NotebookLM Quick Actions
Simplified command routing for NotebookLM MCP tools. Create podcasts, study guides, quizzes, flashcards, research reports, and slide decks from any source.
Prerequisites
- NotebookLM MCP server must be configured and authenticated
- Run
nlm login if you get auth errors
Command Routing
| User Says |
Action |
MCP Flow |
| "podcast from [source]" |
Audio Overview |
Create → Add Source → Studio Audio |
| "study guide from [source]" |
Study Guide |
Create → Add Source → Studio Report |
| "research [query]" |
Web Research |
Research Start → Poll → Import |
| "quiz from [source]" |
Quiz |
Create → Add Source → Studio Quiz |
| "flashcards from [source]" |
Flashcards |
Create → Add Source → Studio Flashcards |
| "slides from [source]" |
Slide Deck |
Create → Add Source → Studio Slides |
| "summarize [source]" |
Summary |
Create → Add Source → Query |
| "mind map from [source]" |
Mind Map |
Create → Add Source → Studio Mind Map |
Source Types
Detect source type from user input:
- URL:
https://... → source_add(source_type="url", url=...)
- File path:
/path/to/file.pdf → source_add(source_type="file", file_path=...)
- Pasted text: Raw text content →
source_add(source_type="text", text=..., title=...)
- Multiple sources: Add each one sequentially
Workflow: Podcast
notebook_create(title="Podcast: [topic]")
- For each source:
source_add(notebook_id=..., source_type=..., ..., wait=True)
studio_create(notebook_id=..., artifact_type="audio", audio_format="deep_dive", confirm=True)
- Poll
studio_status(notebook_id=...) every 30s until completed
- Report the URL to user
Options: audio_format: deep_dive (default), brief, critique, debate
Options: audio_length: short, default, long
Workflow: Study Guide
notebook_create(title="Study Guide: [topic]")
- Add sources (same as above)
studio_create(notebook_id=..., artifact_type="report", report_format="Study Guide", confirm=True)
- Poll
studio_status until completed
- Download and display:
download_artifact(notebook_id=..., artifact_type="report", output_path="study-guide.md")
Workflow: Research
research_start(query="[user query]", source="web", mode="fast")
- For deep research:
mode="deep" (takes ~5 min, ~40 sources)
research_status(notebook_id=..., max_wait=300)
- When complete:
research_import(notebook_id=..., task_id=...)
- Optionally query the imported sources:
notebook_query(notebook_id=..., query="summarize findings")
Workflow: Quiz
- Create notebook and add sources
studio_create(notebook_id=..., artifact_type="quiz", question_count=5, difficulty="medium", confirm=True)
- Poll
studio_status until completed
download_artifact(notebook_id=..., artifact_type="quiz", output_path="quiz.json", output_format="json")
- Read the quiz file and present questions interactively to user one at a time
- Track score and reveal answers after each question
Workflow: Flashcards
- Create notebook and add sources
studio_create(notebook_id=..., artifact_type="flashcards", difficulty="medium", confirm=True)
- Poll and download as JSON
- Present cards one at a time: show front, wait for user, reveal back
- Track which cards were correct/incorrect for review
Workflow: Slides
- Create notebook and add sources
studio_create(notebook_id=..., artifact_type="slide_deck", slide_format="detailed_deck", confirm=True)
- Poll
studio_status until completed
- Download:
download_artifact(notebook_id=..., artifact_type="slide_deck", output_path="slides.pdf")
- Report download location
Existing Notebook
If user specifies an existing notebook (by name or ID), skip notebook_create and add sources to existing notebook. Use notebook_list to find notebooks by name.
