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

# Getting Started

> Learn how to navigate Shieldbase and understand user roles

## Basic Navigation

The Shieldbase interface features a left sidebar with all the main features you need to get started. Here's what each section does:

<Accordion title="Navigation Menu Overview">
  <AccordionGroup>
    <Accordion title="New Chat" icon="message">
      Access the home page to start a new conversation with the AI Assistant
    </Accordion>

    <Accordion title="Chats" icon="comments">
      Interact with an AI assistant to perform actions or provide information
    </Accordion>

    <Accordion title="Editor" icon="edit">
      Write blogs, build reports, generate slides and images all in a canvas
    </Accordion>

    <Accordion title="Dashboard" icon="chart-line">
      Build an intelligent dashboard to get visibility and monitor work progress
    </Accordion>

    <Accordion title="Reporting" icon="chart-bar">
      Analyze data into insights and charts in a report
    </Accordion>

    <Accordion title="Workflows" icon="diagram-project">
      Turn manual, repetitive processes into automated workflows
    </Accordion>

    <Accordion title="Chatbots" icon="robot">
      Chat interface that responds to questions, performs tasks, and provides information
    </Accordion>

    <Accordion title="Library" icon="books">
      A repository of all information collected from data integration and manual upload
    </Accordion>

    <Accordion title="Integrations" icon="plug">
      Integrate data from various sources
    </Accordion>

    <Accordion title="Settings" icon="gear">
      Setup the settings based on your user roles
    </Accordion>

    <Accordion title="Log Out" icon="sign-out">
      Log out of your account
    </Accordion>
  </AccordionGroup>
</Accordion>

## User Roles

Shieldbase has four types of user roles with key distinctions and hierarchy:

<Info>
  **Role Hierarchy:** Root → Admin → Operator → Viewer
</Info>

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Root">
    **Highest Level Access**

    Root users have complete control over the Shieldbase environment:

    * Change settings of the entire Shieldbase environment
    * Manage all system configurations
    * Access all features and data
    * Create and manage other user accounts
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Admin">
    **Team Management**

    Admin users can manage teams and users:

    * Create teams and manage users
    * Configure team settings
    * Access most platform features
    * Cannot change environment settings
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Operator">
    **Platform User**

    Operators are the primary users of the platform:

    * Use all Shieldbase platform features
    * Create workflows, chatbots, and reports
    * Access assigned data and integrations
    * Cannot manage users or teams
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Viewer">
    **Limited Access**

    Viewers have read-only access:

    * View and run limited automation from public links
    * Access shared dashboards and reports
    * Cannot create or modify content
    * Restricted to viewing permissions only
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Knowledge Base

The Knowledge Base consists of **Integrations** and **Library**. Integrations connect with sources to ingest and index data inside the Library.

### Integrate Data from Third-Party Connectors

Shieldbase's connectors are pre-built tools that create a seamless link between **Knowledge Base** and various third-party applications and services.

These connectors use APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to securely access and retrieve data from these external sources. APIs act as a set of rules and protocols that allow different software applications to communicate with each other.

Once a connection with the sources are established, any changes or new data from the external source will automatically be indexed and available for use in the Shieldbase suite of AI capabilities including **AI Assistant, Workflows, Chatbot**, and **Reporting**.

When data is integrated from various sources, it inherits the role-based access control (RBAC) of the original source. This ensures that the data's security settings are maintained even when it's made available in a new environment.

You can find the necessary API keys for each connector in its settings.

There are various ways to integrate data to the **Knowledge Base**:

• **APIs**: Integrate data from third-party systems

• **Import from ChatGPT**: Import threads from ChatGPT into Shieldbase.

• **Library Documents**: Upload new files directly into the **Library**.

• **Web Search**: Activate to enable external search from various search engines including Google Web Search, DuckDuck Go, and Bing.

• **Website & Resources**: Specify URLs from which to crawl and index data. Shieldbase automatically reads and indexes the content up to three levels deep from the initial URL.

• **Custom HTTP Requests**: Shieldbase will read and index the websites with custom parameters in the URL or even APIs.

## Quick Start Guide

<Steps>
  <Step title="Log In">
    Access Shieldbase with your credentials and select your workspace
  </Step>

  <Step title="Navigate to Home">
    Click on "New Chat" to access the home page and AI Assistant
  </Step>

  <Step title="Explore Features">
    Use the left sidebar to navigate between different features
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check Your Role">
    Go to Settings to verify your user role and permissions
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Best Practices

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Start Simple" icon="lightbulb">
    Begin with basic features like the AI Assistant before moving to complex workflows
  </Card>

  <Card title="Organize Your Work" icon="folder">
    Use clear naming conventions for your workflows, chatbots, and reports
  </Card>

  <Card title="Test Before Deploying" icon="flask">
    Always test your automations in a safe environment before going live
  </Card>

  <Card title="Regular Updates" icon="sync">
    Keep your integrations and data sources updated regularly
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Next Steps

Now that you understand the basics, explore these key features:

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Library" icon="books" href="/how-to-use/library">
    Learn how to integrate and manage your data
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Assistant" icon="sparkles" href="/how-to-use/ai-assistant">
    Discover the power of AI-powered interactions
  </Card>

  <Card title="Workflows" icon="workflow" href="/how-to-use/workflows">
    Automate your repetitive tasks
  </Card>
</CardGroup>