NetAsset - AI sidebar user guide
Overview
The NetAsset AI sidebar is an assistant built into NetAsset reporting. It opens beside the Report Generator and query-based report records, and works with the report you have open. It can explain a report, build a new query-based report or change an existing one, and help find out why gross asset balances don't match the GL.
This article covers the sidebar's topics and controls. To turn the sidebar on, see NetAsset - AI sidebar setup.
Verify AI answers
AI can make mistakes. Always verify information and reports produced by the sidebar before relying on them.
Prerequisites
- The AI sidebar is set up for your account. See NetAsset - AI sidebar setup.
- To use MCP tools: a NetSuite role set up for MCP use, connected as described in the setup article.
Open the sidebar
| Page | How to open it |
| Report Generator | Click AI Assistant at the top of the page. |
| Query-based report record (view mode) | Click Assistant on the record, or the AI Assistant icon in the NetAsset side navigation. |
The sidebar opens with a list of topics at the top and a reply box at the bottom. Click a topic to start a guided task, or type a question in the Reply box.
Topics
The topics available depend on the page.
| Topic | Report Generator | Report record |
| Create or edit a report | Yes | Yes |
| Explain this report | Yes | Yes |
| Why don't the gross asset balances match? | Yes | No |
Create or edit a report
Describe the report you want, and the sidebar builds a new query-based report or changes the report you name. Your browser asks you to confirm before anything is saved, and changes can't be undone from the sidebar.
For step-by-step instructions, example requests and limitations, see NetAsset - Creating reports with AI.
Explain this report
The sidebar runs the report and explains, in plain language, what each row is, what each column shows and how it's calculated, and which dates drive it.
- On the Report Generator, select a report in the Report field first.
- It uses the page's From and To dates but not other on-page filters, so its row count can differ from the screen when filters are set.
Why don't the gross asset balances match?
This topic works only on the Gross Asset Subledger to GL Reconciliation report in the Report Generator. The sidebar uses your current filters on the page to find the assets where the NetAsset subledger and the GL disagree. It then looks for a common cause, such as a depreciation run that didn't post, or explains the differences on specific assets. It only reads data and makes no changes.
Standard vs MCP tools
By default the sidebar uses NetAsset's built-in report tools. Turning on NetSuite MCP Tools adds access through the NetSuite role you connected.
| Standard | With NetSuite MCP Tools | |
| What it can use | The report you have open and NetAsset's built-in report tools | Any NetAsset records and transactions your MCP role can access |
| What limits it | The topics and tools on the page | The permissions on your MCP role |
Sidebar controls
| Control | What it does |
| Reply box | Type a question or instruction and press Enter, or click Send. |
| + | NetSuite MCP Tools: turn MCP tools on or off. Upload File: attach a file from your computer for the sidebar to read. Add File from NetSuite: on a report record, attach a file already attached to the record. |
| Settings (gear) | Zoom: change the text size. Reconnect: force the sidebar to reconnect to Netgain's AI LLM. Tools: turn the sidebar's built-in tools on or off. About: details about the sidebar. |
| Toggle help-on-click (?) | On a report record, click this, then click a field. The sidebar explains that field. |
| Microphone | Dictate instead of typing. Your browser asks for permission to use the microphone the first time. |
| Reset chat (circular arrow) | Start a new conversation. |
Limitations / things to be aware of
- The sidebar answers questions about NetAsset reports only. It isn't a general NetSuite assistant.
- On report records, the sidebar is available in view mode only.
- AI-built reports aren't grouped; rows are sorted instead.
- Usage is capped. Check current usage on the AI Settings subtab of NetAsset > NetAsset Setup > System Setup. Turning on MCP tools uses it up faster.
