Work with PromptDC profiles in any app and terminal

A profile is a reusable instruction that tells PromptDC how to transform text. In the flagship PromptDC Desktop app for macOS and Windows, profiles work everywhere: select text in any app, browser, IDE chat panel, or terminal CLI, press Cmd+Shift+E (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+E (Windows), and review the result. You can also assign per-app default profiles, like Code for Cursor and terminals or Email for Mail.

The Chrome extension adds in-place rewriting for web textareas with per-website defaults. PromptDC ships ten built-in profiles for everyday writing, image prompts, and coding—turning vague requests into implementation-ready prompts for tools like Claude Code, Codex CLI, and Gemini CLI. You can reorder profiles, customize instructions, and create custom profiles with a subscription.

Last updated: August 2026

Surfaces

Desktop (macOS & Windows) and Chrome. IDEs use dedicated controls.

Built-ins

Ten shipped profiles for writing, images, and code (including terminal CLIs).

Custom

Subscription-gated reusable instructions for any workflow.

The ten built-in profiles

A new profile list starts in the order below. PromptDC ships ten built-in profiles for everyday writing, image generation, and coding across apps, browsers, IDEs, and terminal CLIs. Drag the rows in desktop Settings or the Chrome sidebar to arrange them for your own workflow.

01Code

Turns vague coding requests into implementation-ready prompts for AI coding tools, IDEs, and terminal CLIs (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, Grok).

02Grammar

Corrects errors while preserving meaning, voice, and formatting.

03Email

Builds a complete email with a subject, greeting, body, and sign-off.

04Social

Shapes the text into a concise, platform-aware social post.

05Image Prompt

Expands an idea into a detailed prompt for image generation.

06Summarize

Condenses source text while preserving essential facts and actions.

07Reply

Drafts a direct response to the message supplied as input.

08Professional

Polishes the text for clear, respectful workplace communication.

09Concise

Removes repetition and filler while keeping every essential point.

10Explain

Rewrites complex material in clear language for a general audience.

Choose a profile for a task

Use a profile when the same instruction will be useful again across your desktop apps, browsers, or terminal CLIs. Use an Action for a one-off exception.

  1. 01

    Identify the result you want

    Grammar is a safe test for corrections, Email creates a complete message, and the Code profile turns vague coding requests into implementation-ready prompts for AI coding tools, IDE chat panels, and terminal CLIs.

  2. 02

    Select the profile

    In PromptDC Desktop (macOS and Windows), select it from the menu bar/tray, review popover, or set it as an application default. In Chrome, click the caret beside the toolbar profile name or choose a profile in the side panel.

  3. 03

    Run the enhancement

    Select text in any app, browser, IDE, or terminal and press Cmd+Shift+E (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+E (Windows). In Chrome editable fields, use the floating icon or shortcut.

  4. 04

    Review the result

    An editable review popover appears. Choose Replace to update the field in place or Copy to keep the original. If the result misses your desired style, edit the instruction or create a custom profile.

How the profile instruction works

1. Instruction

The profile's system prompt describes the transformation, output boundaries, tone, and details to preserve.

2. Input

Selected text in any desktop app, browser, IDE chat panel, terminal CLI, or Chrome field becomes the content to transform.

3. Result

PromptDC returns text shaped by that instruction into an editable review popover. You review and choose Replace or Copy.

Write a system prompt as direct transformation rules. State what to produce, what to preserve, what to avoid, and what the output should contain. For example: Rewrite as a friendly internal update. Keep every date and owner. Return three short paragraphs.

The Code profile has no editable system prompt. PromptDC adapts its instruction for your source app or tool—including terminal CLIs like Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Grok, and Agy—then applies its separate Simple or Structured output, Format (Regular, JSON, XML, YAML), and Always Include settings.

Control the output language

The Language setting is global. Change it in desktop Settings (macOS and Windows) or the Chrome sidebar. It applies across profiles unless your profile instruction explicitly names an output language. 'Auto' refers to language detection only, never a profile.

A custom profile that names a language overrides the global setting. The same is true for a built-in profile after you edit its shipped instruction. It can request any language the model supports.

An unedited built-in profile does not override the global setting, allowing shipped writing profiles to follow your chosen language. This precedence applies across the desktop app and Chrome extension. IDE extensions for VS Code and Cursor have no profiles and use their own Language control.

Create a custom profile

Custom profile management requires a subscription. If the controls are locked, open the subscription screen from your account.

  1. 01

    Open Profiles

    In PromptDC Desktop, open Settings > Profiles. In Chrome, open the side panel and select Profiles.

  2. 02

    Choose New profile

    A form opens with Name and System prompt fields.

  3. 03

    Name it

    Enter a short recognizable name, such as Friendly update, API Spec, or Product brief.

  4. 04

    Write the system prompt

    Define the intended transformation, constraints, tone, and required output. A name is required, and the instruction should be specific enough to reuse.

  5. 05

    Choose Create

    The new row appears in Profiles and in your desktop review popover, menu bar/tray, and Chrome profile pickers.

  6. 06

    Test it

    Select text in any app, trigger the shortcut, and test the output. Open the row anytime to tweak the instruction or name.

Reorder, edit, delete, and restore

TaskStepsExpected result
ReorderDrag a profile by its grip and drop it in the desired position.The profile picker across desktop and Chrome follows the saved order.
EditOpen a non-Code row, change its name or system prompt, then Save.Later enhancements use the saved instruction, and an edited built-in remains a built-in.
Reset a built-inOpen an edited built-in and choose Reset.Its shipped name and instruction return.
DeleteChoose the trash control and confirm. Code has no delete control.The profile leaves active pickers and app/website defaults.
Restore a built-inOpen Deleted built-in profiles and restore the profile.It returns near its shipped neighbors with the shipped instruction.

Every built-in profile except Code can be deleted and restored. Code is protected and always selectable so PromptDC can always enhance coding prompts and terminal CLIs. Deleting a custom profile removes it permanently rather than moving it to the restore list.

Global and Code-specific settings

Applies to every profile

Language controls enhanced results across all writing profiles and Code. Auto detects the input language when possible, falling back to English for short, ambiguous, or mixed input. Note that 'Auto' refers to language detection only, never a profile. A user-authored profile instruction that explicitly specifies a language overrides this setting.

Applies to Code

  • Format: Regular, JSON, XML, or YAML.
  • Output: Simple or Structured prompt enhancement.
  • Always Include: persistent coding guidance with a 2,000-character cap.

Writing profiles use standard Regular output format and do not receive Code-specific formatting preferences.

Profiles and defaults are separate

An app default in PromptDC Desktop (macOS and Windows) or a website rule in Chrome stores a chosen profile. It does not store Language, Format, Simple or Structured output, or Always Include.

For example, set the Code profile as the default for Cursor, VS Code, and terminal apps (Terminal, iTerm, Warp, Ghostty, Windows Terminal), and set Email as the default for Apple Mail or Outlook. If you want a single setup, the desktop app alone covers every text field, browser, terminal CLI, and desktop app on macOS and Windows.

Chrome resolves profiles automatically by hostname. Read App and website profile defaults for the complete precedence order. On desktop, each profile can also carry its own global shortcut configured in Settings under Shortcuts; see Shortcuts.

Profile FAQs

Need a one-off instruction?
Use Actions

Want app or site defaults?
See Profile defaults

Need the bindings?
Open Shortcuts

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