Important note: ChatGPT isn't perfect

This procedure will get ChatGPT to retain your topic formatting as much as possible. However, it won't always do this perfectly and you may still need to make adjustments after transferring its results to your topic.

Step 1: Select the text and attach it as XML

Always use the XML attachment option if you want to get as close as possible to the original formatting.

Step 2: Write your prompt

Then write a prompt telling ChatGPT to do what you want. Always include instructions to preserve the XML formatting. For example:

Translate the attached selection to German, using and retaining the XML formatting.

This gives a result like this:

Step 3: Select the response and transfer it to the topic

Finally, you need to click on the response bubble to select it and then right-click or select the gear icon to access the Copy Chat Selection to Topic option. If you want the original text in the topic to be replaced, it must be selected before you make the transfer.

Note: You can only select the entire response bubble. Don't try to select just part of the text.

Step 1: Make sure nothing in the current topic is selected

If anything is selected, it will be replaced with the new content.

Step 2: Write a prompt that generates your content

Here, it's important to be specific. Include instructions asking for structured and formatted content. The example below was generated with this prompt:

Generate a brief introduction to writing software documentation for beginners. Structure the introduction with headings for better readability. Use a relaxed style without jargon.

Step 3: Select the result bubble and transfer it to the topic

Click on the response bubble to select it. Then right-click or use the gear icon menu to transfer it to the topic.

TIP: If ChatGPT inserts anchors

ChatGPT may insert anchors in front of the headings it creates. You can avoid this by including an instruction to not add anchors in your prompt. Or just select the text afterwards and ask ChatGPT to remove the anchors, using the regular selection for editing existing text (see above in this topic).

There is also a way to get ChatGPT to use Help+Manual XML for new content as well.

1.Create a dummy template topic using all the kinds of formatting and styles that you want the AI to use.

2.Save this as an external snippet file in a location where you can access it easly for reuse.

3.Before writing your prompt, insert your template snippet in the current topic using copy/paste mode.

4.Select the template text and attach it to your chat as XML.

5.Write your prompt with instructions to ChatGPT to format it with XML, using the selection as a model.

You will then be able to replace your template text with the XML that ChatGPT generates, using the regular Copy Chat Selection to Topic command in the right-click or gear icon menu.