> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.metaview.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Templates

> Fix the structure of your notes without scripting the conversation

A template is the instruction set Metaview follows when it writes your notes: which sections appear, in what order, and what each one should cover.

The important part is that it structures the **notes**, not the **call**. You don't need to ask your questions in the template's order, or in any order — the conversation can wander, double back, and cover a topic in three separate places, and each section still gets filled from wherever in the call that information came up. Nothing has to arrive as a clean question followed by a clean answer; a section can be filled just as well from a discussion that never took that shape.

It also decides what's worth keeping. Small talk, scheduling logistics, the five minutes about someone's commute — a template pulls out the details you asked for and leaves the rest behind. And when something genuinely wasn't covered, the section says so, which makes a gap visible instead of silently absent.

So you get a consistent, comparable write-up out of a natural conversation: every recruiter screen with the same five sections, every debrief with the same structure, every technical interview against the same competencies — without anyone having to interview from a script.

<Columns cols={3}>
  <Card title="Interview naturally" icon="comments">
    Follow the conversation wherever it goes. The template sorts the answers into the right sections afterwards.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Leave out the noise" icon="filter">
    Small talk, logistics, and tangents don't have to end up in your notes. You decide what a section is looking for.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Mirror your scorecard" icon="clipboard-check">
    Build a template with one section per scorecard field, and filling the scorecard becomes copy-and-paste.
  </Card>
</Columns>

<Note>
  One default template is the exception, by design: **Question and Answer** follows the order questions were actually asked, because that structure is the point of it. Every other template — and any custom template — organizes by topic instead. See [the default templates](#the-default-templates).
</Note>

<iframe className="w-full aspect-video rounded-xl border border-gray-200 shadow-sm" src="https://www.loom.com/embed/332007bb4cba4cce88f81f2d8ba7c747?sid=83803415-dfc3-4bcf-a75c-777480b3d665" title="Creating custom note templates" loading="lazy" frameBorder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowFullScreen />

<p className="mt-3 text-gray-500 text-sm italic">
  Elyse shows you how to build custom templates.
</p>

## Where templates live

Open any captured call and click `Use template` at the top of the notes editor to open the **template library**. If you haven't captured a call yet, open the demo call. Templates are also available from `Templates` in the Notes section of the sidebar.

From there you can choose a default template, customize one, build your own from scratch, or pick a template someone on your team already made.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/metaview/axAmXDIbqyX6ispC/images/ai-notes-select-template.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=axAmXDIbqyX6ispC&q=85&s=d333cfaaeb1f9a11adeb5f3ea1a3450e" alt="Ai Notes Select Template Pn" width="1612" height="198" data-path="images/ai-notes-select-template.png" />

You do not need to select a template ahead of a call, and you can try several on the same conversation — switching template regenerates the notes from the same transcript.

## The default templates

Each has a different purpose, and not every template suits every kind of call.

| Template                    | Best for                                                                                                                                                                            |
| --------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Topic Highlights**        | The general-purpose default — summarizes the topics discussed with a candidate                                                                                                      |
| **Question and Answer**     | Each question asked and each answer given. Requires **exactly one** assigned candidate, and isn't available for long calls with many short questions — use Topic Highlights instead |
| **Recruiter Screen**        | A comprehensive screen summary: executive overview, motivations, structured experience, role alignment against the job description, and logistics                                   |
| **Candidate Pack**          | A structured overview of the candidate — background, motivations, achievements, and logistical factors                                                                              |
| **Role Alignment**          | Highlights the candidate's skills against the requirements in the job description                                                                                                   |
| **Generic Debrief**         | A candidate as discussed during a general debrief session                                                                                                                           |
| **Team-specific Debrief**   | A candidate as discussed during a team debrief                                                                                                                                      |
| **Technical Debrief**       | A candidate as discussed during a technical debrief                                                                                                                                 |
| **Coding Interview**        | Problem-solving approach, code quality, and technical communication                                                                                                                 |
| **System Design Interview** | Architecture decisions, scalability considerations, and technical depth                                                                                                             |
| **Intake \| Role Scope**    | The details discussed during a role intake session with a hiring manager                                                                                                            |

<Note>
  The **Question and Answer** template and [TLDR](/notes/tldr) both depend on knowing which participant is the candidate. If no candidate is assigned, they won't be available — see [Participants](/notes/participants#assigning-a-candidate).
</Note>

## Create a custom template

You can create a template from scratch, or start from one of Metaview's defaults.

