Field instructions are guidelines you provide to clarify the specific data that should be extracted or how the AI should interpret a field. These instructions help the AI better understand your requirements, leading to more accurate data extraction.
How to Add or Update Field Instructions
Go to the Fields Section: Navigate to the “Fields” section in your mailbox, or open the “Fields” tab when viewing a specific document.
Select the Field to Edit: Click on the “Edit” button next to the field name where you want to add or modify instructions.
Enter Clear Instructions: In the “Instructions” input box, provide specific details that will help the AI process or extract the correct data for that field.
When Not to Use Instructions
The AI often understands what data to extract based on field names alone. If you are already getting accurate results without instructions, additional guidance may not be necessary.
In fact, overly detailed instructions can sometimes confuse the AI and reduce the quality of data parsing. Use instructions only when needed to clarify or refine the output.
When to Use Field Instructions
Scenario 1. Add Context to Clarify Data Extraction
When a field name could have multiple interpretations, provide instructions to specify exactly what information is needed.
Field Name: Vaccination
Instructions if you want the date: “Date of vaccination”
Instructions if you want the vaccine name: “Name of the vaccine”
Scenario 2. Restrict Extracted Values to a Fixed List of Choices
If you need to categorize documents by specific types and want the AI to use only predefined values, provide a list of acceptable options.
Field Name: DocumentType
Instructions: “Possible values are Invoice, CreditNote, PurchaseOrder, Receipt, Other”
Scenario 3. Summarize a Document or a Section
If you receive lengthy documents and want to extract a concise summary for your database, use instructions to guide the summarization process.
Field Name: Summary
Instructions: “Summarize the content of this document in 2 sentences”
Scenario 4. Ask Specific Questions About Your Documents
For tasks like comparing insurance policies where details may vary significantly, use instructions to frame specific questions.
Field Name: building_structure_covered
Instructions: “Does this policy cover the building structure? Answer Yes or No.”
Field Name: building_structure_limit
Instructions: “What is the coverage limit for the building structures? Answer with the USD amount.”
Field Name: building_structure_exclusions
Instructions: “What are the exclusions for the building structure coverage?”
Scenario 5. Translate a Field into Another Language
If you receive input in multiple languages and want a consistent English version, provide translation instructions.
Field Name: lead_message_en
Instructions: “Lead Message (translated into English if required)”
... and many more! By using field instructions strategically, you can significantly enhance the AI’s data extraction accuracy. Remember to provide instructions only when necessary to add clarity, limit the scope of extracted values, summarize content, answer specific questions, or translate fields.