Praxismith
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Part 2 · Context and KnowledgeLesson 8 of 246 min readFree

Plain text, logs and snapshots for the AI

Give the AI plain text files, a log of its mistakes, and dated snapshots instead of designed PDFs.

A lot of business knowledge sits in designed PDFs, locked Word files and messy shared docs. When the AI reads a designed PDF, columns, page numbers and footers can get mixed into the text. This lesson shows three simple tools that avoid that: plain text files, a log, and dated snapshots.

The mistake most people make

They upload a designed brochure and expect the AI to pick out small figures from tables and footnotes.

What was asked

“A business owner uploaded an 18-page brochure with three-column layouts and asked for a summary of the warranty terms.”

What the AI said

“The AI mixed up the warranty periods for the domestic range and the export range.”

What went wrong: The text from two columns ran together when the PDF was read. A PDF is made for printing, not for reading as text. The AI then linked lines that were never meant to go together.

How it works: the pilot's logbook

An IndiGo pilot at Bengaluru airport doesn't read a glossy magazine before take-off. They open a logbook with the same columns every time: date, aircraft, route, fuel, defects, signature. It is short and leaves no room for doubt. Plain text with simple headings does the same job for the AI.

Three tools

1. Plain text with simple marks

Use # for a heading, - for a bullet and | to make a table. This style is called Markdown. You and the AI both read it easily.

2. A log of bad answers

A running file where you paste each bad answer and the fix you made. After a month it shows where your requests need more detail.

3. Dated snapshots

One file that records the state of things on a given day, such as 'stock-2026-09.md'. The AI gets exact starting figures and knows how old they are.

Habits

Turn PDFs into plain text firstCopy the text out of the PDF into a plain file. Check the tables survived before you give it to the AI.
Put figures in simple tablesWrite key numbers as '| Item | Qty | Rate |' rather than in paragraphs.
Date every snapshotPut the date in the file name and the first line, so the AI knows how fresh it is.
Weekly Snapshot
Turn my notes from this week into a short snapshot I can give the AI later.

Here are the notes, messages and updates:
"""
[Paste this week's notes, chat messages or status emails here]
"""

Use these sections, in plain text with simple headings:
# Snapshot · [today's date]
## 1. Key figures (as a table)
## 2. Work in progress and where it stands
## 3. What's stuck, and who has to decide
## 4. Things the AI should assume

Use only what is in the notes. If a figure or owner is missing, write [CHECK]. No opening or closing chat.

Scattered notes become one dated page you can paste into any later request.

Check your understanding

Why does plain text usually work better than a designed PDF when you give the AI a document?

Show the answer

Plain text has clear headings and tables and nothing else. A designed PDF has columns, footers and layout that can get mixed into the text when it is read.