**From scratch.** With a captured call open, click `Use template` to open your template library. (On the legacy notes version, click `Change Template` instead.) Click `+` and select `New Template` in the dropdown.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/metaview/WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP/images/templates-create-custom.gif?s=affd25bfe36d0e55647f9c5d78a68e23" alt="Templates Create Custom Gi" width="732" height="480" data-path="images/templates-create-custom.gif" />

**From an existing template.** Select an existing template and click `Edit` to make changes, or click a template under `Made by Metaview` and then `Customize`.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/metaview/WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP/images/templates-build-custom.gif?s=152abe26a8e2cfa0bca5c0ba69d066e5" alt="Templates Build Custom Gi" width="732" height="480" data-path="images/templates-build-custom.gif" />

### Collaborate on template drafts

Shared template drafts make it easier to build and improve templates as a team. Anyone with edit access can see the latest draft and continue where a teammate left off, so progress is not tied to one person or hidden in a private workspace.

To prevent changes from being overwritten, shared drafts do not support simultaneous editing. If a teammate updates the draft while you’re editing, don’t worry—your work won’t be lost. You’ll be prompted to either:

* Select `Refresh` to continue from the latest shared draft.
* Click `Duplicate current draft` to save your changes as a new private template.

<Frame caption="You’ll see a warning if a colleague updates the draft while you’re editing it.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/metaview/oJ_KlMfiM7JXh8tq/images/custom-template-draft-collab.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=oJ_KlMfiM7JXh8tq&q=85&s=6b10dac268e2d25f2720f79b3fe38d84" alt="Custom Template Draft Collab" width="822" height="240" data-path="images/custom-template-draft-collab.png" />
</Frame>

<Info>
  Your template drafts remain private when the template itself is private (in your personal folder).
</Info>

## Building your template

**Notes sections**

Templates are organized by the notes sections. Each section will need a section header and instructions you want to give to Metaview AI, or for yourself and others on what to write/include. You can also let AI do more of the heavy lifting and get higher quality output from your conversation data — just type what you want the output to be in each section, and click `Improve Prompt`.

<Note>
  **Add instructions** is a required field for each section with the autofill toggle on. You will not be able to save and use a template if one of the required sections is blank.
</Note>

**Style and format**

| Style           | Format                                                                   |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Text            | Paragraph, Bullet Points                                                 |
| Number          | None, Currency (USD, GBP, EUR)                                           |
| Multiple Choice | Add custom options that AI, yourself or others can select 1 or more from |
| Single Choice   | Add custom options that AI, yourself or others can select 1 from         |
| Yes or No       | Yes, No                                                                  |
| Date            | MM/DD/YYYY, DD/MM/YYYY, YYYY/MM/DD                                       |

**Markdown formatting**

Markdown is a formatting language that makes it easy to style text without using complex tools. If you want the generated notes to show up with **bold**, *italic* and other standard text formatting options, add the phrase "Use markdown to format the output" in your custom template instructions. Here are some basics that you can also try to add to your custom template instructions for additional emphasis and structure:

* To generate words in **Bold**: Use double asterisks `**bold text**`
* To generate words in *Italic*: Use single asterisks `*italic text*`
* To generate words in ~~Strikethrough~~: Use double tildes `~~crossed out~~`
* To generate bullet points: Use a dash and a space ` - First item`

Toggle off `Autofill with AI` in the section footer and Metaview will **not** automatically populate that section, if you want to fill in a section manually yourself.

