Chat to SD

Summary Chat to SD turns a long, unstructured chat message into an SD. You choose which parts of the message become section headers and which become notes, or let AI build the structure for you. Then you give the SD a title and create it. Each point in the new SD has its own chat, so you can discuss it on its own, and you can add tasks and track progress as in any other SD.

Steps

Note. Chat to SD helps with a message that mixes many points together, where it is hard to see the main points, the issues, or where to focus your attention.

Tip. There are two ways to build the SD: choose the section headers and notes yourself, or click AI (beta) and let AI build them. Either way, you can edit the result before you create the SD.

Step 1

In the chat, find the long message you want to turn into an SD.

Step 2

Swipe the message from right to left. Three options appear at its right: task, reply and sd.

Step 3

Click sd, the orange option at the far right. The Inline SD window opens.

Step 4

The text of the message is laid out on the left of the window, under Inline Comment.

Step 5

The right of the window is a blank canvas, ready for you to build your SD.

Building the SD yourself

Step 6

On the left, select the text you want in the SD. A small Section Header | Note menu appears above it. Click Section Header or Note.

Step 7

The text appears as a new row on the canvas. Section headers show in dark grey.

Step 8

Work through the message, adding each main point as a section header.

Step 9

Add the details under each point as notes.

Step 10

The SD takes shape on the canvas. Notes show in light grey, so they are easy to tell apart from the dark grey section headers and the structure stays clear.

Step 11

To add a section header or note of your own, click manual in the middle of the window.

Step 12

A new, empty row is added at the bottom of the canvas. Double-click it and type the title of the section header or note.

Step 13

When you're done, click the tick to the right of the text box.

Step 14

The new row is added to the canvas as a section header.

Step 15

To change a row to a note, click the toggle at the right end of the row.

Step 16

To move a row, click and hold the burger bar (three lines) at the left of the row, and drag the row to where you want it.

Step 17

To delete a row, click the rubbish bin just left of its toggle.

Step 18

To start again, click clear in the middle of the window. The canvas is cleared back to scratch. Only the canvas is cleared: the message on the left stays as it is.

Letting AI build the SD

Step 19

To have AI build the SD for you, click AI (beta) in the middle of the window.

Step 20

AI builds an SD from the message: its section headers and notes appear on the canvas.

Step 21

Check what AI has built. AI can process a lot of information, but it doesn't always get everything right or lay it out the way you want. Edit, move or delete rows until the SD suits your needs.

Creating and using the SD

Step 22

Type a title for your SD in the Type the title for your inline SD box at the top right of the window.

Step 23

Click Create SD, the purple bar at the bottom right of the window. Your new SD opens, with the section headers and notes from the canvas.

Step 24

Each section header and note in the SD has its own chat. To discuss one point, use the chat on that note or section header, so the conversation stays on that point and nothing gets lost.

Note. Splitting a long message into separate points, each with its own chat thread, lets everyone deal with one issue at a time instead of a tangle of ideas competing for attention. It is a powerful skill for managers and customer-facing staff, and Chat to SD makes it quick.

Tip. The new SD works like any other SD: you can create tasks in it and use the traffic light system to track progress.

Step 25

Back in the original chat, an orange SD row now sits under the message. Click View SD at the right end of that row to open the SD from the chat. It's a good idea to embed the new SD in a parent SD, so it is easy to find again.