diff --git a/transform/sample-code/extract_quickstart.py b/transform/sample-code/extract-quickstart.py
similarity index 88%
rename from transform/sample-code/extract_quickstart.py
rename to transform/sample-code/extract-quickstart.py
index 6d7506b..63d673e 100644
--- a/transform/sample-code/extract_quickstart.py
+++ b/transform/sample-code/extract-quickstart.py
@@ -7,12 +7,24 @@
 from unstructured_client.models.operations import CreateJobRequest, DownloadJobOutputRequest
 from unstructured_client.models.shared import BodyCreateJob, InputFiles
 
+
+# Set the variables below this validation function before running this script.
+def validate_inputs(api_key, input_dir, output_dir):
+    # Checks that the settings below have been changed from their placeholder values.
+    if api_key in ("YOUR_API_KEY_HERE", ""):
+        raise SystemExit("Set API_KEY to your Unstructured API key before running this script.")
+    if input_dir in ("/full/path/to/your/input/directory", ""):
+        raise SystemExit("Set INPUT_DIR to the local directory containing the file (or files) you want to process before running this script.")
+    if output_dir in ("/full/path/to/your/output/directory", ""):
+        raise SystemExit("Set OUTPUT_DIR to the local directory where you want the results saved before running this script.")
+
+
 # API_KEY is included here as a local variable for ease of use in this quickstart.
 # This isn't best practice outside of local testing on your own machine. Once
 # you've added your real key, don't share this file or check it into any
 # repositories.
-API_KEY = ""
-API_URL = "https://platform-api.transform.unstructured.io"
+API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
+API_URL = "https://platform-api.transform.unstructured.io/api/v1"
 # The local directory containing the file (or files) you want to process.
 INPUT_DIR = "/full/path/to/your/input/directory"
 # The local directory where you want the results saved.
@@ -23,6 +35,8 @@
 # further down in this script does that.
 EXTRACTION_PROMPT = "Dates are in MM/DD/YYYY format on the form. Represent them as YYYY-MM-DD. Combine the home address, city, state, and ZIP code fields into a single address string."
 
+validate_inputs(API_KEY, INPUT_DIR, OUTPUT_DIR)
+
 client = UnstructuredClient(
     api_key_auth=API_KEY,
     server_url=API_URL
diff --git a/transform/sample-code/partition_quickstart.py b/transform/sample-code/partition-quickstart.py
similarity index 77%
rename from transform/sample-code/partition_quickstart.py
rename to transform/sample-code/partition-quickstart.py
index 29a2659..cedac13 100644
--- a/transform/sample-code/partition_quickstart.py
+++ b/transform/sample-code/partition-quickstart.py
@@ -7,17 +7,31 @@
 from unstructured_client.models.operations import CreateJobRequest, DownloadJobOutputRequest
 from unstructured_client.models.shared import BodyCreateJob, InputFiles
 
+
+# Set the variables below this validation function before running this script.
+def validate_inputs(api_key, input_dir, output_dir):
+    # Checks that the settings below have been changed from their placeholder values.
+    if api_key in ("YOUR_API_KEY_HERE", ""):
+        raise SystemExit("Set API_KEY to your Unstructured API key before running this script.")
+    if input_dir in ("/full/path/to/your/input/directory", ""):
+        raise SystemExit("Set INPUT_DIR to the local directory containing the file (or files) you want to process before running this script.")
+    if output_dir in ("/full/path/to/your/output/directory", ""):
+        raise SystemExit("Set OUTPUT_DIR to the local directory where you want the results saved before running this script.")
+
+
 # API_KEY is included here as a local variable for ease of use in this quickstart.
 # This isn't best practice outside of local testing on your own machine. Once
 # you've added your real key, don't share this file or check it into any
 # repositories.
-API_KEY = ""
-API_URL = "https://platform-api.transform.unstructured.io"
+API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
+API_URL = "https://platform-api.transform.unstructured.io/api/v1"
 # The local directory containing the file (or files) you want to process.
 INPUT_DIR = "/full/path/to/your/input/directory"
 # The local directory where you want the results saved.
 OUTPUT_DIR = "/full/path/to/your/output/directory"
 
+validate_inputs(API_KEY, INPUT_DIR, OUTPUT_DIR)
+
 client = UnstructuredClient(
     api_key_auth=API_KEY,
     server_url=API_URL