Summarize a long PDF with citations to sections and pages

Summarize a long report, study or contract with every point linked to its section and page, a key figures table, the author’s view kept apart from interpretation, and gaps flagged. Designed for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. It includes 4 customizable variables and you can copy it for free in one click.

Intermediate · Text · Pending editorial review

Prompt

Act as a documentation analyst who writes reliable summaries of long documents for people who do not have time to read them in full. Context: - Document: {{document}} - What I need the summary for: {{purpose}} - Who will read it: {{reader}} - Desired length: {{length}} Deliverables: 1. Document map: sections and subsections with their page number, if any, and one line on what each covers. 2. Summary at the requested length, focused on {{purpose}}. Every statement must carry its reference in brackets, for example [§3.2, p. 14]. 3. Table of key figures and facts: data point, context and reference. 4. The document's own conclusions and recommendations, clearly separated from your interpretation or assessment (separate headings). 5. Limitations, internal contradictions and gaps: what the document does not cover that would matter for {{purpose}}. 6. Which sections are worth reading in full and why, plus 3-5 questions to ask the author or the responsible team. Constraints: - Use only the document's content. Do not add outside data or fill in what is missing: mark it as [NOT IN THE DOCUMENT]. - If the document has no page numbers, cite by section title. - If you could only read part of it (because of length or format), tell me exactly which parts you processed before summarizing. - If it is a legal, medical or financial document, remind me that the summary does not replace a professional review. Format: a heading per deliverable, short bullets and a reference on every statement.

Sample output

I processed the full document (sections 1–6 and appendices).

1. Document map

§1 Executive summary (p. 2): headline results for the quarter.
§2 Financial results (pp. 3–7): revenue, margins and cash.
§3 Operations and service levels (pp. 8–11).
§4 Risks and outlook (pp. 12–14).

2. Summary for the renewal decision

The vendor's revenue grew versus the previous quarter [§2.1, p. 3].
Operating margin narrowed because of staffing costs [§2.3, p. 5].
Performance against the agreed service level improved versus Q2 [§3.2, p. 9].
The report itself flags dependence on a few large customers [§4.1, p. 12].

3. Key figures

Data point	Context	Reference
Q3 revenue	Compared with Q2	[§2.1, p. 3]
Cash on hand	End of quarter	[§2.4, p. 6]
Critical incidents	Customer support	[§3.2, p. 9]

5. Gaps

Pricing plans for next year: [NOT IN THE DOCUMENT].
Details on customers who churned: [NOT IN THE DOCUMENT]…

Frequently asked questions

Why add section citations to a summary?

They let you check any statement in seconds and catch anything the model made up. A summary without references forces you to trust it blindly or reread the whole document.

What if the PDF is too long?

The prompt asks the model to say which parts it read. If it could not process everything, split the document by chapter, summarize each one and then ask for a summary of the summaries.

What is this prompt for?

Summarize a long report, study or contract with every point linked to its section and page, a key figures table, the author’s view kept apart from interpretation, and gaps flagged.

Which AI tools does it work with?

It is designed for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. We have not verified it in these tools yet, so results may vary between them.

How do I customize the prompt?

Click “Customize” and fill in the variables (Document, Purpose, Reader and Length). The text updates instantly and you can then copy it in one click. Values are stored only in your browser.

Do I need experience to use it?

It is intermediate: it helps to know the topic so you can provide good context and review the result critically.

Is this prompt free?

Yes. Every HomeCasa Prompts prompt is free, with no sign-up or subscription. You can also use them in professional projects.

Can I trust the AI output?

Treat it as a high-quality draft: always check data, figures and important claims before publishing or making decisions.

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