> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getnovaplan.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Example prompts

> Concrete things you can ask Nova, grouped by what you are trying to do.

Nova is your in-app analyst. It sees the page you are on and works on your real numbers, so you
can ask in plain language. Here are prompts that work well, grouped by goal. Treat them as
starting points and adapt the names to your own departments, periods, and metrics.

## Understand a Number

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Explain this" icon="magnifying-glass">
    "What is driving the Sales department being over budget this quarter?"
  </Card>

  <Card title="Why it changed" icon="arrow-trend-up">
    "Why did OpEx move from last forecast to this one?"
  </Card>

  <Card title="Break it down" icon="layer-group">
    "Decompose the headcount cost variance into rate, volume, and mix."
  </Card>

  <Card title="Show the rows" icon="table-list">
    "Show me the transactions behind the marketing overspend in March."
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Build Headcount and Revenue Plans

* "What is our fully loaded headcount cost this quarter by department?"
* "How many open positions are still unfilled, and what do they cost?"
* "Forecast headcount cost for the rest of the year at the current hiring pace."
* "Show ARR by segment for next year."
* "What happens to ending ARR if I raise quota attainment by 5 points?"
* "Which lever moves ending ARR the most for the same push?"

## Compare and Report

* "Compare the Rolling Forecast to the 2026 Budget for the Engineering department."
* "Where are we most off plan this quarter, and by how much?"
* "Build a variance brief for Q2 with the top drivers."
* "Pivot revenue by region with months across the top."

## Get Definitions and Help

* "What is Net Dollar Retention, and how is it calculated here?"
* "What does fully loaded cost include?"
* "Is there a demo for headcount planning?"
* "How do I lock a budget version?"

<Note>
  Nova does not auto-submit a prompt for you. It pre-fills the input on a page-aware starter card,
  and you can edit before sending. When a demo exists for the page you are on, Nova also offers a
  "Watch the demo" link.
</Note>

## Tips for Better Answers

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Name the period and the version">
    "Q2 2026 on the Rolling Forecast" beats "this quarter" when you have several versions open.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Ask for the evidence">
    Add "and show me the underlying rows" to get the transactions behind any figure, not just the
    headline.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Ask Nova to take you there">
    "Open the Comparison Center for Sales" navigates you to the right page with the right context
    already applied.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>