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How you start

Build and summarise models in plain language: prompt Tracelight as if you were talking to the analyst who built the sheet. Start from a ready-made prompt, dictate instead of typing, attach your files, and switch to Plan mode when you want to see the steps before Tracelight takes them.

Start from a prompt

Don’t know where to start? Browse for common tasks, with prompts ready to send.

Available in
  • Platform
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Word

  1. Every new chat opens with starter prompts for the most common tasks: understand your data, build an Excel model, fix errors, create a deliverable.

  2. Click one to see the next level, then it sends a prompt to the chat for you to edit and send.

Dictate your request

Say what you need instead of typing it.

Available in
  • Platform
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Word

Click the microphone in the chat box to speak your prompt instead of typing. Tracelight transcribes it into the chat box; review, edit if needed, and press Send. Useful for long, descriptive requests.

Choose Agent or Plan mode

Start chatting with the agent right away, or review a plan together before approving the build.

Available in
  • Platform
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Word

  1. Agent

    Tracelight builds automatically according to your instructions. Use it for speed and convenience.

  2. Plan

    Tracelight writes out the steps first, without making changes, so you can refine the plan before it runs. Use it when intent matters more than speed.

  3. Tracelight reads the model and asks a few questions to confirm the approach before it writes anything.

  4. Review the plan in markdown (goal, analysis, and the structure it intends to build), then click Build to run it.

Attach files

Bring decks, documents, PDFs, data, and email into the chat.

Available in
  • Platform
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Word

  1. Click the “+” in the composer, press Ctrl+Shift+A (or Cmd+Shift+A on Mac), or drag files straight into the chat.

  2. The file appears as a labelled chip above your message, so you can see exactly what the agent is working from.

  3. Type @ to mention a file, folder, worksheet, or resource already in the project, including the cells you have selected.

  4. Supported file types

    • XLSX
    • CSV
    • DOCX
    • PPTX
    • PDF
    • EML
    • IMG
    • JPG
    • MP4
    • TXT
    • MD
    • JSON
    • ZIP

Create charts, tables, and visuals

Visualise your data.

Available in
  • Platform
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Word

  1. Prompt Tracelight to build a wide variety of charts and tables, in the sheet, or with Python and HTML for visuals you can drop into a deck. Describe the series, the comparison, and the format you want.

  2. Tracelight is also compatible with creating think-cell charts through the PowerPoint add-in.

  3. Ask for a Mermaid diagram to map a process or a flow, then download it or drop it into a deliverable.