> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.chief.bot/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# The prompt bar: a tour of your chat controls
> The prompt bar is the box at the bottom of every chat.
The prompt bar is the box at the bottom of every chat. It is where you type what you want — and where you control *how* Chief answers: which of your files it reads, which expert voice it speaks in, whether it reaches out to public web data, and more.
## What you can do from the prompt bar
* **Type or dictate your prompt.** Type normally, or click [**Talk to me**](/help/the-prompt-bar-scope/voice-input-dictate-your-prompt-with-talk-to-me) to speak and have Chief transcribe your words into the bar.
* **[Set the scope ("Using:")](/help/the-prompt-bar-scope/setting-the-scope-of-a-chat-using-files-labels-collections-concepts).** Tell Chief which Files, Labels, Collections, and Concepts to draw on for this chat.
* **[@-mention knowledge inline](/help/the-prompt-bar-scope/mentioning-files-labels-collections-concepts).** Type **@** to pull a specific File, Label, Collection, or Concept into your prompt without leaving the keyboard.
* **[Add # variable fields](/help/the-prompt-bar-scope/using-variable-fields-in-a-prompt).** Prompt templates can include fill-in-the-blank fields you complete before sending.
* **[Include Public Data](/help/the-prompt-bar-scope/including-public-web-data-public-data).** Let Chief enhance answers with public web data, or keep it to your Library only.
* **[Respond in an Expert Voice](/help/the-prompt-bar-scope/responding-in-an-expert-voice-respond-as).** Pick a specialist voice (the toolbar labels this **Expert Voice:**) so Chief answers in the tone and point of view you want.
* **Choose how much intelligence to apply.** The [**Intelligence:** control](/help/answer-depth-chiefs-agents/response-modes-automatic-fast-expert) trades speed for depth (Automatic, Fast, Expert, Research).
* **[Select a specific AI provider](/help/the-prompt-bar-scope/selecting-a-specific-model-llm).** Open **Customize** to pin Chief to Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google instead of letting the router pick.
## Where the controls live
Two places do most of the work:
* The **+** button (the command menu) on the left of the action bar — your way into adding files, Public Data, Customize, and more.
* The **Using:** toolbar, which sits beside the **+** button. Click the chevron to expand it and you will see chips for your Expert Voice, Intelligence level, the files and knowledge in scope, and Public Data. When collapsed it shrinks to a compact summary of what is currently powering the chat.
💡 **Good to know:** When a chat is empty and unfocused, the prompt bar collapses to a single line to stay out of your way. Click it to expand and reveal every control again.
## Where to go next
Each control has its own short guide in this section — scope, @-mentions, # variables, Public Data, voice input, Expert Voices, and model selection. Start with whichever one you reach for most.
## FAQ
On an empty chat the bar collapses to save space. Click anywhere in it (or start typing) and it expands to show the action bar, the **Using:** toolbar, and the **+** menu.
Scope and per-message choices apply to the chat you are in. Some preferences, such as your Expert Voice and AI Provider, persist across chats until you change them.
Voice input uses your browser's speech recognition. It appears as a microphone on the submit control; if your browser does not support it or microphone access is blocked, the option will not work. See the voice input guide for details.