> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://sofiedocs.usetransfer.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Chat with Sofie

> Use Sofie chat for questions, analysis, drafting, model selection, voice input, planning, and artifacts.

Chat is the main place to ask Sofie for help. Use it to reason through a task, analyze sources, draft content, create artifacts, and continue work across Sofie.

To build an Orchestration from chat, see [Build an Orchestration with Sofie chat](/orchestrate/build-with-chat). To plan multi-step work before execution, see [Use Plan Mode](/chat/plan-mode). To understand long chats and the context indicator, see [Context windows and summarization](/chat/context-windows-and-summarization). To reference attachments and selected context inline, see [Reference attachments and context](/chat/reference-context). To use the current page as context, see [Use Sofie Everywhere](/chat/sofie-everywhere).

## When to use chat

Use chat when you need to:

* Ask a question or compare options.
* Summarize a document, meeting, spreadsheet, or Workspace.
* Draft text before moving it into CoDraft.
* Analyze a file before creating a CoSheet.
* Start or run an Orchestration.
* Ask Sofie to inspect the page you are viewing with Sofie Everywhere.

Move out of chat when the work needs a stable surface:

| Need                                                       | Use         |
| ---------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- |
| Document editing, comments, suggestions, revisions, export | CoDraft     |
| Tables, formulas, analysis, charts, Excel export           | CoSheet     |
| Transcript, notes, summary, meeting search                 | CoMeeting   |
| Shared files, related artifacts, team access               | Workspace   |
| Repeatable workflow with agents, tasks, tools, and review  | Orchestrate |

## Chat input controls

The chat input includes several controls.

| Control        | What it does                                                                                        |
| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Model selector | Choose the AI model and set a default with the star.                                                |
| **+**          | Add context, insert a Saved prompt, or attach files.                                                |
| Microphone     | Start **Voice Mode** for transcription and text-to-speech.                                          |
| Sliders        | Turn on **Web search**, **Deep research**, **Workspace search**, **Plan Mode**, or **Sofie Guide**. |
| Arrow          | Send the message.                                                                                   |
| Square         | Stop generation while Sofie is responding.                                                          |

<Tip>
  Press Enter to send. Use Shift+Enter for a new line.
</Tip>

## Start a useful chat

<Steps>
  <Step title="State the job">
    Tell Sofie what you want done. Use a verb such as `review`, `compare`, `draft`, `extract`, `summarize`, `convert`, or `analyze`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name the source">
    Attach a file, add a Workspace, select a CoDraft, choose a CoMeeting, or reference a CoSheet.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the output">
    Ask for a table, checklist, outline, brief, report section, risk table, or action list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add review constraints">
    Tell Sofie to flag assumptions, cite sources, avoid unsupported conclusions, or separate facts from recommendations.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Reusable structure:

```text theme={null}
Task:
Source:
Business context:
Output format:
Constraints:
Questions to answer:
```

Example:

```text theme={null}
Task: Review this draft validation protocol.
Source: Attached DOCX and the Workspace files.
Business context: Stage 2 process qualification for a fill-finish process.
Output format: A table with section, gap, why it matters, suggested edit, and SME question.
Constraints: Do not invent acceptance criteria. Flag assumptions and missing source material.
```

## Add context from Sofie

Click **+** and choose **Add context** when the context already exists in Sofie.

You can add:

* **CoDrafts** for documents.
* **Orchestrations** for repeatable workflows.
* **CoSheets** for spreadsheets.
* **CoMeetings** for transcripts, notes, and summaries.
* **Workspaces** for project context.
* **Plans** for plan work created in the current conversation.

Sofie shows selected context as chips above the input. Remove any chip that should not be used.

## Reference context with double brackets

Type `[[` in the chat input to reference a selected context item or attachment inside your message. The picker includes context already added to the chat input, including attachments, CoDrafts, CoSheets, CoMeetings, Workspaces, Orchestrations, plans, and selected content when available.

Use references when you want Sofie to focus on a specific source:

```text theme={null}
Compare [[Validation protocol]] against [[Acceptance criteria table]]. Return gaps, source support, assumptions, and SME questions.
```

You can click an item in the picker, or use the arrow keys and press Tab or Enter. For detailed examples, see [Reference attachments and context](/chat/reference-context).

## Attach files

Click **+**, then **Attach** when the source is a file on your computer. You can attach up to five files in one message.

Use attachments for:

* PDFs, Word files, PowerPoint files, text files, images, JSON files, Excel files, and CSV files.
* One-time review work.
* Files that are not ready to be shared in a Workspace.
* Importing a DOCX or DOC into CoDraft.
* Importing XLSX or CSV data into CoSheet.
* Using [File Studio](/chat/file-studio) for generated Office files, JSON or CSV transformations, or code-based analysis.

