Selection, citations and questions

The DataMind Oda pane links the chat to your cells both ways. The selection chip sends what you have selected with your message, and the citations in Oda's answers select the cells they name. This page also covers the cards in which Oda asks you a question, and the Steps panel that shows its plan for a longer task. For what else Oda sees with each message, see How Oda works in your workbook.

Send your selection with a message

1. Select cells in the sheet, or a chart. At the top of the message box, the selection chip shows the address, such as Sales!B2:D20, with its size in rows and columns, such as 19 × 3. Several areas show as Sales!A1:B5 and 2 more areas, and a chart as Chart Revenue on Sales. Pointing at the chip shows Sent with your next message and the address.
2. Type your message and send it. Words such as this, these cells or here in it refer to the selection.
3. The chat shows the selection as a tag under your message, such as Sales!B2:D20, and the chip hides until you select something else.

To keep the selection out of one message, click × on the chip (Don’t send the selection) before you send. Oda then does not see your selection with that message. The chip comes back when you select other cells.

• The chip follows your clicks in the sheet. When you select a shape or a picture, there is no chip.
• The selection is also how Oda knows where you are in the workbook, so leave it on when you ask about the cells in front of you.

Citations in Oda's answers

When Oda talks about cells, it links them: a cell, a range, whole columns or rows, or a whole sheet. Each link shows as a chip in the answer, labelled with a short name or the value itself, as in Net debt is 412m.

1. Point at a citation to see the cells it selects, such as BS!D30.
2. Click it. Excel switches to that sheet and selects the cells. A citation of a whole sheet opens the sheet.

Oda cites the figures from the workbook that it states, every cell it changed, and the errors or typed numbers it points out, so you can check each one in a click.

Under a finished answer, Sources gathers what the answer rests on: the cells it cites, up to six, as tags you click to select them, and the Minds Oda asked or pulled from, each with its query or the sheet it filled. A citation of a sheet that is no longer in the workbook is left out.

• A citation of a sheet that is hidden or no longer in the workbook shows as plain text. Pointing at it shows The sheet is hidden or no longer in the workbook.
• If Excel does not select the cells, a short message at the top of the pane says why: That sheet is hidden, so its cells cannot be selected., Excel did not select those cells. Try again in a moment. or, while you are editing a cell, Excel is waiting for you to finish editing a cell. Press Enter or Esc, then try again. It goes after a few seconds, when you select other cells, or when you click its ×.
• Each change in the Changes panel under Oda's reply, and the range on an approval card, selects its cells the same way; see Review and undo Oda's changes.

Answer Oda's questions

When Oda needs a choice or a missing detail, a card takes the place of the message box. Its top line reads Oda has a question, or, for several, Oda has 3 questions, and the pane header reads Waiting for you. If Settings or History is open, it closes so you see the card.

1. Pick an option. An option Oda recommends carries a Recommended badge, and where you may pick several, the card says Choose one or more. The keys 1 to 9 pick the option with that number.
2. Or pick Something else and type an answer of your own, or type in Your answer when the question has no options, up to 2,000 characters.
3. Click Send answer, or press Enter. Send answer is available once every question has an answer.

With several questions, the card shows one at a time, with its number, such as 2 / 3. Next moves on once the question has an answer, Back returns to the one before, and the last question has Send answer.

• Skip sends no answer, and so does Esc while you have not typed an answer of your own. The step row reads You skipped the question. Oda goes on with its best judgement, says what it assumed, and does not overwrite, clear or remove anything the question was about.
• Minimise, the arrow at the end of the top line, folds the card to that line, so you can read the chat above it; Show the question opens it again.
• The card has no time limit. Stop, on its top line, ends it, and so does closing the pane.
• If you were typing in the message box when the card appeared, your keys go to the card itself, not to an option.
• Oda uses a card for the choices it needs, such as the horizon of a model. After one phase of a long build, it ends its reply and asks in the chat whether to go on.

Follow Oda's plan in the Steps panel

For work of three or more steps, Oda keeps a plan, and the Steps panel above the message box shows it, in your language. Its title line has a ring that fills as steps get done and the count, such as 2 of 5. Each step is numbered, the step in progress stands out, and a done step has a tick.

• Click the panel's title line to fold the list. Folded, the line shows the current step.
• In a pane less than about 520 pixels tall, the panel starts folded.
• While an approval card or a question card is open, the panel shows only its title line.
• A plan that is finished disappears when Oda's reply ends. One that is not finished stays until your next message, which clears it.

Questions, answered

Does Oda see what I have selected?

Yes. The selection goes with each message you send, unless you remove it from the chip first. Words such as this or these cells in your message refer to it.

How do I send a message without my selection?

Click × on the selection chip before you send. Oda does not see your selection with that message, and the chip comes back when you select other cells.

Why is there no selection chip?

You have already sent the selection with a message, you removed it, or you have selected a shape or a picture rather than cells or a chart. Select cells, and the chip shows them.

What happens when I click a citation?

Excel switches to the cited sheet and selects the cells, or opens the whole sheet for a citation of a sheet. Pointing at a citation first shows the address it selects.

Why is a citation plain text instead of a chip?

Its sheet is hidden or no longer in the workbook, so there are no cells to select. Pointing at it shows The sheet is hidden or no longer in the workbook. Show the sheet in Excel to select its cells yourself.

What happens if I skip Oda's question?

Oda goes on with its best judgement and says what it assumed. It does not overwrite, clear or remove anything the question was about.

Does a question card wait for me?

Yes. It has no time limit and stays until you answer, skip, click Stop or close the pane. To read the chat while it waits, click Minimise on its top line.

Why did the Steps panel disappear?

All its steps were done when Oda's reply ended, or you sent a new message, which starts a new plan. An unfinished plan stays until your next message.

Can I fold the Steps panel?

Yes. Click its title line. Folded, it shows the current step; click again to show the whole list.