> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://sheets-docs.elkar.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart Guide

> Transform your Spreadsheed workflow in just 5 minutes. 

## Get Started Either Way

> ### 🚨Auto-Save Recommanded
>
> \*\*Enable auto-save \*\*to safely experiment with formatting changes.\
> **Quick Setup:** • **File** → **Options** → **Save** → ✅ *"AutoSave OneDrive and SharePoint Online files"*
>
> ✨ **Why?** You'll have the confidence to let Elkar transform your spreadsheets knowing you can always go back.

**With Existing Data >** Open your existing Spreadsheet file

<Tip>
  Elkar works with files of any size and preserves all your existing formulas and formatting.
</Tip>

**Starting Fresh >** Create a new Excel workbook or Google Spreadsheet

<Tip>
  Perfect for financial modeling, planning templates, or when you know what you want to create but need help structuring it.
</Tip>

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Formula Help" icon="calculator">
    Explain, debug, or generate complex formulas
  </Card>

  <Card title="Charts & Dashboards" icon="table">
    Create professional visuals instantly
  </Card>

  <Card title="Financial Modeling" icon="arrow-trend-up">
    Build DCF, business or forecast models
  </Card>

  <Card title="Clean & Format" icon="sparkles">
    Make messy datasets  report-ready
  </Card>

  <Card title="Error Checks" icon="shield">
    Spot formula issues and inconsistencies
  </Card>

  <Card title="Formula Tracing" icon="calendar-lines-pen">
    * Break down formulas into step-by-step calculations
  </Card>

  <Card title="PDF to Excel" icon="file-check">
    Perfect format - structured to match your headers
  </Card>

  <Card title="Web Intelligence" icon="globe">
    Get live data and research capabilities without leaving
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Step 1: Start Your First Conversation

Open Elkar and tell it what you want to accomplish. Use natural language - no special commands needed.

### Try These Starter Prompts:

* What insights can you find in my data?
* Calculate profit margin as a percentage
* Build a chart of monthly sales per region
* Find duplicate entries in my customer list
* Build a P\&L forecast for Q3 with adjustable revenue growth and operating expenses

## Step 2: Watch Elkar Work

Elkar scans understand context and makes changes in real-time based on your request. You'll see the process step by step.

<Note>
  **Elkar's Unique Advantage**: Unlike general AI tools, Elkar can see across multiple sheets simultaneously and understands Spreadsheets-specific concepts like cell references, formulas, and data relationships.
</Note>

## Step 3: Keep the Conversation Going

You can work with Elkar in two ways:

* Have a natural conversation to guide the analysis step by step
* Mix Elkar’s AI with your own Excel edits, letting the AI handle the complex tasks while you keep full control

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="AI Conversation Flow">
    With Elkar's Chat you can iterate and build sophisticated analysis through natural dialogue. **Example conversation:**

    * **You:** "Analyze my sales data"
    * **Elkar:** Provides insights and trends
    * **You:** "Create a forecast for next quarter"
    * **Elkar:** *Builds forecast based on the analysis*
    * **You:** "What if we increase marketing spend by 30%?"
    * **Elkar:** *Adjusts forecast with new assumptions*
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Hybrid Approach">
    Combine AI assistance with manual Excel work for maximum flexibility:

    * Let Elkar create the initial structure
    * Manually adjust formatting to your preferences
    * Ask Elkar to analyze your manual additions
    * Use AI for complex calculations, manual editing for presentation
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Need Help? We're Here for You

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Email Support" icon="envelope">
    [**contact@elkar.co**](mailto:contact@elkar.co)\
    We respond within 24h.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Join the Community" icon="users" href="https://discord.gg/k89v3cF6fX">
    **We're on Discord!**\
    Tips, examples, and live discussions.
  </Card>

  <Card title="See Product Demos" icon="users">
    [**Watch our use cases!**](/how-to/demo)\
    Real examples, tutorials, and feature deep dives.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>