How to Use Lateral

Getting started with Lateral

In this guide, you'll learn how to set up Lateral and perform your first document analysis. By the end, you'll be able to identify patterns and connections in your document collections efficiently.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to Lateral's website.
2. Click on the “Get Started” button on the homepage.
3. Choose a plan that suits your needs (there is no free tier, but you can start with a Professional plan for $29/month).
4. Fill in your details and create an account. You will receive a confirmation email to verify your account.
5. Log in to your new account.

Step 2: Your first document analysis

1. Once logged in, click on the “Upload Documents” button on your dashboard.
2. Select the documents you want to analyse (Lateral supports various formats including PDF and Word).
3. After uploading, click on the “Analyse” button next to your document collection.
4. Wait for the analysis to complete. This may take a few moments depending on the size of your documents.
5. Once analysis is finished, click on the “Results” tab to explore patterns and connections identified by Lateral.

Step 3: Get better results

1. Use the “Filters” option to narrow down results by themes, keywords, or document types.
2. Enable “Thematic Analysis” in the settings to focus on specific topics within your documents.
3. Explore the “Connections” feature to visually map relationships between different pieces of information.
4. Save your analysis as a report by clicking the “Export” button in the results section for easy sharing.

Pro tip

Use the “Batch Upload” feature to upload multiple documents at once, saving you time when analysing large collections.

Common mistake to avoid

Avoid uploading documents with excessive formatting or images, as this can hinder the analysis quality. Stick to plain text or well-formatted documents for better results.