Automate NotebookLM notebook creation from YouTube videos. Given a YouTube video URL, extract information about people featured in the video, research them o...
---
name: notebooklm-video-research
description: Automate NotebookLM notebook creation from YouTube videos. Given a YouTube video URL, extract information about people featured in the video, research them online, create a new NotebookLM notebook with the video and research as sources, and generate an audio overview. Uses screenshot-first automation to reliably target UI elements.
---
# NotebookLM Video Research Skill
Automate NotebookLM notebook creation from YouTube videos with automatic research and Audio Overview generation.
## Core Principle
**Screenshot before every action** โ verify UI state, identify correct elements, confirm success.
```
๐ธ Screenshot โ ๐ Analyze โ ๐ฏ Target โ โ
Verify โ ๐ฑ๏ธ Execute โ ๐ธ Screenshot โ โ Confirm
```
---
## Quick Start Workflow
### Phase 1: Research
```python
# 1. Get video info
Control Chrome:open_url("https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID")
Control Chrome:get_page_content()
# 2. Research people mentioned
web_search("[Person Name] background career")
# 3. Create research document (keep under 500k chars)
```
### Phase 2: NotebookLM Automation
```python
# 1. Navigate
Control Chrome:open_url("https://notebooklm.google.com/")
# 2. Create notebook
# Click "Create new" button
# 3. Add YouTube source
# Click "Websites" โ Enter URL โ Click "Insert"
# 4. Add research document
# Click "Add sources" โ "Copied text" โ Paste content โ Click "Insert"
# 5. Generate audio
# Click "Audio Overview" in Studio panel
```
---
## Critical: Element Targeting
### โ ๏ธ The Main Trap
NotebookLM has **multiple textareas**. Generic selectors grab the wrong one!
```
SIDEBAR (wrong) CENTER MODAL (correct)
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โ Search box โ โ URL/Text input โ
โ query-input โ โ "Paste any links"|
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
```
### Correct Selectors
| Element | Selector |
|---------|----------|
| URL input | `textarea[placeholder="Paste any links"]` |
| Text input | `textarea[placeholder="Paste text here"]` |
| Sidebar (AVOID) | `textarea[placeholder*="Search"]` |
### Angular Event Pattern
```javascript
// Simple .value = doesn't work! Use this:
var setter = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(
HTMLTextAreaElement.prototype, 'value'
).set;
setter.call(textarea, 'content');
textarea.dispatchEvent(new Event('input', {bubbles: true}));
textarea.dispatchEvent(new Event('change', {bubbles: true}));
```
### Button State Check
```javascript
var btn = document.querySelector('button');
if (btn && !btn.disabled && !btn.className.includes('disabled')) {
btn.click();
}
```
---
## Complete Code Snippets
### Enter YouTube URL
```javascript
var urlTextarea = document.querySelector('textarea[placeholder="Paste any links"]');
if (urlTextarea) {
var setter = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(
HTMLTextAreaElement.prototype, 'value'
).set;
setter.call(urlTextarea, 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID');
urlTextarea.dispatchEvent(new Event('input', {bubbles: true}));
urlTextarea.dispatchEvent(new Event('change', {bubbles: true}));
}
```
### Enter Research Text
```javascript
var pasteTextarea = document.querySelector('textarea[placeholder="Paste text here"]');
if (pasteTextarea) {
var setter = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(
HTMLTextAreaElement.prototype, 'value'
).set;
setter.call(pasteTextarea, RESEARCH_CONTENT);
pasteTextarea.dispatchEvent(new Event('input', {bubbles: true}));
pasteTextarea.dispatchEvent(new Event('change', {bubbles: true}));
}
```
### Click Button by Text
```javascript
var buttons = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('button'));
var btn = buttons.find(b => b.textContent.includes('Insert'));
if (btn && !btn.disabled) {
btn.click();
}
```
### Verify State
```javascript
// Check what textareas exist
var textareas = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('textarea'));
textareas.map(t => ({
placeholder: t.placeholder,
value: t.value.substring(0, 50)
}));
```
---
## Checkpoint Summary
| Step | Verify Before | Verify After |
|------|---------------|--------------|
| Navigate | - | Home page loaded |
| Create notebook | Create button visible | Notebook opened |
| Add URL | **Correct textarea identified** | URL in center, not sidebar |
| Click Insert | **Button ENABLED** | Source added |
| Add text | **Correct textarea identified** | Text in center, not sidebar |
| Click Insert | **Button ENABLED** | 2 sources shown |
| Audio Overview | Studio panel visible | Generation started |
---
## Anti-Patterns
| โ Don't | โ
Do |
|----------|-------|
| `document.querySelector('textarea')` | `textarea[placeholder="Paste any links"]` |
| Click without checking state | Verify button enabled first |
| Assume action succeeded | Screenshot to confirm |
| Rush through steps | Wait for async operations |
---
## Wait Times
| Action | Wait |
|--------|------|
| Page navigation | 3s |
| Dialog open | 2s |
| YouTube source processing | 8-10s |
| Text source processing | 5s |
| Audio generation | 5-10 minutes |
---
## Error Recovery
**Wrong input targeted:**
1. Clear sidebar: `document.querySelectorAll('.query-input').forEach(el => el.value = '')`
2. Re-target with specific selector
**Button disabled:**
1. Re-dispatch events on textarea
2. Verify content actually entered
**Modal didn't open:**
1. Wait longer
2. Click trigger button again
don't have the plugin yet? install it then click "run inline in claude" again.