Steppd accepts five different types of input when you create a document, so you can start from wherever your process knowledge already lives: a blank page, rough notes, a recorded walkthrough, or an existing file. This guide walks you through every step from clicking New document to arriving in the editor with a structured draft ready to review.Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.steppd.com/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
Open the new document flow
From your dashboard or My Documents, click New document in the top-right corner of the page. The input mode selector opens.
Choose an input mode
Select the mode that best matches what you have. Each mode is described below.
Blank
Start from scratch in the editor. No AI processing, you write or paste content directly into sections and steps.
Notes
Paste raw text, bullet points, or a rough process description. Steppd’s AI structures your input into sections and steps.
Audio
Upload an audio recording (MP3, WAV, M4A, OGG, or WebM, max 25 MB). Steppd transcribes the audio and structures it into a document.
Video
Upload a video demonstration (MP4, MOV, or WebM, max 2 GB). Steppd extracts steps directly from the recording.
Document
Upload a PDF, Word (.docx), or plain text (.txt) file (max 20 MB). Steppd parses the content and structures it into a document.
Fill in document metadata
After choosing a mode you’ll see the metadata form. Complete the relevant fields before submitting.
For Notes mode, paste your process text into the Notes field that appears below the metadata fields. For Audio, Video, and Document modes, click the upload area to select your file.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Required for Blank | For AI modes the title is optional. Steppd infers one you can edit later. |
| Version | Yes | A free-text label such as 1.0 or v2. Must be different from the current published version if you are revising. |
| Department | Yes (if your org has departments) | Select from the departments your admin created under Settings → Organization. |
Review the AI draft outline and answer clarifying questions
This step applies to Notes, Audio, Video, and Document modes. After Steppd processes your input, you’ll see a Draft outline, the document title and a numbered list of sections with step counts.Below the outline, Steppd asks a short set of clarifying questions about gaps it identified in your content. Answer each question, then click Create document to finalize the draft and open the editor.
You can leave clarifying question answers blank if they don’t apply. Steppd will still generate the document using what it has.
Edit your document in the editor
The editor opens with your structured document ready to review. The left panel shows the document tree: sections at the top level, steps nested inside them, and optional sub-steps nested inside steps.Select any node from the tree to open it in the main editor pane. From there you can:
- Rename sections, steps, and sub-steps using the title field at the top of the editor pane
- Edit rich text content for each node
- Add new sections using the + Add section button in the left panel
- Add steps or sub-steps using the + controls that appear when you hover over a node in the tree
- Reorder nodes by dragging them in the tree
- Promote or demote nodes to change their level in the hierarchy
Publish or save as draft
When your document is ready, click Publish in the editor toolbar to make it live. If you’re not finished, close the editor. Your work is already saved as a draft and will be waiting in My Documents.See the publish and share guide for the full publishing workflow and share options.
Video processing
Video is the most time-intensive input mode. After you select your file and submit the form, Steppd uploads the video and then runs AI analysis on the recording. The page shows a progress indicator during upload (with a percentage) followed by a series of status messages as analysis proceeds.What do the status messages mean?
What do the status messages mean?
Steppd shows friendly status messages while processing your video. Here is what each one means:
| Message | What’s happening |
|---|---|
| Uploading your video (with %) | Your file is transferring to Steppd’s servers. |
| No VCR so we have to transfer it to 8mm… | Steppd is converting the video to a streamable format. |
| Rewinding the reel and making popcorn | The video is being uploaded to the AI model. |
| Reviewing the highlight reel… | The AI is analyzing the video content. |
| Taking notes, have a few questions… | Steppd has built the draft and is ready to ask clarifying questions. |
| Cutting and splicing the video back together… | Steppd is attaching video frame references to the final document. |
How long does video processing take?
How long does video processing take?
Processing time depends on the length and complexity of the video. Most videos under 10 minutes finish within 2–5 minutes. Longer recordings may take more time. Steppd notifies you when processing is complete, you don’t need to stay on the page.