# Create a document, sheet, deck, diagram, design or artwork

> Start a new Office file from an app tile, Create, a template, Quick actions, the File menu, the command palette or a description for AI to draft.

Source: https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-create-files
Section: Office > Office basics
Plans: All plans
Updated: 2026-10-15

There are several ways to start a new file in PlexiiOffice. They all make a real file straight away and open it in its editor, ready to work on. Pick whichever is closest to hand.

## Before you start

- **Plans.** Creating files works on every plan, in all six apps.
- **Organisations.** If an administrator has turned an app off, its tiles and commands are greyed out or do nothing. Point at a greyed tile to see why.
- **Creating with AI** needs AI to be set up: PlexiDesk credits while you are signed in, or your own Anthropic key. See [AI settings](https://plexiidesk.com/help/settings-ai).

## Start from Office Home

Open PlexiiOffice by clicking the **Apps** heading in the side menu. Then:

1. Click the tile for the app you want: **PlexiDocs**, **PlexiSheets**, **PlexiSlides**, **PlexiDiagrams**, **PlexiDesign** or **PlexiDraw**.
2. The new file opens in its editor.
3. Click its name in the header and type a new one.

A new file is called "Untitled document", "Untitled sheet", "Untitled deck", "Untitled diagram", "Untitled design" or "Untitled artwork" until you rename it.

Other places on Office Home also start a file:

- **Create** at the top right makes a new document called "Untitled document".
- **Quick actions** in the right-hand column offers **New document**, **New spreadsheet** and **New presentation**. The new files are called "Untitled document", "Untitled spreadsheet" and "Untitled presentation".
- **Start with a template** makes a file from the template you click, named after the template. See [Templates and starting points](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-templates).

## Start from inside an editor

Every editor's **File** menu begins with a command for a new file of the same kind: **New document**, **New spreadsheet**, **New presentation**, **New diagram**, **New design** or **New artwork**. The new file opens in place of the one you were in, which stays saved.

To start from a file you already have, choose **File** > **Make a copy**. The copy is called "Copy of" followed by the original's name, and it opens straight away.

## Start from anywhere with the command palette

1. Press `⌘` `K` on a Mac (`Ctrl` `K` on Windows).
2. Type new, then choose **New document**, **New spreadsheet** or **New presentation**.

The file is created and opened at once.

## Describe it and let AI draft it

The Documents page can write a first draft for you.

1. Open the Documents page. See [The Documents page](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-documents-page).
2. Choose what you are making: **Document**, **Spreadsheet**, **Slides** or **Map** (a flowchart).
3. Describe it in the box, for example "a one-page launch plan for our new pricing, with goals, timeline and risks".
4. Optionally, say who it is for in **Who is it for? (optional)**.
5. Click **Create with AI**, or press `⌘` `Enter` on a Mac (`Ctrl` `Enter` on Windows).

The draft opens in its editor, ready for you to change. On the same page, **Or start blank** makes an empty file of each kind.

## Start on a desk

To make a file that lives on a desk from the start, add a **Document**, **Spreadsheet** or **Slides** widget and choose **Create new**. The file is kept in Office like any other. See [Document widget](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-document) and [Spreadsheet widget](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-spreadsheet).

## Start from a file on your computer

You can turn a Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Visio file into a new Office file. See [Open and save Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Visio files](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-import-export).

## What a new file starts with

| App | A new, blank file opens with |
| --- | --- |
| PlexiDocs | An empty page, ready to type. |
| PlexiSheets | An empty grid of 48 columns and 100 rows. |
| PlexiSlides | One title slide. |
| PlexiDiagrams | A single **Start** shape to build out from. |
| PlexiDesign | A blank square canvas. |
| PlexiDraw | A landscape artboard with one empty vector layer. |

If your organisation has a brand kit, a new document's headings start in the brand's style. See [Brand kit, Brandify and your logo](https://plexiidesk.com/help/design-brand-kit).

## Common questions

**Where did my new file go?**
It is in Office. It appears at the top of **Recent** on Office Home, and on the **Recent** page. See [Find, star and pin your Office files](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-find-and-star-files).

**I clicked a tile and nothing opened.**
If the tile is greyed out with a lock, that app is not available to you. Point at it to see why.

**Can I create a file without a name?**
Yes. Every new file gets a starting name such as "Untitled document". Rename it whenever you like. See [The editor header, saving and the File menu](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-editor-basics).

## Related tasks

- [The Office Home page](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-home)
- [Templates and starting points](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-templates)
- [The Documents page](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-documents-page)
- [The editor header, saving and the File menu](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-editor-basics)
- [Create new widget](https://plexiidesk.com/help/home-widget-create-new)