Keep related work in a project

Allow 3 minutes, including any practice below.

Use a project for recurring work

Projects group related chats, files, and instructions. Our fictional Christchurch builder could use a practice project for site-visit messages.

On the web, select New project in the sidebar and name it "Builder practice". Open the project's ••• > Project settings to add instructions such as:

Use plain NZ English. Keep emails under 120 words.
Use only the facts supplied in this practice project.
Flag missing prices, dates, and scope. Do not invent commitments.

Project instructions apply inside that project. They override global custom instructions there. Add only fictional or approved material.

Know the limits

OpenAI currently lists 5 files per project on Free, 25 on Go or Plus, and 40 on Pro, Business, Enterprise, or Edu. Upload allowances are separate. Having space in a project does not mean you can keep uploading without a rate limit.

If a project feature is missing, use a normal chat. Paste the short instruction block again with your next practice task.

Review context and sharing

If available and approved for your account, project-only memory limits context to that project. It is not a substitute for permission to use the information. It can require account and workspace memory settings to be enabled. Leave those settings off for this course if your organisation has not approved them.

A shared project exposes its content to its members. Before sharing real work, review Share and who can access the project. Keep this practice project private.

Try it: Create the project if available. Add the instruction block. Ask for a site-visit email with no price or date supplied. Check that the answer flags those gaps. You can do the same review in a regular chat.

Official sources

• Projects, settings, sharing, and plan limits