Chat basics

Prompt patterns that work well, and the ones that don't.

What the AI sees

When you send a message, HISAB attaches sheet-level context automatically: workbook name, sheet names, header rows of each sheet, and the size of each used range. The AI does not see cell values until it asks for them — at which point it calls a read_range tool and HISAB returns the data.

Effective prompts

Be specific about scope

✅ "In the Bank Statement sheet, find rows where Description contains 'TRF' and Amount > 10000."
❌ "Show me transfers."

Name the artefacts

✅ "Compare GL_Apr (sheet) against the trial balance in TB_Apr — flag any account where the rolled-up GL doesn't match the TB balance."
❌ "Reconcile these."

State the output you want

✅ "Output the mismatches in a new sheet 'Mismatches' with columns Account, GL, TB, Diff."
❌ "Show me what's wrong."

Slash commands

Command	What it does
`/skills`	List all available skills
`/skill <id>`	Invoke a specific skill
`/sheets`	Summarise every sheet in the workbook
`/range A1:D10`	Quick view of a range
`/undo`	Revert the AI's last write
`/mode strict`	Switch operating mode without leaving the chat
`/clear`	Start a new conversation (keeps audit log)

Multi-turn workflows

The AI remembers context within a conversation. Build up complex workflows in steps:

You:  Pull the May trial balance from Zoho Books into a new sheet.
AI:   [pulls 184 accounts to sheet "TB_May"]

You:  Now reconcile it against the GL in this workbook.
AI:   [reads GL sheet, computes per-account diff]
      "Found 3 mismatches over $100..."

You:  Draft a JE to close the variance accounts.
AI:   [drafts JE, places in approvals queue]