> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/llms.txt).

# Common questions

Short answers to the questions people ask most about ZeraBooks Convert, from uploading documents to downloads and plans, each with a link to the full guide.

## Getting started

<details>
<summary>What is ZeraBooks Convert?</summary>

A document converter. You upload PDF statements, checks, invoices and other financial documents; Convert reads them, checks them against their own printed totals, and gives you the data as CSV or Excel. See [Welcome to ZeraBooks Convert](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-getting-started/welcome-to-convert).
</details>

<details>
<summary>Is there a free trial?</summary>

Yes. Every ZeraBooks plan starts with a 7-day free trial, and there is no free tier. A card is needed at checkout. The trial includes 1,000 pages. See [Start using Convert](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-getting-started/start-using-convert).
</details>

<details>
<summary>Do I need to set anything up before I convert?</summary>

No. Open the page for your document, such as **Bank & Credit Cards**, and upload a PDF.
</details>

## Documents

<details>
<summary>What files can I upload?</summary>

PDFs only, up to 50 MB each, several at once. Images, CSV and Excel statements are refused with "Only PDF files can be converted." See [Upload documents](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-documents/upload-documents).
</details>

<details>
<summary>Where do I upload documents?</summary>

On the page for the document type, such as **Bank & Credit Cards** or **Checks**. Click the header's upload button, such as **Upload statements**, or drop PDFs anywhere on the page. **Home** has no upload. See [Upload documents](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-documents/upload-documents).
</details>

<details>
<summary>Does Convert connect to my bank?</summary>

No. Documents come in only as PDFs you upload.
</details>

<details>
<summary>My statement has several accounts. What happens?</summary>

Convert splits the transactions by account and checks each account against its own printed balances. Card statements with several cardholders, such as Amex, are split by cardholder. See [Bank and credit card statements](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-documents/bank-and-card-statements).
</details>

<details>
<summary>How long does reading take?</summary>

Usually under a minute. The document shows **Reading** until it's done, and the list refreshes by itself.
</details>

<details>
<summary>Why does my statement say "Needs a look"?</summary>

An account doesn't tie to the cent, the statement prints no balances to check against, or there's a note to review. Correct a row, move it to the right account, add a missing one or remove an extra one, and the proof runs again. See [How Convert proves a statement](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-documents/how-convert-proves-a-statement) and [Fix a statement](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-documents/fix-a-statement).
</details>

<details>
<summary>Can I edit invoices, investment statements or financial statements?</summary>

No. Only bank and card statement rows and checks can be edited. For the others, upload a clearer copy of the PDF. See [When a document can't be read](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-documents/when-a-document-cant-be-read).
</details>

<details>
<summary>Why don't I see a document I uploaded last quarter?</summary>

Convert lists only the documents uploaded in the last 30 days. After that, they drop off the lists. There are no folders.
</details>

## Downloads

<details>
<summary>Which format should I choose?</summary>

**QuickBooks-ready** for a QuickBooks Online bank upload, **Xero-ready** for Xero, **Sage-ready** for Sage, **Money in and out** for a spreadsheet with separate money in and money out columns, **Standard** for a simple three-column file, and **All details** for every column. See [Choose a download format](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-export/choose-a-download-format).
</details>

<details>
<summary>Can I choose my own columns?</summary>

No. Downloads use fixed, ready-made formats only. **All details** has every column Convert reads.
</details>

<details>
<summary>Can I combine a month of statements into one file?</summary>

Yes. On **Bank & Credit Cards**, tick the statements in the list, click **Download n together**, choose **One file**, and click **Download**. See [Download your data](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-export/download-your-data).
</details>

<details>
<summary>Can I get one file per account or per cardholder?</summary>

Yes. Under **Split**, choose **One per account** or **One per cardholder**, or leave it on **Automatic**. In Excel each one is its own tab; as CSV they come together in a ZIP.
</details>

<details>
<summary>Why is there no Download dialog for checks?</summary>

Checks, investment statements and financial statements have one format, so there's nothing to choose but the file type. Click **Download**, then **Excel** or **CSV**, and the file downloads at once. See [Download your data](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-export/download-your-data).
</details>

<details>
<summary>What if a column I want isn't on the document?</summary>

ZeraBooks reads each document once and never guesses. A value the document doesn't show is an empty cell in the file. See [Blank cells and missing values](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-export/blank-cells-and-missing-values).
</details>

<details>
<summary>Can I see which columns I'll get?</summary>

Yes. For statements and invoices, the **Download** dialog lists each format's columns under its name. Checks, investments and financial statements have one format, **All details**. See [Choose a download format](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-export/choose-a-download-format).
</details>

<details>
<summary>Can Convert send data straight into QuickBooks, Xero or Sage?</summary>

No. Convert gives you a file to import. Download the **QuickBooks-ready**, **Xero-ready** or **Sage-ready** format and import it there.
</details>

## Plans

<details>
<summary>Where is my plan?</summary>

Click **ZeraBooks Convert** at the top of the sidebar, then **Billing**. It shows your plan, the pages used this period, changing plan and **Manage billing**. See [Billing](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-plan-and-settings/convert-settings).
</details>

<details>
<summary>How are plans priced?</summary>

By pages processed: **ZeraBooks** (1,000 pages a month), **ZeraBooks 2,500** and **ZeraBooks 5,000**, monthly or yearly. See [Plans and pages](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-plan-and-settings/plans-and-pages).
</details>

<details>
<summary>Do failed documents use pages?</summary>

No. Failed pages never count. See [Plans and pages](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-plan-and-settings/plans-and-pages).
</details>

<details>
<summary>What happens when I run out of pages?</summary>

New uploads wait, with a **Get more pages** button that lets you move up a plan right there. Moving up takes effect straight away, and the files that were waiting convert automatically. On monthly billing you can also switch to yearly, which opens the whole year's pages at once. On the top plan billed yearly, click **Book a call**. See [Plans and pages](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-plan-and-settings/plans-and-pages).
</details>

<details>
<summary>Does running out stop a document that's already converting?</summary>

No. A document already reading when you reach your pages is read in full. Only the next upload waits for more pages.
</details>

<details>
<summary>How many pages does the free trial include?</summary>

1,000 pages, whichever plan the trial is on. When the trial ends, your plan is charged and you get its full pages. To get them sooner, click **Start my plan now** on **Billing**. That ends the trial and charges the plan today. See [Change your plan](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-plan-and-settings/change-your-plan).
</details>

## Frequently Asked Questions

<details>
<summary>Does Convert keep my books?</summary>

No. Convert turns documents into data. If you want ZeraBooks to keep the books, use the ZeraBooks General Ledger: the button at the bottom of **Home** and the menu at the top of the sidebar both lead there.
</details>

<details>
<summary>Can I invite my team?</summary>

No. Convert has no teams, roles or sharing.
</details>

<details>
<summary>Does Convert have an AI assistant I can chat with?</summary>

No. ZeraBooks reads and checks documents on its own, and you work from the pages: upload on each document page, fix rows on the document, and download from the document or tick several in the list to download them together.
</details>

<details>
<summary>Where is every error message explained?</summary>

In [Error messages](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-faqs/error-messages), grouped by area.
</details>

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