Purpose
This guide shows how to turn existing document templates into prompt-enabled CoAuthor templates.
You don’t need to start from scratch. Your current authoring templates already provide the foundation.
Use this as a step-by-step reference for getting from “template text” to “functional CoAuthor prompt.”
Start With What You Already Have
If your organization already uses approved authoring templates, you can reuse those instructions and examples as prompt content. For more detailed guidance on adding custom documents into CoAuthor, visit the Certara Help Center.
1. Open your existing template and identify the section you want to automate.
2. Locate the instructional text (may be included as hidden text).
3. Copy that text: this becomes the base of your Prompt Instructions in CoAuthor.
4. Find a representative example paragraph from a similar completed document: this will serve as your Example Output.
Example: CSR Section 11.5.1 – Primary Endpoints
This example demonstrates how a standard CSR template section can be adapted into a CoAuthor prompt. The same method applies to other document types.
Step 1 – Add Your Prompt Instructions
Use the original CSR template text directly.
Step 2 – Add an Example Output
Provide one complete paragraph that reflects your expected writing style, numerical presentation, and tone.
Step 3 – Attach Source Documents
Attach the same source materials you would use when drafting manually. This gives CoAuthor the same context you’d normally reference.
Step 4 – Generate and Review
Run the prompt and review the output. Expect to iterate; small adjustments can make big improvements. Each iteration helps refine the structure and tone. Try modifying one element at a time, such as adjusting phrasing, reordering instructions, or clarifying data references, to see how the output changes. For additional guidance on prompt optimization, see Best Practices for Natural Language Prompts
Iteration Example: Formatting Update
If the first draft feels too list-like or missing comparisons, add a short formatting note such as: “Include analysis period (‘from baseline to Week 12’) and merge numeric comparisons into one sentence.”
Congratulations!
You’ve successfully transformed your existing template into a prompt-ready workflow.
Repeat this process for other sections in your document to build a fully prompt-enabled version of your template.
Each section you adapt brings you closer to fully automated, AI-assisted authoring.
If you need help or want to learn more:
Visit the Certara Help Center
Contact the CoAuthor Support team at AI-Support@certara.com