> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.metaforms.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.metaforms.ai/design-collaboration/setting-up-and-generating-the-questionnaire.md).

# Setting up and generating the questionnaire

The **Setup** tab is where each questionnaire starts. You tell the AI Assistant what the research is for, who the respondents are, and how long the survey can be. Then the AI Assistant generates the draft from this information.

![The Setup tab with the research brief, study configuration, questions, and reference files](https://1402057010-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgtHd8o9ldznZ1hKHiZvc%2Fuploads%2FgI3MBtThGIDmyHvOwnKy%2F26-setup-tab.png?alt=media)

## Fill in the Setup tab

1. Open the project and select **Design** from the left sidebar.
2. Select the **Setup** tab.
3. Fill in these sections:

| Section                  | What to enter                                                                                           | Required |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- |
| **Research Brief**       | The decisions that the research must inform. The AI Assistant uses this to generate your questionnaire. | Yes      |
| **Target Population**    | The respondents, for example *IT security leaders at enterprise companies in North America*.            | No       |
| **Target LOI (minutes)** | The length of interview that you want. The usual range is 10 to 20 minutes.                             | Yes      |
| **Questions**            | The questions that the questionnaire must include, or an existing draft. Refer to the next section.     | No       |
| **Reference Files**      | Earlier questionnaires for the AI Assistant to use as examples.                                         | No       |

{% hint style="info" %}
A clear research brief gives a better draft. Say what decisions the research will inform, not only the topic. For example, *"This will inform our positioning, messaging, and product roadmap priorities for the next quarter."*
{% endhint %}

## Add your own questions or a draft

Under **Questions**, select one of these tabs:

* **Write questions**: type the questions or topics that the questionnaire must include, for example *Overall satisfaction (CSAT), Net Promoter Score (NPS)*. The AI Assistant includes them in the draft.
* **Upload draft**: upload a questionnaire that you already have. The AI Assistant reviews it and builds the draft from it. You can upload a DOCX, PDF, XLSX, TXT, PPT, or PPTX file.

## Add reference files

1. Under **Reference Files**, select **Add reference**.
2. Search for an earlier Metaforms project, or upload a file (DOCX, PDF, XLSX, TXT, PPT, or PPTX).

The AI Assistant uses these questionnaires as examples of the style and structure that you want.

## Generate the questionnaire

Select **Generate Questionnaire**. The button is available when the **Research Brief** and **Target LOI** are filled in.

Metaforms shows **Building your questionnaire...** while the AI Assistant works. You can follow its progress in the AI Assistant panel on the right. When the draft is ready, it shows in the **Draft** tab.

{% hint style="warning" %}
If you change the setup after the draft is ready, the button changes to **Regenerate Questionnaire**. Regenerating builds the draft again from the new setup. To keep a copy of the current draft first, select the checkpoints icon (the clock above the questionnaire), then select **Save**. You can restore a saved checkpoint later.
{% endhint %}

Next, [review the draft with the AI Assistant](/design-collaboration/the-ai-assistant-review.md).


---

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