Create entries and templates with the Compose Agent

Compose accelerates Notebook entry and template creation using natural language prompt inputs and attached files. Use Compose to:

• Organize experimental data
• Extract information from uploaded notes
• Draft an entry for your experiment and insert structured tables

• Create a Notebook template from an image of a protocol 

   

This is a Benchling AI feature. See the AI at Benchling page for information on how to enable this and other AI-based features.

Create a new Compose Agent chat

Each time you want to create a new document, you will need to create a new chat where you will enter your prompt. To create a new chat, follow the steps below: 

1. Click the sparkle icon in the navigation bar to access Benchling agents
2. In the chat box, click Compose  
3. In the textbox, type your prompt in natural language, and attach necessary supporting files such as PDFs
4. Send the chat to run the prompt 

Once you send the chat, the side panel will expand with your document draft.  

Note: Compose performs best when your prompt is clear and specific. 

Edit and adjust your draft

In the event that you need to modify the document generated by the agent, you can do so either manually directly in the draft or by follow ups with a clarifying prompt in the same chat interface. 

Save your draft

In order to finalize the output, you must save the draft. To do this, follow the steps below:

1. Click Save as on the top right corner of your draft document
2. Choose whether your draft should be saved as:
   • A new entry
   • A new template

View previous chats

1. To open your chat history, click the sparkle icon in the navigation bar
2. Click the History icon at the top left
3. Click into each past chat to see more

Common use cases

1. Transcribe uploaded SOP or Protocol files into Benching template with structured tables 
   • Example: "Create a notebook template based on the attached protocol. Include any appropriate result tables."
2. Create a template based on one or more entries
   • Example: "Templatize the experiments conducted in EXPXXX and EXPXXX." 
3. Transcribe an externally documented experiment and import structured data (PDF of a different ELN export, Word doc, etc.) 
   • Example: "Transcribe the attached lab notebook file into a Benchling entry. Import any data into structured result tables."
4. Extract protocol steps from an external PDF or file to append to an existing entry 
   • Example: "Transcribe the attached lab notebook file into a Benchling entry."
5. Extract methods from a scientific publication 
   • Example: "Based on the attached publication, draft an experiment protocol entry that captures the methods described. Include reagents, equipment, and step-by-step procedures. Format it as an actionable lab protocol that our team can follow to reproduce the experiment." 

Limitations

• Larger operations can take longer to run. You can close the side panel and return later to review the results

Risks from AI mistakes

As with any AI tool, Compose may make mistakes, so it is critical to verify the results to ensure the data is properly entered into the system. 

Data protection and security

For more information about data protection and security for AI-powered features, see Data protection and security for AI at Benchling.