**Repeating sections**

In some cases you'll want to generate multiple sections, one for each item (e.g. topic, question, previous job) which was discussed in the interview without knowing exactly what each item was.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/metaview/WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP/images/templates-repeating-sections.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP&q=85&s=283b51c2adf909e6ecea8b9bb94e29c7" alt="Templates Repeating Sections Pn" width="1010" height="544" data-path="images/templates-repeating-sections.png" />

For this, Metaview provides the ability to configure a repeating section which takes the structure `For Each X`, e.g. *For each Topic, outline what was discussed focusing mainly on what was said by the candidate*. Metaview will then produce one section for each `Topic` or `Your own keyword` in your Notes. You can also create your own repeating section by picking `Type your own` and enter what you want the section to repeat on.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/metaview/WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP/images/template-repeating-for-each.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP&q=85&s=f8139605947f4fb8df751d08d89c9153" alt="Template Repeating For Each Pn" width="1018" height="554" data-path="images/template-repeating-for-each.png" />

You can rearrange sections by dragging them up or down within the editor. You can also delete a section by clicking on the `🗑️` (trashbin) icon.

**Preview template**

Click on `Preview` to see how your new template would work with your currently selected call.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/metaview/WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP/images/templates-preview.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP&q=85&s=236e86b2d2f065a2cf34c591b0d29d9e" alt="Templates Preview Pn" width="1220" height="660" data-path="images/templates-preview.png" />

If you're happy with the preview results, click on `Create Template` to save your new template. Otherwise, you can click back on `Customize Template` to continue building or editing your template.

<Tip>
  Keep section headings factual and focused on what was said rather than your view of it. Avoid fields that ask the AI to infer personal traits, emotions, or “fit”. See [best practice guidelines for custom templates](/notes/best-practices#best-practice-guidelines-for-custom-templates).
</Tip>

## Adding context

When creating a custom template in Metaview, you can enhance it by including additional context. This feature allows you to provide crucial background information for more accurate AI-generated outputs. Whether it’s a **job description**, **company values**, or **past notes on a candidate**, adding context ensures that the AI understands the bigger picture and incorporates relevant details into the template.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/metaview/WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP/images/templates-add-context.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP&q=85&s=1e8f4005d8493aae874a9d17e67fd6c6" alt="Templates Add Context Pn" width="3200" height="1800" data-path="images/templates-add-context.png" />

**How to Use the Additional Context Feature**

1. **Navigate to Your Template Editor**: Once you’ve saved a template, click on `Additional Context`.
2. **Add Your Document**: Within this tab, upload or paste the relevant text file you want to include as context. This can be as simple as pasting a job description or attaching a more detailed document.
3. **Describe How to Use This Document**: After uploading the document, you’ll have the option to provide a description of how the document should be used by the AI. This is where you can explicitly tell the AI what to focus on or highlight.
   * For example, if you uploaded a **job description**, you can instruct the AI to “List what the candidate said about the key responsibilities and skills in the job description.”
   * If you uploaded **company values**, you could tell the AI to “Note any points where the candidate explicitly referred to one of our values, quoting what they said.”
4. **Importance of Referencing the Document in the Template**: It’s essential to reference the uploaded document within your template itself to ensure that it plays an active role in shaping the final output.
   * If you’ve uploaded a **job description**, create a section in your template titled **“Key Requirements Met”**, with a description like: “List out all the key requirements from the job description that the candidate addressed during the conversation.”
   * If you’ve added **company values**, create a section titled **“Values”** with the description: “Give examples of when the candidate explicitly mentioned one of our core values.”
   * For **candidate feedback** from previous interviews, create a **“Follow-Up”** section and prompt the AI to reference any areas of improvement that were discussed in the past and track the candidate’s progress.

