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DocumentationGetting StartedQuick Start

Quick Start

Get up and running with DatumOS in under 5 minutes. This guide walks you through connecting your first data source and having your first AI-powered conversation.

PrerequisitesMake sure you’ve completed the Installation steps and have signed in to your DatumOS account.

Step 1: Connect Your First Data Source

DatumOS connects to your existing construction and business tools. Let’s connect your first data source.

Connect a Data Source

  1. From the main dashboard, click Settings in the left sidebar
  2. Navigate to Connectors in the settings menu
  3. Choose a connector to set up:
    • Autodesk ACC - Construction documents, BIM models, RFIs, issues
    • Microsoft 365 - SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Teams files
    • Google Workspace - Drive, Docs, Sheets, Gmail
  4. Click Connect next to your chosen service
  5. Complete the OAuth authorization flow
  6. Grant the requested permissions
  7. Wait for the initial sync to complete
First SyncThe initial sync may take a few minutes depending on how much data you have. You’ll see a progress indicator in Settings.

What Happens During Sync?

When you connect a data source, DatumOS:

  • Discovers your projects, folders, and files
  • Creates semantic embeddings for intelligent search
  • Indexes the content for fast retrieval
  • Makes it available for AI chat conversations

After the initial sync, DatumOS fetches data in real-time when you search or ask questions.

Step 2: Start Your First Conversation

Now that you have data connected, let’s ask some questions.

  1. Click Chat in the left sidebar (or press Cmd/Ctrl + K)
  2. You’ll see the chat interface with an empty conversation
  3. Type a question related to your connected data
  4. Press Enter or click Send

Example Questions to Try

Depending on your connected data, try questions like:

  • “What are the open RFIs on the Civic Center project?”
  • “Find the latest structural specifications”
  • “Show me submittals pending approval”
  • “What meetings do I have this week?”
  • “Summarize the project status from recent documents”
TipBe specific with your questions. Instead of “Tell me about the project,” try “What is the current status of the HVAC submittals?”

Understanding AI Responses

When the AI responds, you’ll see:

  • Answer Text - The AI’s response to your question
  • Source Citations - Links to the specific documents used to generate the answer
  • Confidence Indicators - How confident the AI is in its response
  • Follow-up Suggestions - Recommended questions to explore further

Click on any source citation to open the original document and verify the information.

In addition to conversational chat, you can use direct search to find information quickly.

  1. Click Search in the left sidebar (or press Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + F)
  2. Enter search terms or a natural language query
  3. Press Enter to see results

Search Examples

  • Keyword search: “project timeline”
  • Semantic search: “documents about budget overruns”
  • Question format: “who is the project manager?”

Search results show:

  • Relevant documents ranked by relevance
  • Highlighted text snippets showing where matches occur
  • File type, size, and last modified date
  • Quick actions to open, share, or chat about results
Chat vs Search: When to Use Each
  • Use Chat when: You want explanations, summaries, comparisons, or analysis
  • Use Search when: You want to find specific documents or quickly scan multiple results

Step 4: Choose Your AI Model

DatumOS supports multiple AI models. You can switch between them based on your needs.

  1. Click the Model Selector in the chat interface (usually shows “Claude” by default)
  2. Choose from available models:
    • Claude (Sonnet) - Balanced performance, great for analysis
    • GPT-4o - Excellent at creative tasks and code
    • Gemini - Strong at understanding complex documents

Different models have different strengths. Experiment to find which works best for your use case.

TipYour model choice is saved per conversation. You can have different conversations using different models.

Common Questions

How do I add more data sources?

Go to Settings → Connectors and click Connect next to any available connector. You can have multiple connectors active simultaneously.

How do I disconnect a data source?

Go to Settings → Connectors, find the connector you want to remove, and click Disconnect. Your data will no longer be accessible in DatumOS.

How do I share conversations?

Click the share icon in the top right of any conversation. You can generate a shareable link or export the conversation as a PDF.

What if the AI can’t find information?

If the AI can’t answer your question, it might mean:

  • The information isn’t in your connected data sources
  • The connector sync hasn’t completed yet
  • Your question needs to be more specific

Try rephrasing your question or checking your connector status in Settings.

Next Steps

Now that you’ve mastered the basics, explore more advanced features:

Connect More Data Sources

Learn Advanced Features

Collaborate with Your Team

  • Invite team members to your workspace
  • Share conversations and search results
  • Create shared artifact libraries
  • Set up role-based access controls

Need Help?

Congratulations!You’re now ready to use DatumOS. Keep exploring and don’t hesitate to experiment with different features.
Installation