# Create a Briefing Document
Generate NotebookLM-style briefing documents by calling `/content/Create` with `outputType: "briefing_doc"`. The API supports three result formats:
* `pdf` — uploads a generated PDF and returns a URL
* `html` — returns structured HTML content
* `text` — returns plain text content
If you omit `format`, the API defaults to `pdf`.
Need a reusable file ID for a private PDF first? Follow [Upload Private Files](https://docs.autocontentapi.com/quick-start/tools/upload-files).
## Step 1: Create the Document Request
Send a POST request to `/content/Create` with your source material and set `outputType` to `briefing_doc`.
```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.autocontentapi.com/content/Create" \
-H "accept: application/json" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"outputType": "briefing_doc",
"format": "pdf",
"resources": [
{
"type": "website",
"content": "https://example.com/enterprise-ai-market-update"
}
],
"text": "Create an executive briefing for B2B SaaS leaders. Include market shifts, key risks, and recommended actions.",
"language": "English"
}'
```
### Example Response
```json
{
"request_id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
"status": 0
}
```
Save the `request_id`. You will use it both for `/content/Status/{id}` and for the `/documents` endpoints.
## Step 2: Poll for Status
Use the returned `request_id` to track generation progress:
```bash
curl -X GET "https://api.autocontentapi.com/content/Status/550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000" \
-H "accept: application/json" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN"
```
### While Processing
```json
{
"id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
"status": 80,
"updated_on": "2026-03-11T19:10:00Z",
"error_code": 0,
"requested_on": "2026-03-11T19:08:00Z"
}
```
### Status Values
* `0` = Pending or queued
* `5` = Early processing stages
* `80` = Document generation in progress
* `100` = Completed
## Step 3: Read the Result from `/content/Status/{id}`
The final payload depends on the selected `format`.
### Completed PDF Result
```json
{
"id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
"audio_title": "Briefing Document: Enterprise AI Market Update",
"status": 100,
"audio_url": "https://autocontentapi.blob.core.windows.net/audios/briefing-doc-550e8400.pdf",
"response_text": "",
"requested_on": "2026-03-11T19:08:00Z",
"updated_on": "2026-03-11T19:12:00Z",
"request_type_id": 1,
"error_code": 0,
"error_on": null,
"citations": [],
"file_size": 0,
"audio_duration": 0,
"share_url": "https://autocontentapi.blob.core.windows.net/audios/briefing-doc-550e8400.pdf",
"briefing_doc_url": "https://autocontentapi.blob.core.windows.net/audios/briefing-doc-550e8400.pdf",
"document_type": "briefing_doc",
"document_format": "pdf",
"document_content": "",
"document_url": "https://autocontentapi.blob.core.windows.net/audios/briefing-doc-550e8400.pdf",
"title": "Briefing Document: Enterprise AI Market Update"
}
```
### Completed HTML or Text Result
```json
{
"id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
"audio_title": "Briefing Document: Enterprise AI Market Update",
"status": 100,
"audio_url": "",
"response_text": "## Executive Summary\n\nThe enterprise AI market is consolidating around...",
"requested_on": "2026-03-11T19:08:00Z",
"updated_on": "2026-03-11T19:12:00Z",
"request_type_id": 1,
"error_code": 0,
"error_on": null,
"citations": [],
"file_size": 0,
"audio_duration": 0,
"share_url": "",
"briefing_doc_url": "",
"document_type": "briefing_doc",
"document_format": "text",
"document_content": "## Executive Summary\n\nThe enterprise AI market is consolidating around...",
"document_url": "",
"title": "Briefing Document: Enterprise AI Market Update"
}
```
Use `document_format` to branch your client logic:
* `pdf`: read `briefing_doc_url` or `document_url`
* `html`: read `document_content`
* `text`: read `document_content` or `response_text`
## Step 4: Use the Documents API
The content status endpoint is enough for polling, but completed documents are also available through `/documents`.
