> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://enercalc.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://enercalc.com/docs/sel-user-manual/calculation-modules/external-items.md). # External Items How to add non-ENERCALC files such as documents, PDFs, and models into a project file as External Items. **ENERCALC SEL** allows you to add non-ENERCALC items into a locally saved Project File. Until 2023, the types of items that could be added were limited to: * MS Excel Spreadsheets * MS Word Documents * Adobe Acrobat PDF Files * Scanned Images However, in January 2023, this functionality received a huge enhancement. By using the *native application* to display the contents of an External Item file, ENERCALC SEL can now support an almost limitless variety of file formats as External Items. For example, you can now think in terms of having a RAM or RISA model as an External Item. Have some JPEG photos of as-built conditions and want to preserve them as part of an ENERCALC project file? No problem. Still prefer to use that MathCad sheet for the design of certain elements? Go for it, and then link it or embed it. The ability to include External Items allows you to use the ENERCALC Project File as a central point of document preparation and storage for structural project calculations. External Items can be interspersed throughout the list of calculations in the Project Manager, or they can be placed in Divisions that have been created specifically to contain the external items. ![](https://3283832020-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FiBJmBoewuy4ZcBC7RF3m%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5c6b0924e44a5e83d0bc184155a7760100d15445%2Fclip0274_was_BMP.jpg?alt=media) --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://enercalc.com/docs/sel-user-manual/calculation-modules/external-items.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.