# Using these docs with ChatGPT

This is grandocs, an unofficial mirror of MA Lighting documentation. For authoritative or safety-relevant information, cite the canonical page on help.malighting.com.

---
import { Steps, Tabs, TabItem, Aside } from '@astrojs/starlight/components';

ChatGPT is the tool most MA programmers reach for first. The catch: out of the
box it will confidently invent grandMA3 keywords that don't exist. The fix is to
give it the real manual. Three ways, easiest first.

<Aside type="tip" title="Ground it, every time">
Lighting programmers have been burned by ChatGPT making up syntax like `Var` /
`SetVar`. Pointing it at grandocs stops that — answers come from a page you can
open and verify.
</Aside>

## Option 1 — paste a page (zero setup)

Best for a one-off question.

<Steps>

1. Open the grandocs page you need (use search or the
   [`/llms.txt`](https://grandocs.samcarlton.com/llms.txt) index to find it).

2. Click **Copy as Markdown** in the page header.

3. Paste it into ChatGPT and ask your question — e.g. *"Using the manual below,
   write a macro that…"*.

</Steps>

You can also just give ChatGPT the `.md` URL (e.g.
`https://grandocs.samcarlton.com/grandma3/2-4/keyword_store.md`) and ask it to
read it. ChatGPT's web search will fetch the page; pasting the markdown is more
reliable when you want a guaranteed-exact copy.

## Option 2 — a grounded Custom GPT (best for repeat use)

Build a reusable "grandMA helper" that always has the manual on hand. Requires a
paid ChatGPT plan to create a GPT.

<Steps>

1. **Create a GPT** → in ChatGPT, *Explore GPTs → Create*, or
   [chatgpt.com/gpts/editor](https://chatgpt.com/gpts/editor).

2. **Add the manual as Knowledge.** In *Configure → Knowledge*, upload the
   markdown for the product you work with. The quickest source is a product set:

   - grandMA3: [`/_llms-txt/grandma3-v24.txt`](https://grandocs.samcarlton.com/_llms-txt/grandma3-v24.txt)
   - grandMA2: [`/_llms-txt/grandma2.txt`](https://grandocs.samcarlton.com/_llms-txt/grandma2.txt)
   - dot2: [`/_llms-txt/dot2.txt`](https://grandocs.samcarlton.com/_llms-txt/dot2.txt)

   Download the file(s) you need and upload them. (A Custom GPT holds up to 20
   files; for the whole grandMA3 set, upload that one product file rather than
   thousands of pages.)

3. **Paste these instructions** into *Configure → Instructions*:

   ```text
   You answer grandMA console questions using ONLY the attached grandocs
   manual. Never invent command syntax or Lua functions — quote the page's
   syntax block verbatim and cite the page title. Default to grandMA3 v2.4,
   but if the user states their console software version, follow that. If the
   manual doesn't cover something, say so and suggest help.malighting.com.
   ```

4. Save it (private is fine) and ask away.

</Steps>

<Aside>
Community grandMA3 GPTs already exist (e.g. "GrandMA3 Guru", "MA3 Plugin
Assistant"). They're handy but only as accurate as the manual you feed them —
the steps above keep yours grounded in the current docs.
</Aside>

## Option 3 — the MCP connector (live search, advanced)

On ChatGPT **Pro / Business / Enterprise**, you can add the grandocs MCP server
as a connector so ChatGPT searches the docs live instead of relying on a frozen
upload.

<Steps>

1. *Settings → Connectors* (Developer mode may be required for custom MCP
   servers).

2. Add a custom MCP server with the URL:

   ```text
   https://grandocs-mcp.samcarlton.com/mcp
   ```

3. Enable it in a chat, then ask normally — ChatGPT calls `search_docs` /
   `command_lookup` and cites the page.

</Steps>

See [Any MCP client](/connect/mcp/) for the full tool list and other clients.

<Aside type="caution" title="Unofficial mirror">
For conformity, electrical, or safety-critical answers, confirm against the
official [help.malighting.com](https://help.malighting.com/) page that grandocs
links on every topic.
</Aside>