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

# Quick Start Checklist

> Get up and running with Calcs.com in 5 simple steps

This checklist walks you through everything you need to do to set up your account, create your first project, runs calcs like a pro, and generate a professional report.

1. Invite Your Team
2. Create Your First Project
3. Add Calcs to Your Project
4. Link a Load
5. ## Export a Report

## 1. Invite Your Team

You can add as many users as you like during your free trial, so before you start calculating, add your team to [Calcs.com](http://Calcs.com). Users with separate logins can:

* Create projects
* Access projects created by your team
* Explore our calculator library
* Run their own calcs
* Review someone else's work
* Export calculations and reports

**How to add users:**

1. Within Calcs.com, navigate to Settings > Manage Users.
2. Add your team members by email address, and select their role:
   1. **Admin**: full access including user management
   2. **Member**: create & edit calculations
3. Click 'Send Invite
4. Repeat for all users.

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Column>
    <Card title="Additional resources" color="#0076d6" icon="file-spreadsheet">
      [GUIDE: Adding Users to Your Account](https://calcs.com/docs/account_admin/user_management/adding_users_to_your_account)<br />[GUIDE: Sharing Projects With Your Team](https://calcs.com/docs/learn_calcs/faq/how_to_share_projects_with_colleagues)<br />[GUIDE: Changing User Permissions](https://calcs.com/docs/account_admin/user_management/managing_account_administrators_and_deleting_users)
    </Card>
  </Column>

  <Column>
    <Card title="Do it in Calcs.com" color="#0076d6" icon="arrow-up-right">
      [Add users in your account settings](https://app.calcs.com/users)
    </Card>
  </Column>
</Columns>

<Tip>
  Should you wish to subscribe to [Calcs.com](http://Calcs.com) at the end of your trial, you only need to pay for the number of users who will need to use the software concurrently. Each user can keep their own login, and the licenses are applied whenever someone logs in. That license can be used again once a user logs out.
</Tip>

***

## 2. Create Your First Project

Think of a project as a job file that organizes multiple structural design calculations (beams, columns, footings) tied to any name, job number, or address you like in one place.

* Create unlimited projects during your trial
* Organize calculations by job, client, or any system that works for you
* Configure project settings and defaults

**How to do it:**<br />Click the 'Create a New Project' button on the home screen. This will take you to the project details screen where you can specify a project name and address and start creating calculations.

On the Project Details screen, you’ll also see boxes for project defaults and [**preferred sections**](https://calcs.com/docs/learn_calcs/advanced_tricks/how_to_use_preferred_sections_and_autosize) - these are great time-saving features.

Once you’ve created your first project and given it a name, you’re ready to create your first calculation!

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Column>
    <Card title="Additional resources" color="#0076d6" icon="file-spreadsheet">
      [GUIDE: Creating and Managing Projects](https://calcs.com/docs/learn_calcs/basics/creating_and_managing_projects#creating-and-managing-projects)<br />[GUIDE: Setting up Project Defaults](https://calcs.com/docs/learn_calcs/getting_started/onboarding_videos/how-to-proj-defaults#setting-up-project-defaults-and-site-parameters)<br />[VIDEO: Project Organization](/docs/learn_calcs/getting_started/onboarding_videos/how-to-organize-your-projects-on-calcs#how-to-create-a-new-project-and-configure-settings)<br />
    </Card>
  </Column>

  <Column>
    <Card title="Try it in Calcs.com" color="#0076d6" icon="arrow-up-right">
      [Create your first project](https://app.calcs.com/project/new/)
    </Card>
  </Column>
</Columns>

<Tip>
  Enter your project address, and toggle across to the Project Defaults tab. You'll see that by adding your address, [Calcs.com](http://Calcs.com) automatically pulls location data from contour maps for Wind, Seismic (USGS), and Snow. [Learn more about project defaults here](https://calcs.com/docs/learn_calcs/getting_started/onboarding_videos/how-to-proj-defaults#setting-up-project-defaults-and-site-parameters).
</Tip>

***

## 3. Add Calcs to Your Project

Once you've created your project, it's time to explore the calculator library and add your first calculation.

* From your project, select Add new calculation to explore our calculator library and add calculations
* Start from templates, examples, or build from scratch
* Use calculations for beams, columns, footings, concrete design, steel design, and much more

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Column>
    <Card title="Additional resources" color="#0076d6" icon="file-spreadsheet">
      [GUIDE: Creating Calculations](https://calcs.com/docs/learn_calcs/basics/creating_new_calculations)<br />[GUIDE: Calculator Tutorials](https://calcs.com/docs/calculations/general_analysis_calculations/calcs_calculator_tutorials_and_worked_examples)<br />[GUIDE: Checks, References, Conditions and Assumptions](https://calcs.com/docs/learn_calcs/advanced_tricks/checks__references__conditions_and_assumptions)<br />[LIBRARY: Browse Available Calculators](https://calcs.com/calculators)<br />
    </Card>
  </Column>

  <Column>
    <Card title="Try it in Calcs.com" color="#0076d6" icon="arrow-up-right">
      [Add a calculator from your project](https://app.calcs.com/)
    </Card>
  </Column>
</Columns>

<Tip>
  A blank input field is the worst place to start learning a calculation you've never run before.

