> ## 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.

# Setup Wizard

> A guided flow that walks you through the inputs a forecast needs and writes them straight into your model.

The Setup Wizard is the front door to a new plan. It walks you through the inputs and assumptions a forecast needs, one step at a time, and saves each answer directly into your budget version. Every value goes through the same write path the rest of Novaplan uses, so nothing you enter here is a throwaway; it becomes part of your model.

## What This Screen Is For

Starting a forecast from a blank model is the hardest part. The wizard replaces that blank page with a checklist: it shows you exactly which assumptions matter, in what order, and lets you fill them in without hunting through the app. It is equally useful the first time you set up a plan and any time you want a structured pass over your core assumptions.

## How to Use It

<Steps>
  <Step title="Choose how to start">
    Pick the entry point that fits what you have on hand: **I Have a File** to import an existing spreadsheet, **Guide Me** to build your first rows interactively, or **Ask Nova** to describe your plan in plain language and let Nova draft the setup.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Work the checklist">
    The left rail lists the applicable steps for your scope (for example forecast assumptions and fringe rates) with a status on each. Only the steps that apply to your plan are shown. Collapse the rail to a thin strip when you want more room.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in each step">
    The right pane holds the active step. Enter your values; each step saves on its own. Stuck on a step? Use **Need a hand?** in the footer for step-specific help.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and finish">
    Check your entries in the review grid. When the checklist is complete, the wizard confirms you are ready to forecast.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Tips

* Your place is saved in the URL, so you can leave and come back to the same step, or share a deep link to a specific one.
* Prefer to move fast? Switch to autopilot to let the wizard advance through the steps for you instead of stepping through them manually.
* The wizard only fills the inputs; run the forecast afterward so the engine projects your plan from the assumptions you just entered.