Use a Workspace instead when the files belong to a project, team, or recurring process.

## Choose a model

The model selector groups models by provider and includes a **Recommended** section. Your organization decides which models appear.

Use the star to set a default model. Change models for a specific chat when the task needs a different balance of speed, context, or reasoning.

For detailed guidance on defaults, provider groups, context tradeoffs, Plan Mode, and Orchestrations, see [Model selection](/chat/model-selection).

General guidance:

| Task                                                            | Model choice                                                    |
| --------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Quick rewrite, summary, or classification                       | Use your default recommended model.                             |
| Complex investigation, CAPA, validation, or regulatory drafting | Use a stronger reasoning model and provide sources.             |
| Long document comparison                                        | Choose a model suited to long context and keep sources focused. |
| First pass brainstorming                                        | Use a faster model, then switch if deeper review is needed.     |

<Warning>
  Model choice does not remove the need for review. For regulated or quality work, verify the sources and conclusions yourself.
</Warning>

## Use search and planning

Open the sliders menu to control extra capabilities.

* **Web search** lets Sofie use current public web information.
* **Deep research** is slower and broader. Use it when source gathering matters more than speed.
* **Workspace search** lets Sofie search selected Workspace files.
* **Plan Mode** asks Sofie to plan complex work before executing it.
* **Sofie Guide** lets Sofie search the Sofie documentation site for product-help questions.

Use **Plan Mode** for tasks like:

* Building a validation protocol outline from many sources.
* Comparing several regulatory or pharmacopoeia sources.
* Preparing an investigation work plan.
* Designing an Orchestration before creating it.

When Plan Mode is on, Sofie creates a plan card before doing the work. Review the tasks, ask for changes if needed, then click **Execute Plan** when the plan is ready. For detailed instructions, see [Use Plan Mode](/chat/plan-mode).

Use **Sofie Guide** when the question is about how Sofie works:

```text theme={null}
Use Sofie Guide. How do I decide between Workspace search, attachments, and Add context?
```

For detailed instructions, see [Sofie Guide](/chat/sofie-guide).

## Use voice input

Click the microphone to open **Voice Mode**.

Voice Mode can:

* Convert speech to text with **Transcription**.
* Read responses aloud with **Text-to-Speech**.
* Let you dictate longer instructions, then edit before sending.

Voice commands include:

| Say                       | Result                        |
| ------------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| `send`                    | Submit the current message.   |
| `clear`                   | Erase the input.              |
| `stop`                    | Stop voice mode.              |
| `new line`                | Add a line break.             |
| `undo`                    | Undo recent speech.           |
| `enable web search`       | Turn on **Web search**.       |
| `enable workspace search` | Turn on **Workspace search**. |

<Tip>
  Dictate rough notes, then edit the message before sending. This works well after meetings, SME interviews, or document reviews.
</Tip>

## Continue and organize chats

Use **Chat History** to reopen conversations. A chat may include references to Workspaces, CoDrafts, CoSheets, CoMeetings, Orchestrations, files, and plans.

Good chat hygiene:

* Rename important chats.
* Pin chats you revisit often.
* Start a new chat when the topic changes.
* Keep sensitive source material in the right Workspace.
* Ask Sofie to summarize long conversations before continuing with a new task.
* Watch the context indicator when you add large sources or continue a long thread.

## Use Sofie Everywhere

Sofie Everywhere lets you chat while viewing another Sofie page. Use it when the page itself is the context.

Examples:

* In a CoDraft: "Rewrite the selected section for QA review and flag unsupported claims."
* In a CoSheet: "Explain the outliers in the selected cells and suggest a chart."
* In a Workspace: "Search this Workspace for files related to release assay readiness."
* In a CoMeeting: "Turn this meeting into action items with owners and unresolved questions."
* In Orchestrate: "Help me refine the inputs for this workflow before I run it."

For detailed page-specific examples, see [Use Sofie Everywhere](/chat/sofie-everywhere).

## Ask Sofie to create artifacts

Useful artifact prompts:

```text theme={null}
Turn this response into a CoDraft with headings for background, issue description, investigation approach, open questions, and next steps.
```

```text theme={null}
Create a CoSheet from the attached Excel file. Add a summary tab with trends, outliers, and data points requiring review.
```

```text theme={null}
Build an Orchestration for CAPA effectiveness checks. Include required inputs, review points, and expected outputs.
```

<Warning>
  Confirm the destination before saving content to a shared Workspace. Draft material can be visible to everyone with access to that Workspace.
</Warning>