Understanding the Interface

Before diving into advanced techniques, let's get familiar with the ChatGPT interface. Knowing where everything is will make you more efficient.

The Main Chat Area

The central part of your screen is the conversation area. This is where:

• Your messages appear on one side
• ChatGPT's responses appear on the other
• The conversation flows chronologically from top to bottom

The Message Input Box

At the bottom of the screen, you'll find the text input area. Key features:

• Text field: Type or paste your messages here
• Send button: Click or press Enter to send
• Attachments (Plus users): Upload images or files
• Voice input: Speak instead of typing (on supported devices)

Pro tip: Press Shift+Enter to add a new line without sending your message.

The Sidebar

On the left side of the screen, you'll find the sidebar containing:

Chat History

• All your previous conversations
• Click any chat to continue it
• Conversations are automatically titled based on content

New Chat Button

• Starts a fresh conversation
• Previous context is not carried over
• Use when switching topics completely

Folders & Organization

• Create folders to organize chats by project or topic
• Drag and drop chats into folders
• Keep your workspace tidy

Response Controls

When ChatGPT generates a response, you'll see several controls:

Copy Button

• Copies the entire response to your clipboard
• Useful for pasting into documents or emails

Regenerate

• Generates a new response to your last message
• Helpful when the first answer isn't quite right
• Each regeneration may produce different results

Edit & Resubmit

• Click on your previous message to edit it
• Resubmit to get a response to the modified version
• Great for refining your prompts

Feedback Buttons

• Thumbs up/down to rate responses
• Helps improve ChatGPT over time
• Use them to indicate helpful or unhelpful answers

Model Selector

At the top of the chat, you may see options to select different models:

Model	Best For
GPT-4o	Complex reasoning, analysis, creative writing
GPT-4o mini	Quick responses, simple tasks, faster interactions
GPT-4 with browsing	Current information, live data
GPT-4 with DALL-E	Image generation
GPT-4 with Code Interpreter	Data analysis, file processing

Note: Model availability depends on your subscription level.

Settings & Customization

Click your profile icon or the settings gear to access:

Custom Instructions

• Set persistent instructions that apply to all chats
• Define your preferences and context once
• We'll cover this in detail in Module 5

Data Controls

• Manage your chat history
• Control what data is used for training
• Export or delete your data

Theme & Appearance

• Switch between light and dark mode
• Adjust font sizes if available
• Customize your visual experience

Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up your workflow with these shortcuts:

Shortcut	Action
Enter	Send message
Shift + Enter	New line in message
Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + C	Copy last response
Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + ;	Copy last code block
Ctrl/Cmd + /	Show keyboard shortcuts

Mobile vs Desktop

The interface adapts across devices:

Desktop/Web

• Full sidebar always visible
• Keyboard shortcuts available
• Best for long-form work

Mobile App

• Swipe for sidebar access
• Voice input prominent
• Touch-optimized controls
• Great for quick queries on the go

Practice: Explore the Interface

Take a moment to explore your ChatGPT interface:

1. Find the sidebar - Locate your chat history
2. Start a new chat - Click the new chat button
3. Send a test message - Try the prompt below
4. Use regenerate - Generate a different response
5. Copy the response - Use the copy button

After getting a response, try:

• Clicking "Regenerate" to see a different answer
• Copying the response using the copy button
• Editing your message to ask about a different animal

Interface Tips for Power Users

1. Use folders - Organize chats by project or topic
2. Name your chats - Rename important conversations for easy finding
3. Archive old chats - Keep your sidebar clean
4. Use keyboard shortcuts - Save time on common actions
5. Explore settings - Customize for your workflow

The interface is designed to get out of your way. Once you're familiar with it, you'll focus entirely on your conversations rather than the tools around them.