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Quick Overview

When you add any action, you’ll see fields to configure. Unlike other automation platforms, Lindy gives you three intelligent ways to fill each field, making your workflows both powerful and flexible.
  • Auto: Let your agent intelligently determine the best value based on all previous data
  • AI Prompt: Give natural language instructions for dynamic content generation
  • Set Manually: Enter exact values or reference specific data from previous steps
Each mode serves different purposes and choosing the right one makes your workflows more efficient and reliable.
Three field configuration modes in Lindy - Auto, AI Prompt, and Set Manually

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Auto Mode

Auto mode is Lindy’s intelligent field completion system. It analyzes all previous steps in your workflow and automatically determines the most appropriate value for each field.

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How It Works

When set to Auto, your agent:
  1. Examines all data from previous triggers and actions
  2. Matches field names with available data intelligently
  3. Infers the best value based on context and field type
Unlike traditional automation tools, Lindy’s Auto mode sees everything — form submissions, API responses, search results, and more. It’s like having an assistant who remembers every detail.

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When to Use Auto Mode

Auto mode excels in scenarios where:
  • Data mapping is predictable: Moving form data to spreadsheets
  • Field names align: “Customer Name” automatically maps to “Name” column
  • Context is clear: Updating CRM records with email data
  • You want flexibility: Let Lindy adapt to varying data structures

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Example Use Case

Scenario: Responding to customer emails
Auto mode automatically:
- Sets "To" field → Original sender's email
- Keeps "From Name" → Your default sender name  
No configuration needed!
Auto mode intelligently filling email fields based on previous workflow data
The image above shows Auto mode in action - notice how the “To” field is set to Auto and displays “AI will automatically fill this field” based on context from previous steps.

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AI Prompt Mode

AI Prompt mode lets you give your agent natural language instructions to generate dynamic content. It’ll create text based on your directions and all available workflow data.
AI Prompt mode interface showing dropdown options

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Writing Effective Prompts

The key to AI Prompt mode is clear, specific instructions:
Writing effective prompts with good and bad examples
✅ Good: "Write a friendly 2-line thank you mentioning the product name"
❌ Avoid: "Write something nice"
To reference data from previous steps, click the dropdown button and select from available outputs. The video below shows how this works - no need to type brackets manually!

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When to Use AI Prompt Mode

Choose AI Prompt for:
  • Email composition: Subject lines, body content, personalized messages
  • Content generation: Summaries, descriptions, social posts
  • Data transformation: Reformatting dates, combining fields creatively
  • Conditional text: Different messages based on context

💡 Learn more about writing effective prompts

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Using References in AI Prompts

The dropdown shows all available data from previous steps. In AI Prompt mode, these references become part of your instructions to generate dynamic content.

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Advanced Example

Advanced AI Prompt example with references to previous action data
In this example, the AI Prompt intelligently combines:
  • Reference to previous data: bodyAsText pulls in the actual content from a previous step (like an email or document)
  • Contextual analysis: Your agent reads and understands the referenced content to determine if the person is new or returning
  • Dynamic decision-making: Based on what she finds in the data, she generates different personalized offers
This showcases the power of AI Prompt mode — instead of rigid rules, your agent analyzes the actual context from previous steps to generate the most appropriate response. The reference acts as a variable that gets replaced with real data at runtime, which your agent then uses to make intelligent decisions.

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”Set Manually” Mode

Set Manually mode gives you complete control — what you type is exactly what appears. Perfect for fixed values and precise data references.

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Direct Value Entry

Two ways to use Set Manually:
  1. Fixed text: Type exactly what should appear
Set Manually with fixed text - what you type is what appears
  1. Data references: Insert exact values from previous steps
Set Manually with data references - combining text with exact values from previous steps
Set Manually mode uses no AI processing = fewer credits consumed. It’s the most efficient option for fixed values.

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When to Use Set Manually

Perfect for:
  • Fixed values: Email addresses, signatures, webhook URLs, API keys
  • Exact references: Order IDs, customer names, timestamps
  • Skip fields: Leave empty to skip a field entirely
  • Combined text: Mix static text with data references

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Using Output References

The field configuration dropdown gives you instant access to ALL data from previous steps - forms, API responses, search results, and more. This powerful feature lets you connect any piece of information across your workflow.

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Reference Behavior by Mode

References behave differently in each mode:
ModeReference BehaviorExample
AutoConsiders all contextLindy intelligently uses available data
AI PromptPart of instructionsSummarize [Search: Results] → AI summary
Set ManuallyExact value insertionOrder #[Form: ID] → Order #12345

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Best Practices

When unsure, try Auto first. Your agent often correctly infers what you need, saving configuration time.
Instead of “write an email”, use “write a 3-paragraph follow-up email thanking them for [Meeting: Topic] and proposing next steps”
Use the test panel to see how each mode handles your actual data before going live.
Use Set Manually for email addresses, AI Prompt for subject/body, and Auto for updating your CRM.

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Common Pitfalls & Solutions

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Troubleshooting Guide

  1. Field shows as empty
    • Check if Set Manually has content (empty = skip)
    • Verify referenced data exists in previous steps
    • Ensure Auto mode has clear context
  2. Wrong data appears
    • Review your mode selection
    • Check reference syntax in Set Manually
    • Refine AI Prompt instructions
  3. Too many credits used
    • Switch fixed values from AI Prompt to Set Manually
    • Use Auto instead of AI Prompt for simple mapping
  4. Inconsistent results
    • Add examples to AI Prompts
    • Use Set Manually for values that shouldn’t change
    • Ensure field names are clear for Auto mode

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Next Steps

Master these related concepts to build even more powerful workflows:

Actions Overview

Explore all available actions and their field requirements

Prompt Engineering

Write better AI prompts for dynamic content generation

Testing Workflows

Test your field configurations with real data

Knowledge Base

Combine field references with knowledge base searches
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