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

# Helix Foundry quickstart

> Sign in, connect a source, generate an ontology, load it into a Helix database and explore it

Tutorial

This tutorial takes a new workspace from sign-in to an explored graph. You need a
Helix account and a source to read, such as a Stripe account. Owners and admins of a
workspace can do every step. Members can follow along read-only; exploring a load also
needs **Query read** on its database's Helix project.

<video controls muted playsInline preload="none" poster="https://assets.helix-db.com/docs/foundry/start-here/tour-poster.png" src="https://assets.helix-db.com/docs/foundry/start-here/tour.webm" />

The steps below, end to end.

**1. Sign in**

Open [foundry.helix-db.com](https://foundry.helix-db.com) and continue with
Google, GitHub or Microsoft, using the account you use for Helix Cloud.

![The Helix Foundry sign-in page with Google, GitHub and Microsoft buttons](https://assets.helix-db.com/docs/foundry/start-here/sign-in.png)

**2. Choose a workspace**

Foundry opens your workspace when you have one, or the workspace picker when you
have several or none. Select **Create workspace** to start a new one; it starts on
Foundry Free.

![The Create a workspace dialog over the workspace picker](https://assets.helix-db.com/docs/foundry/start-here/create-workspace.png)

**3. Connect and sync a source**

In **Data**, select **Add data**, choose the source, and follow its numbered steps
to create a read-only credential. Select **Test connection** to see what the
credential can read, then **Connect and sync**. The first sync starts at once.

![The Stripe connection form after a successful test, listing the objects the key can read](https://assets.helix-db.com/docs/foundry/data/stripe-tested.png)

See [Connect data](/foundry/data/connect-data.md) for every source and what it needs.

**4. Create an ontology**

In **Ontologies**, select **New ontology**. Name it and choose the Helix database
it loads into: one you have, or a new one on Helix's shared cluster.

![The New ontology form with a name and an existing database selected](https://assets.helix-db.com/docs/foundry/ontology/new-ontology.png)

**5. Generate a draft**

On the ontology, select **Generate**. Say what the ontology should serve, choose the
connectors whose tables it reads, and select **Generate**. The page follows the
generation until it stores a new version.

![The Generate an ontology form with a goal and the Stripe and Shop database connectors selected](https://assets.helix-db.com/docs/foundry/ontology/generate.png)

**6. Review it and make it current**

Select **Review version**. Read its types, links, mappings and rules, then select
**Make current**. Your earlier version stays, so you can roll back at any time.

![An agent-drafted version with its Graph, Types, Links, Mappings, Rules, Questions and TOML tabs](https://assets.helix-db.com/docs/foundry/ontology/version.png)

**7. Load it**

In **Data loads**, select **Load data**. The dialog says which tables and documents
the load reads and what it may spend; select **Load**. When it finishes, it becomes
the current load.

![The Load version 3 into contracts dialog with the tables, documents, spending and limits](https://assets.helix-db.com/docs/foundry/ontology/load-dialog.png)

**8. Explore it**

Select **Open Explorer**. The graph opens on a connected sample of the load. Search
with <kbd>/</kbd>, double-click a node to expand it, or switch to **Records** to read
each type as a table.

![The Explorer with a customer selected and its properties and relationships in the inspector](https://assets.helix-db.com/docs/foundry/explore/explorer-node.png)

## Next steps

> **[Upload documents](/foundry/ontologies/documents.md)**
>
> Add contracts and notes so loads fill types from their text.

> **[Invite your team](/foundry/workspace/members-and-roles.md)**
>
> Invite members and admins to the workspace.

> **[Connect a database](/foundry/data/connectors.md)**
>
> PostgreSQL and MySQL need Foundry Pro.

> **[Troubleshooting](/foundry/reference/troubleshooting.md)**
>
> What each error and waiting state means.


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