# Your first Claude chat: model picker, attach a file, a four-part prompt, pin and rename > A free one-page cheat sheet for your first Claude chat: the model picker and effort, attaching a file, a four-part prompt, follow-ups, pin and rename. Source: https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/claude-first-chat · Updated 2026-10-20 · Free from Stepthrough (https://learn.ynteractive.com) [Lesson cheat sheet](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets#kind-lesson) · One page · US letter · [Claude](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/tool/claude) By [Robert Breen](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/about) · Published October 20, 2026 · From the free lesson [Your First Chat with Claude: Models, Files and a Great First Prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/claude-first-chat-tutorial) A free one-page cheat sheet for your first Claude chat: the model picker and effort, attaching a file, a four-part prompt, follow-ups, pin and rename. [Download the free PDF (77 KB)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/claude-first-chat.pdf)Print this sheet Free, no sign-up and no email needed. It prints on one letter-size page; the whole sheet is below. *▶*StepthroughFree printable cheat sheet · learn.ynteractive.com Your first Claude chat: model picker, attach a file, a four-part prompt, pin and rename One real task in your first Claude chat: reply to an unhappy customer's email. Bright Path Landscaping and Linda Carver are made up. ## Pick a model and effort **Model picker** Under the message box, on the right. It shows the model and effort, like **Opus 5.5 Medium**. **The models** **Fable** for the toughest jobs, **Opus** for complex and everyday work, **Sonnet** for simpler tasks, **Haiku** fastest. The Free plan shows fewer. **Effort** How hard Claude thinks. Higher takes longer and uses more of your limit. **Medium** is recommended. ## Attach the file 1. Click **+** at the bottom left of the message box. 2. Click **Upload or add files** and pick the file. 3. Claude reads PDFs, Word files, spreadsheets, text files and images. ## Write a four-part prompt Copy ```text Role: You're the office manager at [BUSINESS]. Context: [WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT'S ATTACHED, WHAT YOU CAN OFFER]. Task: Write my reply, plus a short checklist for me. Format: Under 150 words, warm and plain, with a subject line. ``` Leave out anything private the reply doesn't need. ## Read, follow up, keep it - Click the line above the reply to see how Claude thought it through. - Read what it flagged, like a refund request, instead of letting it promise anything. - Ask for changes in the same chat: "Shorter, two mornings to pick from, a 10% credit." Claude keeps what worked. - Click the **three dots** on the chat to **Pin** it, then **Rename** it to something you'll find later. **Remember:** Give Claude a role, context, a task and a format, then read every reply before you use it. Practice it free: [Your First Chat with Claude: Models, Files and a Great First Prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/claude-first-chat) at learn.ynteractive.com/modules/claude-first-chat. This sheet: learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/claude-first-chat. Bright Path Landscaping is a made-up business from the lesson. By Robert Breen, October 20, 2026. ## Practice it in the free lesson **Your First Chat with Claude: Models, Files and a Great First Prompt**. Pick a model, attach a customer's complaint email with the + menu, write a four-part prompt, read Claude's reply, ask a follow-up, then pin and rename the chat. You do every step yourself in a practice copy of Claude, it checks your work as you go, and “Do it for me” finishes any step you get stuck on. Free, and nothing touches your real accounts. [Start the free lesson](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/claude-first-chat) [Or read the full step-by-step guide](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/claude-first-chat-tutorial) ## Lessons on this sheet - [Your First Chat with Claude: Models, Files and a Great First Prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/claude-first-chat-tutorial): Pick a model, attach a customer's complaint email with the + menu, write a four-part prompt, read Claude's reply, ask a follow-up, then pin and rename the chat. - [Claude Projects for Your Business: Instructions, Knowledge and Quotes](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/claude-projects-tutorial): Create a project for your business, give it instructions for tone and policies, add your price sheet and warranty as project knowledge, and get a customer quote that… ## Related terms Plain-English definitions, each with an example from a free lesson. [Claude](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/claude) · [Claude model picker](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/claude-model-picker) · [Effort level](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/claude-effort-level) · [Role, Context, Task, Format](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/role-context-task-format) · [Pin and rename a chat](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/claude-pin-and-rename) · [AI benchmark](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/ai-benchmark) · [Anthropic](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/anthropic) · [Frontier model](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/frontier-model) [The full AI glossary](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary) ## Related prompts - [Complaint reply four-part prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts/complaint-email-first-chat-prompt): A four-part prompt for your first AI chat: a role, the context, the task and the format, to reply to an unhappy customer and… [All free prompt templates](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts) ## More cheat sheets - [Claude Artifacts Cheat Sheet](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/claude-artifacts): A free one-page Claude artifacts cheat sheet: how to ask for a working tool, check the math, change it in the same chat and share it with a link. - [Claude Connectors Cheat Sheet: Drive, Gmail, Calendar](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/claude-connectors): A free one-page Claude connectors cheat sheet: connect Google Drive, Gmail and Calendar, approve tools in a chat, and set or remove permissions later. - [Claude Projects Cheat Sheet](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/claude-projects): A free one-page Claude Projects cheat sheet: create a project, write instructions, add files as project knowledge, chat inside it and fix rules once. 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