Proto guide.

The AI agent that plans, builds and runs your ERP•AI apps. Setup, work modes, building apps with Proto, reviews and undo, browser, routines, skills, memory and safety.

70 articles12 sections

Getting started

8 articles

  1. What is Proto?Proto is the AI coworker for ERP•AI: a desktop app that connects to your ERP•AI apps.
  2. How Proto works: plan, do, check, reportEvery task follows the same four steps, so you always know what Proto did and whether it worked.
  3. Setting up Proto and connecting ERP•AIProto runs as a desktop app. To build and operate ERP•AI apps, you connect it to your ERP•AI organization and choose an app to work in.
  4. Your first conversation with ProtoType what you want in the composer and press Enter. Proto plans the work, carries it out, and reports back in the same thread.
  5. Proto interface tourA quick guide to every part of the Proto window and what each one does.
  6. Slash commands referenceType / in the composer to open the command menu. It groups options into Skills, Commands, Plugins and Custom.
  7. Keyboard shortcutsUse these shortcuts to move faster in Proto. On Windows and Linux, use Ctrl in place of ⌘ and Alt in place of ⌥.
  8. Proto glossaryKey terms you will see in Proto and in this Help Center.

Working with Proto

10 articles

  1. Writing effective requestsDescribe the outcome you want in plain language. Proto chooses the tools, skills and steps for you.
  2. Work modes overviewProto has five ways of working. Pick the one that matches how much you want to be involved.
  3. Using plan modeIn plan mode, Proto investigates first and presents a step-by-step plan.
  4. Using uninterrupted modeUninterrupted mode lets Proto finish long jobs without stopping to ask you questions.
  5. Goals and todosTodos track the steps of the current task. A goal tracks a larger objective that can take several runs to finish.
  6. Structured questions and follow-up buttonsProto asks structured questions only when a real choice is needed. Follow-up buttons offer optional next steps after an answer.
  7. Managing threads and sessionsEach conversation with Proto is a thread. You can start, search, tag, archive, export and compare threads.
  8. Attaching filesAttach files and images from the composer so Proto can read, summarize, clean or use them.
  9. Stopping a running taskYou can stop Proto at any point. Work already saved stays saved.
  10. Background tasksLong jobs run in the background so you can keep working in the same thread.

Building ERP•AI apps with Proto

14 articles

  1. Building an app with ProtoDescribe the business process you want to run, and Proto builds a complete ERP•AI app: tables, columns, views, forms, pages and workflows.
  2. TablesProto creates, organizes and configures the tables in your app, including table actions.
  3. ColumnsProto adds and updates every column type in ERP•AI, including formulas, rollups, AI columns and validation rules.
  4. Views and layoutsProto builds saved views with filters, sorting and search, in table, board, calendar, gallery, timeline and ledger layouts.
  5. Forms and line itemsProto edits record entry forms: field order, visibility and line-item grids.
  6. NavigationProto organizes your app’s sidebar: which tables and pages appear, in which section and in what order.
  7. Records and bulk editsProto reads, creates, updates, searches and deduplicates records, one at a time or in bulk.
  8. Generating sample dataProto fills your app with realistic sample records so you can demo or test it, with correct links between tables.
  9. Importing data into a tableProto prepares and validates your file. You run the import in the ERP•AI app.
  10. Custom pages and dashboardsProto builds in-app pages and dashboards with charts, filters and KPIs, then checks them on screen before handing them over.
  11. Documents and templatesProto builds document templates such as invoices, quotes and purchase orders, with merge fields, line items and letterheads.
  12. WorkflowsProto builds, tests and activates workflows that automate your processes.
  13. AnalyticsAsk questions about your app’s data in plain language. Proto queries it and answers in the chat.
  14. Knowledge linksKnowledge links save external web pages inside an app’s Command Centre Knowledge Base, so your team can find them without leaving the app.