  [Calcs.com](http://Calcs.com) works differently. Every calculator opens with a fully worked example. Real sections, real loads, real results. That way, you can see exactly how it's supposed to look before you change a single value.

  Tweak the inputs. Swap the member. Apply your own loads with confidence, because you know what good looks like.

  Start with the answer, then make it yours. It's faster, less error-prone, and a lot less intimidating than a blank page.
</Tip>

***

## 4. Link a Load

No more copy-paste, in [Calcs.com](http://Calcs.com) you can **link loads between calculators**.  Use load linking to connect structural member reactions directly to supporting members, keeping your design in sync automatically.

For example, create a wood column and link it to the reactions from a wood beam: in the column’s load section, under Lateral movement loads, click Link, select the beam (and the support location), and the column will use those reactions. Clicking the linked label takes you back to the source calculator.

If you change the beam (e.g. increase loads), the column updates automatically—no refresh needed.

**What you can do:**

* Link reactions from one calc to loads in another
* Update a member and automatically propagate changes downstream
* Build models that stay consistent throughout your design

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Column>
    <Card title="Additional resources" color="#0076d6" icon="file-spreadsheet">
      [VIDEO: Load Linking](https://getcalcs.wistia.com/s/omp39a097nak67u)<br />[GU The Linking Workflow](https://calcs.com/docs/calculations/general_analysis_calculations/linking-analysis-to-design#the-linking-workflow)<br />[GU F A Li Loads](https://calcs.com/docs/learn_calcs/advanced_tricks/linking_loads_and_reactions_between_calculators__load_path_tracking_#how-factoring-works-across-linked-loads)<br />
    </Card>
  </Column>

  <Column>
    <Card title="Try it in Calcs.com" color="#0076d6" icon="arrow-up-right">
      [Link loads on a project](https://app.calcs.com/)

      <br />
    </Card>
  </Column>
</Columns>

<Tip>
  [Calcs.com](http://Calcs.com) is **unit-aware**. In inputs like Beam span length you can type expressions such as `20 feet + 10 inches` or `10 inches × 5`, and the conversion is done automatically. You can mix units (e.g. `8 meters`) as well. You can also reference variables in other inputs (e.g. use the total length `L` or `L/2` for end locations), and the calculator will resolve them correctly.
</Tip>

***

## 5. Export a Calc Report

Generate professional PDF reports of your structural analysis, complete with input data, diagrams, and result tables—ready to send to clients or include in your plans.

* Export single or multiple calculations
* Choose what sections to include
* Generate reports that look great on paper or screen, complete with your organization's logo

Within any project, simply click 'Export' from the left hand navigation pane. You can export a on Excel formats, or to PDF.

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Column>
    <Card title="Additional resources" color="#0076d6" icon="file-spreadsheet">
      [GUIDE: Export/Print Calculations](https://calcs.com/docs/learn_calcs/basics/exporting_and_printing_calculations_and_member_schedule#exporting/printing-calculations)<br />[GUIDE: Export/Print Member Schedule](https://calcs.com/docs/learn_calcs/basics/exporting_and_printing_calculations_and_member_schedule#exporting-the-member-schedule-to-excel)<br />[GUIDE: Export/Print Rules](https://calcs.com/docs/calcs_builder/print_export_rules#print-export-rules)<br />
    </Card>
  </Column>

  <Column>
    <Card title="Try it in Calcs.com" color="#0076d6" icon="arrow-up-right">
      [Export your project](https://app.calcs.com/)
    </Card>
  </Column>
</Columns>

<Tip>
  To change the logo of your [**<u>Calcs.com</u>**](http://Calcs.com) organization, you can find these in the “General” tab of the settings. Please note that only admins of your account have access to change this logo. Don’t forget to select “Save Changes” when adjusting any organisation settings! 
</Tip>

***

## You're Ready

Once you've worked through these 5 steps, you'll have a solid foundation for using Calcs.com. From there, you can explore advanced features, customize calculations, and scale your workflow to match your firm's needs.

<Card title="Additional resources" color="#0076d6" icon="file-spreadsheet">
  [VIDEO TUTORIALS: Platform Walkthroughs & Features](https://calcs.com/docs/learn_calcs/video_tutorials/home)<br />[GUIDE: Calculator Tutorials & Worked Examples](https://calcs.com/docs/calculations/general_analysis_calculations/calcs_calculator_tutorials_and_worked_examples)<br />[RELEASE NOTES: Learn about recent releases & product enhancements](https://calcs.com/docs/release_notes)
</Card>