "Dataset required for this template"
- Cannot use template
- May auto-navigate to dataset upload
Recovery Steps:
- Upload and activate a dataset
- Return to new chat
- Select template again
- Should work with dataset available
Error 2: Template Configuration Fails
Cause: Template definition error or missing personas
User Experience:
- Template loads but behaves like standard chat
- Missing expected personas or settings
- Error notification may appear
Recovery Steps:
- Manually configure desired settings
- Check template configuration if access to settings
- Use empty chat and configure manually
- Report template issue
Version History
| Date | Version | Author | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-04 | 1.1 | Iternal Technologies | Initial comprehensive documentation |
Notes
Common Templates:
- Social Media: Optimized for creating posts with emojis and viral content
- Sales Proposals: Professional business writing
- Multi-Agent Team: Simulates team discussion with multiple perspectives
- Legal Review: Multiple attorney personas for comprehensive analysis
- Dataset Only: Pure search without AI generation (fastest responses)
Best Practices:
- Choose template matching your task
- Understand template configuration before using
- Modify settings if template doesn't quite fit
- Create custom templates for recurring workflows
Common User Questions:
- "Can I modify templates?" - Can modify settings after creation, or ask admin to update template definition
- "How do I create custom templates?" - Typically requires admin access to configuration
- "What's the difference from empty chat?" - Templates pre-configure settings; empty chat requires manual setup
Trigger
What initiates this flow:
- User manually initiates
Specific trigger: User wants to use predefined chat configuration for specific task rather than starting from scratch.
User Intent Analysis
Primary Intent
Start a conversation pre-configured for a specific task or workflow using a template that includes appropriate settings, personas, and context.
Secondary Intents
- Save time configuring settings
- Use proven configurations for common tasks
- Access specialized workflows (multi-persona, dataset-only, etc.)
- Ensure consistent approach for recurring tasks