> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://comfytv.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Text Stage

> Generates text with a local LLM from your instructions—expand prompts, write descriptions, or feed context to image and video stages.

<Frame caption="Text Stage · screenshot coming soon">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/comfytv/dMkMxJDZdIo4YzAU/images/nodes/_placeholder.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=dMkMxJDZdIo4YzAU&q=85&s=b54171099e5b02d4313fe581171ebbcc" alt="Text Stage" width="800" height="450" data-path="images/nodes/_placeholder.svg" />
</Frame>

## What this node does

**Text Stage** is ComfyTV’s text generator. Write what you want the LLM to do in **main\_prompt**, pick a **workflow** (a ComfyUI subgraph behind the scenes), click **▶ Run**, and the generated string appears in the node preview.

The output type is `COMFYTV_TEXT`—not a native ComfyUI string socket, but a project snapshot you can wire to **texts** on Image Stage or Video Stage so it merges into their prompts.

Text Stage can also take upstream **texts**, **images**, and **videos** as multimodal context (whether they are used depends on the workflow and preset bindings).

## When to use it

* Expand a short idea with an LLM, then feed Image / Video Stage for t2i or t2v.
* Generate product copy, narration, character bios, or other plain text.
* Merge multiple upstream text outputs via **texts**, appended to **main\_prompt** with newlines.
* Draft story premises (Storyboard Stage has its own main\_prompt too).

## How ComfyTV stages work

* A **stage** with **▶ Run** executes **only that node**—not the whole ComfyUI graph via global Queue.
* After a run, the text snapshot is stored in the project; downstream stages read it on their next run and **do not automatically re-run** Text Stage.
* The **workflow** dropdown lists subgraphs from [`workflows/text/`](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/tree/main/workflows/text). ComfyTV maps `main_prompt`, seed, max\_length, etc. into that subgraph.

Text workflows have no `SaveImage`; ComfyTV reads the LLM node’s first string output via `graph_output_first` in the preset.

## Types (COMFYTV\_TEXT vs native ComfyUI)

| ComfyTV type   | What it is                   | vs native ComfyUI                                |
| -------------- | ---------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| `COMFYTV_TEXT` | Text snapshot in the project | Not a native STRING socket                       |
| Native STRING  | In-memory string             | Cannot wire directly to ComfyTV **texts** inputs |

**Conversion:**

* Native → ComfyTV: **ComfyTV/Bridge** → **→ ComfyTV Text** (Run to snapshot)
* ComfyTV → native: **← ComfyTV Text** (load snapshot for native nodes)

See [bridges.md](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/bridges.md).

## Parameters

### workflow

Backend from [`workflows/text/`](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/tree/main/workflows/text). Built-in: **Local Qwen3 4B** (Qwen3 4B chat via `TextGenerate`). Empty or grey list → restart ComfyUI or check workflow files.

Models: [models.md](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/models.md).

### main\_prompt

Your main instruction. Upstream **texts** append with newlines.

**Example:** `Write three short scene descriptions: a café at dawn, a rainy street, neon at night.`

### texts / images / videos

Autogrow slots for upstream stage outputs. Text is most common; images/videos are for multimodal workflows (Local Qwen3 4B is primarily text).

### custom\_params

Extra parameters (max\_length, seed, temperature) configured in the **ComfyTV** sidebar when the stage is selected—mapped into the subgraph.

### project\_id / parent\_output\_id / force\_run\_token

UI-managed; bind Project context and output lineage.

## Outputs

| Output   | Type           | Meaning                   | Downstream                                                           |
| -------- | -------------- | ------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **text** | `COMFYTV_TEXT` | Generated string snapshot | **texts** on Image / Video / Storyboard Stage; Bridge ← ComfyTV Text |

## Step by step for beginners

1. Add **Project**, then **ComfyTV → Generate → Text Stage**.
2. **workflow** → **Local Qwen3 4B** (or your installed backend).
3. **main\_prompt**: `Write a 20-word cyberpunk opening narration.`
4. Ensure Qwen3 4B is downloaded ([models.md](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/models.md)).
5. Click **▶ Run** and wait for text in the preview.
6. Add **Image Stage**; wire **text** → **texts** (or paste into main\_prompt).
7. Run Image Stage to generate from the LLM output.

## Full guides (recommended reading)

> This page covers **one node only**. For end-to-end workflows, multi-stage pipelines, type conversion, and design rationale, see the [ComfyTV user guides](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/tree/main/docs) on GitHub:

| Guide                                                                                      | Contents                                                                |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Getting started](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/getting-started.md)   | Install, canvas basics, per-stage Run, snapshots, Project, Image Picker |
| [Generate](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/generate.md)                 | Text, Image, Video, Music, and Speech stages and workflow selection     |
| [Model files](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/models.md)                | Checkpoints, LoRAs, and folder paths per workflow                       |
| [Custom workflows](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/custom-workflows.md) | Import your ComfyUI workflow JSON without Python changes                |

## Repository and workflows

| Resource                        | Link                                                                                                                                             |
| ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **GitHub repository**           | [https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV)                                                                       |
| **User guides index**           | [https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/tree/main/docs](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/tree/main/docs)                                         |
| **Built-in workflows**          | [https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/tree/main/workflows](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/tree/main/workflows)                               |
| **Model checklist**             | [https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/models.md](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/models.md)                     |
| **This node's workflow folder** | [https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/tree/main/workflows/text](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/tree/main/workflows/text)                     |
| **Workflow README**             | [https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/workflows/text/README.md](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/workflows/text/README.md) |
| **Custom workflows**            | [https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/custom-workflows.md](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/custom-workflows.md) |

## FAQ

**Q: Run finished but no text / “no runner registered”?**\
A: Workflow label mismatch. Restart ComfyUI or re-bind the preset in the sidebar.

**Q: Cannot connect text to Image Stage?**\
A: Use **texts** or a `COMFYTV_TEXT`-compatible socket—not native STRING. Use Bridge if needed.

**Q: Changed main\_prompt but Image still uses old text?**\
A: Snapshots—downstream does not re-run Text Stage. Re-run Text Stage, then Image Stage.

## Related nodes

* **Image Stage / Video Stage**—consume `COMFYTV_TEXT` as prompt context.
* **Storyboard Stage**—LLM output as structured storyboard JSON, not plain text.
* **Bridge → / ← ComfyTV Text**—interop with native ComfyUI text.
* **Project**—project context.