Lesson 2: Understanding the NotebookLM Interface

Introduction

Welcome to Lesson 2 of our NotebookLM course! In the previous lesson, we introduced NotebookLM and helped you set up your account. Now that you're ready to dive in, it's essential to understand the interface you'll be working with.

The NotebookLM interface is thoughtfully designed to balance power and simplicity. It provides access to advanced AI capabilities while maintaining an intuitive layout that helps you focus on your research and learning. By understanding each component of the interface and how they work together, you'll be able to navigate NotebookLM efficiently and take full advantage of its capabilities.

In this lesson, we'll explore every aspect of the NotebookLM interface, from the main dashboard to the notebook workspace. We'll cover navigation techniques, keyboard shortcuts, and customization options. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to move through NotebookLM with confidence, allowing you to focus on your content rather than figuring out how to use the tool.

Let's begin our tour of the NotebookLM interface!

The NotebookLM Dashboard

When you first log in to NotebookLM, you'll land on the dashboard. This is your starting point and serves as a hub for accessing all your notebooks.

Dashboard Components

The dashboard consists of several key elements:

1. Header Bar

• Logo and Title: Located in the top-left, clicking this returns you to the dashboard from anywhere in the application.
• Search Bar: Allows you to search across all your notebooks.
• User Profile: Located in the top-right, provides access to account settings and sign-out options.
• Help Icon: Provides access to documentation and support resources.

2. Notebook Creation Button

The prominent "+ New Notebook" button allows you to create a new notebook with a single click.

3. Notebook Grid/List

The main area of the dashboard displays your existing notebooks, typically in a grid format (though this may vary with updates). Each notebook card shows:

• Notebook title
• Creation or last modified date
• Brief description (if provided)
• Quick access menu (three dots) for additional actions

4. Sorting and View Options

Controls that allow you to sort notebooks by different criteria (e.g., recently modified, alphabetical) and switch between grid and list views.

Notebook Actions from the Dashboard

From the dashboard, you can perform several actions on your notebooks:

Opening a Notebook

Simply click on a notebook card to open it. This takes you to the notebook workspace where you can view and interact with your sources and notes.

Notebook Menu Options

Clicking the three-dot menu on a notebook card reveals additional options:

• Rename: Change the notebook's title
• Edit Description: Modify the notebook's description
• Duplicate: Create a copy of the notebook
• Archive: Move the notebook to the archive (hidden but retrievable)
• Delete: Permanently remove the notebook
• Share: (If available) Share the notebook with others

The Notebook Workspace

After opening a notebook from the dashboard, you'll enter the notebook workspace. This is where you'll spend most of your time in NotebookLM, working with sources, asking questions, and creating outputs.

Workspace Layout

The notebook workspace is divided into several key areas:

1. Top Navigation Bar

• Back to Dashboard: Returns you to the main dashboard
• Notebook Title: Displays and allows editing of the current notebook's name
• Share Button: (If available) Provides sharing options
• Settings Menu: Access to notebook-specific settings

2. Left Sidebar: Sources Panel

This panel displays all the sources you've added to your notebook. It typically includes:

• Add Source Button: Opens options for adding new sources
• Source List: Shows all your added sources with titles
• Source Management: Options to rename, reorder, or remove sources

3. Center Area: Main Workspace

This is the primary interaction area that changes based on what you're doing:

• Chat View: For asking questions and viewing responses
• Source View: For reading and reviewing source content
• Studio View: For creating structured outputs

4. Right Sidebar: Context Panel

This panel provides additional context and options depending on your current activity:

• Source information when viewing a source
• Citation details when viewing AI responses
• Output options when using the Studio

Navigation Between Workspace Views

The notebook workspace offers different views for different tasks. Understanding how to navigate between these views is essential for efficient use.

Main Navigation Tabs

At the top of the center area, you'll find tabs for switching between the main views:

• Chat: For asking questions and having conversations about your sources
• Studio: For creating structured outputs like summaries, FAQs, and timelines
• Audio: For generating and listening to Audio Overviews

Source Navigation

To view a specific source:

1. Click on the source name in the left sidebar
2. The source content will appear in the center area
3. The right sidebar will show metadata about the source

Returning to Conversations

After viewing a source, to return to your conversation:

1. Click the "Chat" tab at the top of the center area
2. Your previous conversation will be restored

The Sources Panel in Detail

The Sources panel in the left sidebar is where you manage all the materials you've added to your notebook. Let's explore its features in detail.

Adding Sources

To add new sources to your notebook:

1. Click the "+ Add Source" button at the top of the Sources panel
2. Choose from the available source types:
   • Upload a PDF
   • Add a Google Doc or Slides
   • Add a website URL
   • Add a YouTube video
   • Paste text directly
   • Upload an audio file (if supported)
3. Follow the prompts to complete adding the source

Source Management

Once sources are added, you can manage them in several ways:

Viewing Source Content

Click on any source in the list to view its content in the main workspace area.

Renaming Sources

To rename a source:

1. Click the three-dot menu next to the source name
2. Select "Rename"
3. Enter the new name and confirm

Reordering Sources

In some versions of NotebookLM, you can reorder sources by dragging and dropping them in the list.