<Note>
  Template context applies to every call the template is used on. To add context to **one** conversation only — a specific candidate's CV, or an earlier call with them — add a source on the notes page instead. See [Adding sources](/notes/working-with-notes#adding-sources).
</Note>

## Organize your templates

**Folders**

You can organize your templates into folders. To create a new folder, click on `+` and `New folder`.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/metaview/WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP/images/template-library.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP&q=85&s=48eefbde364f0d197f5ed27206a2f57e" alt="Template Library Pn" style={{ width:"75%" }} width="560" height="368" data-path="images/template-library.png" />

Rename your folder by clicking on the `...` next to your folder and select `Rename`.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/metaview/WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP/images/template-new-folder.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP&q=85&s=35b3a2288fbd691789d5c664dc405804" alt="Template New Folder Pn" style={{ width:"71%" }} width="596" height="328" data-path="images/template-new-folder.png" />

You can also `Delete` the folder.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/metaview/WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP/images/templates-delete-folder.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP&q=85&s=b154eb20eb9ef475c51047cf813b38e6" alt="Templates Delete Folder Pn" style={{ width:"71%" }} width="1112" height="456" data-path="images/templates-delete-folder.png" />

<Note>
  If you delete a folder, you will also delete all templates in that folder. The folder may have templates that were created by others.
</Note>

To add a template to a folder, simply drag the template into the folder you want to move it to.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/metaview/WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP/images/template-drag-and-drop-organize.gif?s=1bd251b1660e577ed78b306cd8e4cd82" alt="Template Drag And Drop Organize Gi" width="732" height="480" data-path="images/template-drag-and-drop-organize.gif" />

## Share templates

Any template added to a folder **other than your Personal folder** becomes available to other users in your organization. Anyone with edit access can also view and continue its draft changes.

<Warning>
  Templates in shared folders can be edited or deleted by any user at your workspace.
</Warning>

<Note>
  If you want to restrict template permissions so that only admins can edit or delete shared templates, contact your Customer Success Manager to enable this setting for your organization.
</Note>

## Set a default template

You can choose a template and turn on the `Default` toggle to make it the default for your own notes.

<Frame caption="One thing to keep in mind: this does not automatically make the template the default for everyone in your workspace. If the template is still in your personal templates, only you can see and use it.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/metaview/WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP/images/templates-default.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP&q=85&s=b1d5d20630664e8f8b0c2e2eda2c53fa" alt="Templates Default Pn" width="1208" height="280" data-path="images/templates-default.png" />
</Frame>

### Apply a template automatically

If you want to be even more specific, you can control *when* this template is used based on certain conditions. For example, you might want a different template to apply automatically for debrief interviews or candidate screens. To do this, click `When to use`, then `Add rule`. From there, choose a property—such as **Event name**—set the condition (for example, *contains*), and enter a value like *debrief*.

Once saved, this means the template will automatically be selected whenever the event name includes “debrief.” You can add as many rules as you need to make your template usage as tailored as possible.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/metaview/UYOJ0_y2yCNhoc7B/images/custom-template-when-to-use.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=UYOJ0_y2yCNhoc7B&q=85&s=1bf0d01d0c7f6068be93fe12ba2a0b06" alt="Custom Template When To Use" width="1062" height="506" data-path="images/custom-template-when-to-use.png" />
</Frame>

If you’re a workspace admin, you can also make the template the default for everyone. Ensure the template is not in a private folder, then enable `Apply to entire workspace`. This will apply the template to new notes that match your rules; existing notes will keep their current format.

You can always come back later to **edit** or **delete** these rules if your conditions or processes change in the future.

<Tip>
  Rules match on [conversation properties](/notes/conversation-details#call-properties), so the more consistently your calls are titled or tagged, the more reliably the right template gets picked.
</Tip>

## Delete a template

Select `the template you want to delete`. Click on the `...` icon button, then `Delete` from the dropdown options. Please note that all users who have access to this template **will also lose access to deleted templates**.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/metaview/WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP/images/template-delete.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=WtAS6pOUh3F1LkHP&q=85&s=0c188f514cf674045b66ab7570f95739" alt="Template Delete Pn" width="1216" height="400" data-path="images/template-delete.png" />