### List Documents
```bash
curl -X GET "https://api.autocontentapi.com/documents/get?page=1&pageSize=10" \
-H "accept: application/json" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN"
```
Example response:
```json
{
"items": [
{
"id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
"type": "briefing_doc",
"format": "pdf",
"title": "Briefing Document: Enterprise AI Market Update",
"createdOn": "2026-03-11T19:12:00Z",
"status": 100
}
],
"totalCount": 1,
"page": 1,
"pageSize": 10,
"totalPages": 1
}
```
### Fetch One Document
```bash
curl -X GET "https://api.autocontentapi.com/documents/550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000" \
-H "accept: application/json" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN"
```
Example PDF response:
```json
{
"id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
"type": "briefing_doc",
"format": "pdf",
"title": "Briefing Document: Enterprise AI Market Update",
"status": 100,
"createdOn": "2026-03-11T19:12:00Z",
"content": "",
"url": "https://autocontentapi.blob.core.windows.net/audios/briefing-doc-550e8400.pdf"
}
```
Example HTML response:
```json
{
"id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
"type": "briefing_doc",
"format": "html",
"title": "Briefing Document: Enterprise AI Market Update",
"status": 100,
"createdOn": "2026-03-11T19:12:00Z",
"content": "Executive Summary
The enterprise AI market is consolidating...
",
"url": ""
}
```
### Download the Stored Asset
```bash
curl -L "https://api.autocontentapi.com/documents/550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000/download" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
-o briefing-document.pdf
```
The download endpoint returns the correct file type automatically:
* PDF download for `format: "pdf"`
* `.html` download for `format: "html"`
* `.txt` download for `format: "text"`
## Supported Source Types
You can generate briefing documents from the same main source types used by other content endpoints:
| Type | Description | Example |
| --------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| `website` | Public web page URL | `"https://example.com/report"` |
| `youtube` | YouTube video URL | `"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"` |
| `text` | Direct text instructions or source material | `"Internal memo content..."` |
| `pdf` | Base64-encoded PDF payload | `"BASE64_ENCODED_PDF"` |
| `file` | File ID returned by [Upload Private Files](https://docs.autocontentapi.com/quick-start/tools/upload-files) | `"YOUR_FILE_ID"` |
## Format Options
| Format | Behavior | Best for |
| ------ | ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| `pdf` | Generates a downloadable PDF and stores its URL | Client deliverables, handoffs, downloads |
| `html` | Returns structured HTML in the API response | CMS ingestion, rendering in apps |
| `text` | Returns plain text content | Summaries, internal automation, search indexing |
## Tips for Better Results
1. Use `text` to specify audience, structure, and level of detail.
2. Pick `pdf` when humans will download the deliverable, and `html` or `text` when another system will consume it.
3. Poll `/content/Status/{id}` until `status` reaches `100` before calling `/documents/{id}`.
4. Use `/documents/get` to build document history views in your app.
5. If you need private PDFs, upload them first via [Upload Private Files](https://docs.autocontentapi.com/quick-start/tools/upload-files) and reference the returned file ID with `type: "file"`.
## Error Handling
If generation fails, `/content/Status/{id}` returns the error metadata just like other content types:
```json
{
"id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
"status": 0,
"error_code": 500,
"error_message": "Unable to process this briefing document request right now. Please try again.",
"error_on": "2026-03-11T19:09:30Z",
"requested_on": "2026-03-11T19:08:00Z"
}
```
## What's Next?
* 📚 Browse the [Document Scenario Examples](https://docs.autocontentapi.com/quick-start/documents/document-examples)
* 💻 Use the [Document Code Samples](https://docs.autocontentapi.com/code-samples/documents/document-examples)
* 🔬 Combine research outputs with [Deep Research](https://docs.autocontentapi.com/quick-start/deep-researches/start-deep-research)
* 📁 Upload a private PDF first with the Files API, then reference it as a `file` resource