Removing Sources

To remove a source:

1. Click the three-dot menu next to the source name
2. Select "Remove"
3. Confirm the removal

Source Status Indicators

Sources in the panel may display status indicators:

• Processing: The source is still being analyzed by NotebookLM
• Error: There was a problem processing the source
• Ready: The source is fully processed and ready to use

The Chat Interface

The Chat interface is your primary means of interacting with NotebookLM's AI capabilities. It allows you to ask questions about your sources and receive detailed responses.

Chat Components

The Chat interface consists of several key elements:

1. Conversation History

The main area displays your conversation history, showing:

• Your questions and prompts
• NotebookLM's responses
• Citations and references to sources

2. Input Field

At the bottom of the chat area, you'll find the input field where you type your questions and prompts.

3. Source Selection

Above or near the input field, you may find options to specify which sources to use for a particular question.

4. Citation Display

When NotebookLM responds, it typically includes citations to your sources. These citations are often clickable, allowing you to view the exact source content being referenced.

Asking Effective Questions

To get the most out of the Chat interface:

• Be specific in your questions
• Specify which sources to use when relevant
• Ask follow-up questions to explore topics in more depth
• Use clear, natural language rather than keywords

Working with Citations

Citations are a key feature of NotebookLM's responses:

• Click on a citation to view the exact source content
• Citations typically include the source name and relevant section
• The right sidebar may show additional context for citations

The Studio Interface

The Studio interface allows you to create structured outputs based on your sources. It's ideal for generating summaries, FAQs, timelines, and other formatted content.

Accessing the Studio

To access the Studio:

1. Click the "Studio" tab at the top of the main workspace area
2. The interface will switch to the Studio view

Studio Components

The Studio interface typically includes:

1. Output Type Selection

Options for different types of outputs, such as:

• Summary
• FAQ
• Timeline
• Outline
• And other specialized formats

2. Source Selection

Controls to specify which sources to use for generating the output.

3. Output Parameters

Options to customize the output, such as:

• Length or detail level
• Focus areas or topics
• Style preferences

4. Generate Button

Button to initiate the output generation process.

5. Output Display Area

Where the generated output appears, often with options to edit, regenerate, or export.

Creating Outputs

To create an output in the Studio:

1. Select the desired output type
2. Choose which sources to include
3. Set any parameters or customization options
4. Click "Generate" or equivalent button
5. Review the output and make any necessary adjustments

The Audio Overview Interface

The Audio Overview feature transforms your text-based sources into podcast-style audio conversations. This interface allows you to create and listen to these audio overviews.

Accessing Audio Overviews

To access the Audio Overview feature:

1. Click the "Audio" tab at the top of the main workspace area
2. The interface will switch to the Audio Overview view

Audio Interface Components

The Audio Overview interface typically includes:

1. Source Selection

Controls to specify which sources to include in the audio overview.

2. Audio Parameters

Options to customize the audio overview, such as:

• Length or duration
• Focus areas or topics
• Interactive mode settings (if available)

3. Generate Button

Button to create the audio overview.

4. Audio Player

Controls for playing, pausing, and navigating the audio overview.

5. Transcript Display

Some versions may show a transcript of the audio conversation.

Using Audio Overviews

To create and use an audio overview:

1. Select the sources you want to include
2. Set any parameters or focus areas
3. Generate the audio overview
4. Use the player controls to listen to the conversation
5. If interactive mode is available, you can join the conversation at certain points

Customizing the Interface

NotebookLM offers several ways to customize the interface to suit your preferences and workflow.

Display Preferences

Depending on the version, you may be able to adjust:

• Theme: Light or dark mode
• Text Size: Adjust for readability
• Panel Sizes: Resize panels by dragging dividers
• View Options: Compact or expanded views

Keyboard Shortcuts

NotebookLM supports various keyboard shortcuts to speed up navigation:

• ? - View keyboard shortcut list
• Ctrl/Cmd + / - Focus on search
• Ctrl/Cmd + Enter - Send message in chat
• Esc - Cancel current action

The exact shortcuts may vary with updates, so check the current list by pressing "?" within NotebookLM.

Notebook-Specific Settings

Each notebook may have specific settings accessible through the settings menu:

• Default source selection
• Response style preferences
• Citation display options
• Sharing and collaboration settings (if available)

Troubleshooting Common Interface Issues

Even with a well-designed interface, you may occasionally encounter issues. Here are solutions to common problems:

Source Not Loading

If a source isn't loading properly:

1. Check if the source is still processing (look for status indicators)
2. Try refreshing the page
3. Remove and re-add the source if necessary
4. Ensure the source format is supported

Slow Response Times

If NotebookLM is responding slowly:

1. Check your internet connection
2. Reduce the number of sources in your notebook
3. Try using more specific questions
4. Clear your browser cache and cookies

Interface Elements Not Displaying Correctly

If parts of the interface aren't displaying properly:

1. Try a different browser
2. Update your browser to the latest version
3. Disable browser extensions that might interfere
4. Try resizing your window or adjusting zoom level

Getting Help

If you encounter persistent issues:

1. Click the Help icon in the interface
2. Check the official NotebookLM documentation
3. Look for community forums or support channels
4. Use the feedback option to report bugs