Access, versions & publishing

7 articles

  1. Roles, permissions and invitationsProto can audit who has access to what, create roles, restrict tables and invite people, once you allow it in Settings.
  2. API keysProto creates scoped API keys for integrations and revokes keys it generated.
  3. External-App usersProto sets up and manages sign-in for people outside your organization, such as customers and vendors using a portal.
  4. Branches and versionsUse branches to make changes safely, then merge them into your main app when they’re ready.
  5. Snapshots and restoreA snapshot is a saved copy of an app. Take one before big changes so you can restore it later.
  6. Publishing to the catalogProto takes an app through the full publishing journey, from preparation to a verified live catalog page.
  7. Deploying to build.hostProto deploys standalone websites and approved portals to build.host and manages them after launch.

Reviewing & undoing Proto’s work

3 articles

  1. Reviewing and approving plansFor larger tasks, Proto shows you the plan first. You implement it or ask for changes.
  2. Undoing changes and change historyEvery change Proto makes can be traced and, in most cases, reversed.
  3. How Proto verifies its workProto checks every change after making it, so a finished task means it actually worked.

Files & data

4 articles

  1. Creating business filesProto creates real, editable Word documents, PDFs, PowerPoint decks and Excel workbooks.
  2. Generating imagesProto generates and edits images such as hero visuals, illustrations, icons and diagrams.
  3. Reading and summarizing filesAttach almost any business file and Proto can read, convert, summarize or compare it.
  4. Data cleanup and reconciliationProto turns messy exports into accurate numbers: cleaned, matched, categorized and reconciled.

Browser & desktop

3 articles

  1. Using the built-in browserProto has its own browser. It can open websites, sign in, fill forms, click through multi-step flows and download files for you.
  2. Saved logins, profile import and the vaultProto signs in to websites with logins saved in the Vault. It fills passwords and codes without ever showing them.
  3. Desktop control (computer use)With Computer Use turned on, Proto can operate desktop applications that don’t have a web version.

Automation & scale

6 articles

  1. Routines overviewA routine is work Proto does for you on a schedule or when something changes.
  2. Reminders and watchesReminders nudge you at a set time. Watches check a page or feed and tell you when something changes.
  3. Recurring tasks and scheduled workflowsHave Proto do real work on a schedule, or run an ERP•AI workflow automatically and report the outcome.
  4. Managing routinesSee, pause, edit, test and delete routines from the Routines panel or by asking Proto.
  5. Large and bulk jobsAsk Proto to do the same thing across hundreds or thousands of items. You get one clear summary back, plus a file or result for each item if you want one.
  6. Messaging platformsConnect a messaging platform so Proto can message you or post to a channel from a task or routine.

Skills

3 articles

  1. What are skills?A skill is a packaged, tested workflow Proto uses to produce a specific kind of result reliably, such as a dashboard, a workflow or an Excel model.
  2. Skills referenceProto has built-in skills for common kinds of work. You never have to name one, but you can run one directly from the command menu.
  3. Creating custom skillsSave a workflow you repeat as your own skill, and run it any time with a slash command.

Memory & settings

4 articles

  1. How Proto’s memory worksProto remembers stable facts and preferences you tell it, so you don’t have to repeat yourself in future conversations.
  2. Managing memoryView, change or clear what Proto remembers, by asking or from Settings.
  3. Personal settingsChange how Proto looks and behaves on your computer. Most of these are in Settings → Appearance, and you can also ask Proto to change them for you.
  4. Security, browser and other settingsSome settings control what Proto is allowed to do. You change these yourself in Settings (⌘ , or /settings).

Permissions & safety

3 articles

  1. What Proto will never doProto has built-in safety limits. They apply in every mode, including Uninterrupted mode, and no setting can turn them off.
  2. How permissions workEvery action Proto takes goes through the same permission checks as an action you take yourself.
  3. When an action is blockedIf Proto can’t do something, it stops before anything happens and tells you why.

Limits & troubleshooting

5 articles

  1. Known limitationsWhat Proto can’t do today, and what to do instead.
  2. How much Proto can handleProto is built for big jobs as well as small ones. Here’s what to expect when you ask for a lot at once.
  3. Common errors and fixesThe messages you’re most likely to see, and how to resolve them.
  4. When a build is partial or wrongTell Proto what’s wrong and let it fix the same thing, rather than starting over.
  5. Proto FAQQuick answers to common questions.

Get help from the team.

In ERP•AI, open the organization or app menu and choose Report an issue. For deployment, billing or contract questions, write to the team.

Contact the team Open ERP•AI