This tutorial teaches you how to use Shortcut to automate Excel tasks with AI in 30 minutes. Learn to save 10+ hours weekly by mastering spreadsheet automation, from basic formulas to complex financial models.
What is Shortcut?
Shortcut is just like Excel, but with the ability to do your work for you.
Use the chat interface on the right to ask Shortcut for anything. Think of Shortcut as an analyst adept at difficult and time-intensive work. Don't think of Shortcut as a copilot for quick or single step actions.
Go ahead and check your emails, take a break, and come back to a completed task.
Getting Started
Step 1: Choose Your Starting Point
Start from an empty sheet
Ideal for creating new models, reports, or analyses from scratch. Instruct Shortcut to fill out the required data points.
- Build financial models
- Create dashboards
- Design custom reports
Upload an existing Excel file from your computer
Upload any Excel file to enhance or analyze existing data.
- Supports: .xlsx, .xlsm, .csv
- No file size limits
- Preserves all formulas
Step 2: Start a Conversation
Open the AI chat panel and describe what you want to do. Be as specific or general as you like - Shortcut understands context, and may choose to ask you clarifying questions if needed.
Example requests:
- "Clean this customer data"
- "Create a sales summary by region"
- "Find duplicate entries in column A"
Step 3: Watch the Magic
Shortcut will analyze your request, understand your data, and execute the changes in real-time. You'll see exactly what's happening as it works.
Step 4: Continue Your Work
Edit your file directly
Shortcut has complete Excel feature parity - make final touches and formatting changes yourself.
- Full Excel compatibility
- All formulas & functions supported
- Direct cell editing in real-time
Ask Shortcut for more
Continue the conversation to refine results or tackle the next task.
- "Can you also add a chart?"
- "Now clean the data in Sheet2"
- "Make the formatting consistent"
Step 5: Revert Changes If Needed
Made a mistake or want to try a different approach? Shortcut gives you full control to revert any changes.
For Shortcut AI changes:
Use the "Return to checkpoint" button in the chat to instantly revert to any previous state created by Shortcut.
- Checkpoints are created automatically after each AI action
- Jump back to any previous checkpoint with one click
- No data is lost - try different approaches safely
For your own manual edits:
Use the standard Undo (Ctrl/Cmd+Z) and Redo (Ctrl/Cmd+Y) buttons just like in regular Excel.
- Works exactly like Excel's undo/redo
- Applies to all manual cell edits and formatting
- Independent from AI checkpoint system
Privacy & Security
Your data security is our priority. Shortcut is designed with privacy-first principles to protect your sensitive Excel files and financial models.
No Training on Enterprise Data
We never use your Excel files, financial models, or proprietary formulas to train or improve our AI models. Your data remains yours.
Temporary Processing
Your spreadsheets are processed in real-time. We don't store your files permanently.
Encryption and Security
Industry standard security for your spreadsheets, using encrypted processing and secure authentication.
You Control Your Data
Download your models anytime, delete processing data on request, and control sharing permissions for your spreadsheets.
Privacy-First Design
At Shortcut, data security and privacy is top priority. Every spreadsheet is processed in isolated sessions, and your proprietary data never becomes our data. We understand Excel files contain your most sensitive business information, from financial projections to confidential strategies. Isolated processing ensures your data is secure.
Choose Your Learning Path
By Feature
Master the fundamentals of Excel AI automation, from basic features to advanced techniques.
Topics covered:
- Building from Scratch
- Templates & Data Import
- Action vs. Ask Mode
- PDF Upload & Data Sources
By Industry
Industry-specific guides for finance, real estate, consulting, and more.
Topics covered:
- Investment Banking
- M&A
- Private Equity
- Real Estate
- Management Consulting
Affiliate Partner Materials
Resources and materials for partners to share and promote Shortcut.
Topics covered:
- Marketing Materials
- Demo Scripts
- Training Resources
- Best Practices
Video Series
Watch step-by-step video tutorials for visual learners.
Topics covered:
- Getting Started Videos
- Advanced Techniques
- Use Case Demos
- Tips & Tricks
Key Takeaways
- 30-Minute Learning Path - Master Excel AI automation quickly
- 10+ Hours Saved Weekly - Automate repetitive spreadsheet tasks
- Industry-Specific Guides - Tailored for finance, RE, consulting
- Action & Ask Modes - Build models and analyze data intelligently
- Real-World Examples - Learn with practical use cases
Quick Start Guide
- 1
Start with the Basics
Begin with By Feature to understand core features and capabilities.
- 2
Explore Your Industry
Check out industry-specific guides for tailored workflows and examples.
- 3
Watch and Learn
Visual learner? Our video series shows everything in action.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to learn Shortcut?
Most users become proficient with basic features in 30 minutes. Advanced automation techniques typically take 2-3 hours of practice. Our tutorial is designed to get you productive immediately with real-world examples.
What Excel skills do I need?
Basic Excel knowledge is helpful but not required. Shortcut AI handles complex formulas and functions for you. If you can navigate a spreadsheet and understand basic concepts like cells and sheets, you're ready to start.
Can Shortcut work with my existing Excel files?
Yes! Shortcut works seamlessly with existing Excel files. You can import .xlsx files, enhance them with AI capabilities, and export them back to standard Excel format. All your formulas and formatting are preserved.