Initial Setup
Get started with Gridlines in a few simple steps.
1. Create a Project
Create a project like "Gridlines Sales Deck". Projects save your chats and files so you can pick up where you left off.
2. Choose Your Agent Mode
Select the mode that matches your slide style:
| Mode | Best for | Style | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Pitch decks, sales decks, updates | Minimal text, visual focus | Lowest |
| Investment Banking | Management presentations, CIMs | Data-dense, detailed content | Higher |
| Consulting | Strategy decks, case presentations | Custom layouts per slide | Higher |
Note: Basic mode is the most cost-effective option. It focuses on your theme and template guidance to create clean PowerPoint slides without domain-specific frameworks. Choose this mode when you don't need specialized industry formatting.
API usage: When using the API, set expertise: "basic" to reduce token usage and cost. Basic mode loads minimal prompts while still supporting all chart types and HTML rendering.
3. Set Up Your Theme
Themes control visual styling (colors, fonts, backgrounds). See Set Up Your Theme for detailed instructions.
4. Add Reference Files
Go to the Files tab and upload PDFs, Word docs, or PPTX files that provide context. You can also say: "Pull in information from gridlinesapp.com"
Query your documents:
- "What are the key revenue drivers mentioned in the CIM?"
- "Show me page 5 of the investor presentation"
- "Find all mentions of market size in my files"
5. Save Templates (Optional)
Templates are reusable slide layouts and content structures.
If you have past slides you like, open them and say: "Save this slide as a template." We'll organize them for easy visual search.
6. Search for Slides
Search your templates with natural language: "I need a pitch deck slide showing our pricing"