# Static prompts, dynamic prompts and documents

*Understand the three kinds of prompt, how each one behaves when a block changes, and how to write and edit each one.*

Online version: https://promptmason.ai/docs/static-and-dynamic

Everything on the Prompts screen is one of three kinds: a dynamic prompt, a static prompt or a Markdown document. The kind decides where the words come from and how you edit the item. You choose it when you first save, and the app has no button to change it later.

## The three kinds

| Kind | What it is | When a block changes | Edited on |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Dynamic** | A list of blocks, in order. Its text is put together from the blocks each time you use it. | The prompt changes too. | The Build screen |
| **Static** | Fixed text. | Nothing happens to it. | The Prompts screen |
| **Markdown** | A Markdown document, such as a Skill, kept exactly as written. | Nothing (it has no blocks). | The Build screen's Markdown editor |

On the Prompts screen, Tile view and the pane on the right show the kind as a badge (**Dynamic**, **Static** or **Markdown**). In List view, the **Kind** column says **Dynamic Prompt**, **Static Prompt** or **Markdown**.

![The Prompts list with a Kind column showing Dynamic Prompt, Static Prompt and Markdown.](https://promptmason.ai/images/docs/static-and-dynamic-kind-column.webp)

## Dynamic prompts

A dynamic prompt is built from library blocks on the Build screen ([Build a prompt](https://promptmason.ai/docs/build-prompt)). It stores which blocks it uses, in what order, and with which [block headers](https://promptmason.ai/docs/text-formatting#block-headers), not the text itself.

Because of that, when you change a block, every dynamic prompt that uses it shows the new text the next time you view or copy it. Fix a typo in your "Role" block once, and all your prompts get the fix.

What happens when a block is removed:

- **Archived:** the block's text still goes into the prompt, and the block is marked **Archived**. To leave it out, open the prompt in Build and take the block out.
- **Deleted:** the prompt shows `[Block removed: name]` in its place, with a warning, until you take it out of the prompt or the block is restored from **Recently deleted**. See [Archive, delete and restore](https://promptmason.ai/docs/archive-and-delete).

Use a dynamic prompt when you want your prompts to stay in step with your blocks. That's most of the time.

## Static prompts

A static prompt is fixed text. You get one in two ways:

- **Save as Static** on the Build screen. The blocks' text, with its headers, is saved as one piece of text. From then on the prompt has no link to the blocks: changing or deleting a block doesn't change it.
- **Write it yourself** on the Prompts screen (see [Write a static prompt](#write-a-static-prompt)).

[Variables](https://promptmason.ai/docs/variables) and [hidden notes](https://promptmason.ai/docs/text-formatting#hidden-notes) still work in a static prompt: variables are filled in when you copy it, and hidden notes are left out.

Use a static prompt when you want the words to stay exactly as they are, or for a one-off prompt that isn't built from blocks.

## Markdown documents

A Markdown document is a text file written in Markdown, such as a Skill for an AI tool. PromptMason keeps it exactly as you write it: no blocks, no variables, and nothing removed. You write one on the Build screen's **Markdown** tab, which shows when the **Markdown editor** feature is on. See [Markdown documents and Skills](https://promptmason.ai/docs/markdown-documents).

A document counts as one of the 15 prompts on the Free plan.

## Kind and Type

Kind and Type are two different things:

- **Kind** is Static, Dynamic or Markdown. PromptMason sets it from how you saved the item, and the app doesn't offer a way to change it.
- **Type** is a label you choose under **Properties**, such as **User Prompt**, **System Prompt** or **Skill**. You can change it at any time and add your own types ([Block types, prompt types and defaults](https://promptmason.ai/docs/types-and-defaults)).

Any type goes with any kind. A static prompt can have the type **Skill**, and a Markdown document can have the type **User Prompt**. A new Markdown document starts with the type **Skill**.

## Write a static prompt

1. Click **Prompts** in the sidebar.
2. Click **New static prompt** at the top right (or press Ctrl+N). If you have no prompts yet, you can click **Write a prompt** instead.
3. Type a name for the prompt.
4. Write the prompt in the large box. The toolbar has bold, italic, lists and color ([Formatting, block headers and hidden notes](https://promptmason.ai/docs/text-formatting)). To put in a [variable](https://promptmason.ai/docs/variables), type `{{` and pick its name (when the Variables feature is on).
5. Under **Properties**, choose a **Type** and a **Location** (folder). You can also add a **Description**, **Tags** (when the Tags feature is on), and a character limit (**Enforce a character limit**).

    ![A new static prompt open for editing with a name, the text box and the Properties section.](https://promptmason.ai/images/docs/static-and-dynamic-new-static-prompt-pane.webp)

6. Click the disk icon (**Save**), or press Ctrl+S.

**Save** stays grayed out until the prompt has a name and some text. Once saved, the prompt shows in the list and in the pane on the right, ready to copy.

To stop without saving, click the X (**Cancel**) or press Esc. If you've typed anything, PromptMason asks **Discard your new prompt?** Click **Keep Editing** or **Discard Draft**.

On the Free plan, if you already have 15 prompts, the **Free plan limit** window opens instead. See [Plans and limits](https://promptmason.ai/docs/plans).

## Edit a prompt

How you edit depends on the kind. Start on the Prompts screen and click the prompt to show it on the right.

### A static prompt

1. Click the pencil (**Edit**) at the top of the pane, or double-click the prompt.
2. Change the name, the text, or the **Type**, **Description**, **Tags** or character limit under **Properties**.
3. Click the disk icon (**Save**), or press Ctrl+S.

To undo your changes instead, click the X (**Cancel**) or press Esc. This puts the prompt back as it was without asking first. If you click another prompt or screen with unsaved changes, PromptMason asks **Discard your changes?**

### A dynamic prompt

1. Click the pencil (**Open in Build**), or double-click the prompt. It opens on the Build screen.
2. Add, remove or reorder blocks ([Build a prompt](https://promptmason.ai/docs/build-prompt)).
3. Click **Update Prompt** to save and go back to the Prompts screen, or **Apply** to save and stay on Build.

### A Markdown document

1. Click the pencil (**Edit**), or double-click the document. It opens on the Build screen, in the Markdown editor, showing **Preview**.
2. Click **Edit** above the document.
3. Change the text, then click **Update** (or **Apply** to stay on Build).

The pencil only shows while the **Markdown editor** feature is on. With it off, you can still read, copy and download documents. See [Markdown documents and Skills](https://promptmason.ai/docs/markdown-documents).

## Change a prompt's kind

The app has no button to change a saved prompt's kind. To get a static copy of a dynamic prompt's current text:

1. On the Prompts screen, click the dynamic prompt and click **Copy to Clipboard**.
2. Click **New static prompt**, paste the text into the large box, give it a name and save it.

The dynamic prompt stays as it was. The new prompt has the text as it was copied: variables are already filled in (if any ask for a value each time, the **Fill in your values** window opens when you copy), and hidden notes are left out.

## Want a hand?

Paste this prompt into Claude, ChatGPT or another AI assistant, together with this guide, to be walked through it step by step:

> I'm not sure whether to save my PromptMason prompts as static or dynamic, or when to use a Markdown document. Explain the difference using my own work as the example, and help me choose.