Error Handling
| Error |
Solution |
| Auth error |
Run nlm login via Bash |
| Source processing timeout |
Increase wait_timeout or poll manually |
| Studio generation stuck |
Check studio_status, may need retry |
| Quiz download fails |
Try different output_format (json/markdown/html) |
1---2name: notebook3description: NotebookLM quick actions - create podcasts, study guides, quizzes, flashcards, research, and slide decks from any source. Use when the user says "make a podcast", "create study guide", "notebooklm", "research this", "quiz me", "flashcards", "summarize", "make slides", "study material", or wants to create learning content from URLs, PDFs, or text.4---56# NotebookLM Quick Actions78Simplified command routing for NotebookLM MCP tools. Create podcasts, study guides, quizzes, flashcards, research reports, and slide decks from any source.910## Prerequisites11121. NotebookLM MCP server must be configured and authenticated132. Run `nlm login` if you get auth errors1415## Command Routing1617| User Says | Action | MCP Flow |18|-----------|--------|----------|19| "podcast from [source]" | Audio Overview | Create → Add Source → Studio Audio |20| "study guide from [source]" | Study Guide | Create → Add Source → Studio Report |21| "research [query]" | Web Research | Research Start → Poll → Import |22| "quiz from [source]" | Quiz | Create → Add Source → Studio Quiz |23| "flashcards from [source]" | Flashcards | Create → Add Source → Studio Flashcards |24| "slides from [source]" | Slide Deck | Create → Add Source → Studio Slides |25| "summarize [source]" | Summary | Create → Add Source → Query |26| "mind map from [source]" | Mind Map | Create → Add Source → Studio Mind Map |2728## Source Types2930Detect source type from user input:31- **URL**: `https://...` → `source_add(source_type="url", url=...)`32- **File path**: `/path/to/file.pdf` → `source_add(source_type="file", file_path=...)`33- **Pasted text**: Raw text content → `source_add(source_type="text", text=..., title=...)`34- **Multiple sources**: Add each one sequentially3536## Workflow: Podcast37381. `notebook_create(title="Podcast: [topic]")`392. For each source: `source_add(notebook_id=..., source_type=..., ..., wait=True)`403. `studio_create(notebook_id=..., artifact_type="audio", audio_format="deep_dive", confirm=True)`414. Poll `studio_status(notebook_id=...)` every 30s until completed425. Report the URL to user4344Options: `audio_format`: deep_dive (default), brief, critique, debate45Options: `audio_length`: short, default, long4647## Workflow: Study Guide48491. `notebook_create(title="Study Guide: [topic]")`502. Add sources (same as above)513. `studio_create(notebook_id=..., artifact_type="report", report_format="Study Guide", confirm=True)`524. Poll `studio_status` until completed535. Download and display: `download_artifact(notebook_id=..., artifact_type="report", output_path="study-guide.md")`5455## Workflow: Research56571. `research_start(query="[user query]", source="web", mode="fast")`58 - For deep research: `mode="deep"` (takes ~5 min, ~40 sources)592. `research_status(notebook_id=..., max_wait=300)`603. When complete: `research_import(notebook_id=..., task_id=...)`614. Optionally query the imported sources: `notebook_query(notebook_id=..., query="summarize findings")`6263## Workflow: Quiz64651. Create notebook and add sources662. `studio_create(notebook_id=..., artifact_type="quiz", question_count=5, difficulty="medium", confirm=True)`673. Poll `studio_status` until completed684. `download_artifact(notebook_id=..., artifact_type="quiz", output_path="quiz.json", output_format="json")`695. Read the quiz file and present questions interactively to user one at a time706. Track score and reveal answers after each question7172## Workflow: Flashcards73741. Create notebook and add sources752. `studio_create(notebook_id=..., artifact_type="flashcards", difficulty="medium", confirm=True)`763. Poll and download as JSON774. Present cards one at a time: show front, wait for user, reveal back785. Track which cards were correct/incorrect for review7980## Workflow: Slides81821. Create notebook and add sources832. `studio_create(notebook_id=..., artifact_type="slide_deck", slide_format="detailed_deck", confirm=True)`843. Poll `studio_status` until completed854. Download: `download_artifact(notebook_id=..., artifact_type="slide_deck", output_path="slides.pdf")`865. Report download location8788## Existing Notebook8990If user specifies an existing notebook (by name or ID), skip `notebook_create` and add sources to existing notebook. Use `notebook_list` to find notebooks by name.9192## Error Handling9394| Error | Solution |95|-------|----------|96| Auth error | Run `nlm login` via Bash |97| Source processing timeout | Increase `wait_timeout` or poll manually |98| Studio generation stuck | Check `studio_status`, may need retry |99| Quiz download fails | Try different output_format (json/markdown/html) |