When deciding whether to put instructions for generating a formatted report in the assistant instructions or in the prompts, consider the following differences and use cases:
Assistant Instructions
- Scope: These are more general and apply to all interactions with the assistant. They are useful for setting broad guidelines that should be consistently followed.
- Consistency: Instructions here ensure that the assistant adheres to specific formats or styles across multiple sessions or interactions.
- Overhead: If the formatting requirements are complex and need to be followed across many prompts, placing them in the assistant instructions can reduce the need for repetitive input.
Prompts
- Specificity: Prompts are for specific, one-time instructions that apply to the current interaction or a particular task.
- Flexibility: This allows you to customize the formatting for different reports or threads without altering the overall assistant instructions.
- Clarity: Each prompt can include detailed instructions relevant only to that specific report, making it clear what is needed for that instance.
Recommendation
- Assistant Instructions: Use these for general formatting guidelines that should apply to all reports. This can include preferences like font style, layout, and structure.
- Prompts: Use these for specific instructions that apply to individual reports. Include detailed formatting requirements that are unique to that report.
Example
Assistant Instructions:
- Use Arial 12pt font for all reports.
- Include a header with the report title, date, and author.
- Format sections with bold headings and bullet points for lists.
Prompts:
- For this specific report, ensure the table of contents includes links to each section.
- Highlight the key findings in a summary box at the top.
- Add a footer with page numbers and a disclaimer text.
This way, the general style and layout preferences are always followed, while specific details can be tailored as needed for individual reports.