📖 Full guide

How to use your AI Assistant

Every template comes with a built-in AI side-panel in Google Sheets. This guide walks you through everything — from opening it the first time to filling tables, writing formulas, reading receipts and going unlimited.

What's inside

  1. What the AI Assistant is
  2. Opening it the first time
  3. A tour of the panel
  4. Talking to the AI (commands)
  5. Filling rows & tables
  6. Scan document & context
  7. Quick actions
  8. Reading receipts (Attach)
  9. Smart styling
  10. Free trial & going Pro
  11. Settings & updates
  12. Tips & troubleshooting

1 · What the AI Assistant is

A smart helper that lives inside your own Google Sheet — no extra software, no copy-pasting into another tool.

It can read your sheet, explain any cell, write and fix formulas, fill in realistic data, build charts, summarize your finances, find savings, and even read a photo of a receipt and add the line items for you. You ask in plain language (any language) and it does the work right in the sheet. Your data never leaves your Google account.

💡 The assistant is bound to the template you bought — when you make a copy, it travels with the file. Nothing to install.

2 · Opening it the first time

Under a minute, one-time setup.

1
Make your own copyFrom the template, click File → Make a copy. Always work in YOUR copy — that's where the assistant runs.
2
Open the copy & reload onceOpen your copied sheet and refresh the page (F5) a single time so Google loads the assistant menu.
3
Launch the panelIn the top menu bar click ✨ AI Assistant → Open Assistant. The panel slides in on the right.
4
Allow permissions (first time only)Google shows a one-time permission screen — click Continue → pick your Google account → Allow. The assistant only runs inside your sheet; nothing is shared with anyone.
⚠️ No ✨ AI Assistant menu? Reload the sheet (F5). If it's still missing, open Extensions → Apps Script once, then return to the sheet and refresh.

3 · A tour of the panel

Three tabs at the top: Assistant, Tools, Settings.

✨

Assistant tab

Your chat with the AI plus the most-used buttons — Fill, Fill Tables, Scan document, and quick actions. Type a request at the bottom and hit Send Command.

🛠️

Tools tab

Extras like Smart Styling (fonts, theme, colours) and data tools.

⚙️

Settings tab

Your plan & license key (Activate Pro), conversation tone, Check for Updates, and Import from an old version.

4 · Talking to the AI

Type what you want in the box at the bottom and press Send Command (or Enter). Plain language, any language.

💬

Ask & understand

Get a clear explanation of any cell, formula, section or the whole sheet.

Try: "explain cell B7" · "what does this Diff column mean?" · "что показывает этот лист?"
🧮

Write & fix formulas

Describe the calculation; the AI writes the formula into the cell.

Try: "sum column C" · "add a running total in column I" · "why is this formula returning an error?"
✍️

Enter & edit data

Add entries, fill gaps, update values — it writes into input cells only, never your formulas or totals.

Try: "add a new expense for groceries" · "fill this row"
🎨

Format & navigate

Colour rows, bold headers, jump to a tab or a cell.

Try: "color row 1 gold" · "go to the Transactions sheet" · "highlight cell D12"
💡 You don't need to select a cell first — the assistant understands which table you mean. But selecting a cell makes "explain this" / "fill this" even more precise.

5 · Filling rows & tables

Two one-click buttons for instant, realistic sample data.

✍️

Fill

Adds ONE fresh, realistic entry to the table your cursor is in (or the first empty row). Click again for another — every entry is unique and fits the table.

🪄

Fill Tables

Adds 2 ready-made rows to EVERY table in the whole workbook at once — great for seeing how the template works with real-looking numbers. Rows that already have data are skipped.

💡 Filled data is realistic and varied (non-round amounts, believable categories) — perfect for trying the dashboard before you enter your own numbers. Delete it anytime.
⚠️ Fill uses AI, so it counts toward your requests. Use it to learn the template, then type your real data normally (typing is free).

6 · Scan document & context

So the AI always understands your whole file.

When you open the panel it quietly reads your sheets once (you'll see "Reading your whole document…") so it knows every table, column, formula and dropdown before your first question. You can re-run it anytime with the 🔍 Scan document button — handy after big changes. If you're out of free requests or not subscribed, the scan is skipped and the panel just opens instantly.

7 · Quick actions

One-tap insights, tailored to the template.

📊

Summary

A short executive summary of your sheet with the key numbers.

📈

Forecast

Projects the next few months from your current trends.

💡

Find Savings

Spots your biggest expense categories and where you could cut.

Different templates show different quick actions (e.g. RSVP summary, debt snowball, portfolio winners) — they're tuned to what each template tracks.

8 · Reading receipts & statements (Attach)

Turn a photo into rows — no typing.

1
Click 📎 Attach (or just paste/drag an image)Add a photo or screenshot of a receipt, invoice or bank statement — you can press Ctrl+V anywhere in the panel.
2
Ask the AI to add itSend your message — the assistant reads every line item (date, merchant, amount) and appends them as new rows to the right sheet.
💡 Great for expense trackers — snap the receipt, paste, done.

9 · Smart styling

Restyle the whole workbook in one click (Tools tab).

Pick a theme, accent colour, fonts and number format, then apply it everywhere — headers, zebra stripes and totals all update together, so the template always looks polished. You can also ask the AI in chat: "make it a dark blue theme".

10 · Free trial & going Pro

Every template includes free AI to try it; subscribe for unlimited.

🎁

Free

You get 20 free AI requests on each template, on your Google account. Reading your sheet and typing data are always free — only AI requests count.

⭐

Pro — $2.99/mo

Unlimited AI across ALL your templates, premium analysis and full reports. One subscription covers every template you own.

1
SubscribeGo to templatesai.app/account, sign up and click Upgrade to Pro.
2
Copy your keyYour PRO-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX license key appears on the account page.
3
Activate in the sheetOpen the panel → Settings tab → paste the key into Pro License → click Activate Pro. Done — unlimited AI in this and every other template.

11 · Settings & updates

🎚️

Conversation tone

Choose Friendly, Professional or Concise — how the AI talks to you.

🔑

Pro License

Paste your key and Activate Pro (see above).

🔄

Check for Updates

Pulls new view-sheets/features from us. Safe — it never touches your data.

⬆️

Import from old version

Upgraded to a newer template? Paste your old sheet's link and bring every row across — matched by column name, so nothing is lost.

12 · Tips & troubleshooting

The panel says "Activating…" foreverYour sheet's script may be out of date. Reload the sheet (F5) and try again, or re-open it from your purchase link.
"AI request failed"Usually a brief busy moment — wait a few seconds and try again. If it persists, you may be out of free requests; subscribe for unlimited.
I don't see the ✨ AI Assistant menuReload the sheet. Still missing? Open Extensions → Apps Script once, then return and refresh.
Will it overwrite my numbers?No — the AI writes into empty input cells only. It never changes your formulas, headers or totals.
Is my data private?Yes. The assistant runs inside your own Google account; your sheet contents aren't shared.

Ready to go unlimited?

One subscription unlocks the AI in every template you own.

Get Pro — $2.99/mo