> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://evidano.gitbook.io/ailyze-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://evidano.gitbook.io/ailyze-docs/getting-started/analyze-your-first-survey-dataset.md). # Analyze Your First Survey Dataset Turn a spreadsheet of survey responses into themes, charts, and segment comparisons, plus a dashboard that summarizes your whole survey. This page shows you how to run your first spreadsheet analysis, using the **Analyze xlsx/csv files** workflow. For the full walkthrough, see [Analyze open-ended survey responses](/ailyze-docs/common-research-workflows/analyze-open-ended-survey-responses.md); for what every button and option does, see [Spreadsheet Analysis Settings](/ailyze-docs/reference/settings/spreadsheet-analysis.md). At the end you will have a survey dashboard plus a thematic analysis of your open-ended questions, with [themes](/ailyze-docs/reference/glossary.md#theme), charts, and quotes. ## Before you start * An Evidano account (the Free plan works) and one **XLSX or CSV** file where **each row is a respondent** and **each column is a question** (for example: age, region, a rating, and a free-text comment). * The row cap per project is in [Supported File Types](/ailyze-docs/reference/supported-file-types.md).

Example survey spreadsheet with one respondent per row and one question per column — The header row names the questions; every other row is one respondent.

## Step 1: Start a spreadsheet analysis From your account page, click **Analyze xlsx/csv files**, then upload your file. ## Step 2: Choose the type of analysis This is the most important choice in the workflow. On **Choose the type of Analysis** you'll see: * "Analyze text, numerical, categorical, etc. survey data across all columns" — for a *whole survey*. Produces an **Overall** dashboard summarizing every column **plus** a deep thematic project for each open-ended column. * **Analyze text responses in selected columns** — for *one or a few open-ended questions* you want coded into themes. The second option is selected when the page opens. For your first run with a full survey, pick "Analyze text, numerical, categorical, etc. survey data across all columns", then click **Save & Next**.

Choose the type of Analysis screen with the two analysis options — Pick the first option for a whole-survey report; the second is for a single question.

## Step 3: Confirm column types Evidano auto-tags every column. On **Configure Column Types** you'll see a drag-and-drop board with these buckets: * **Numerical Data** (shown as histograms — bar charts grouping values into ranges) * **Categorical Data** (shown as bar charts) * **Text Data** (coded into themes and [sub-themes](/ailyze-docs/reference/glossary.md#sub-theme)) * **Segments** (used to compare the other data across groups) * **Respondent Name/ID** (used when citing quotes) * **Not Analyzed** (timestamps, IDs, consent, and similar) Review the AI's guesses and **drag any column to the right bucket**. To compare results by, say, usage frequency, department, or region, drag those columns into **Segments** — these become your [segments](/ailyze-docs/reference/glossary.md#segment) for comparison.

Dragging columns between buckets on the Configure Column Types board — The AI sorts the columns first; you only need to move the ones it got wrong.

## Step 4: Set up themes for your text columns Click **Configure Text Analysis** on the **Text Data** bucket, then **AI-generated themes** and **Generate Themes**. Evidano proposes a [codebook](/ailyze-docs/reference/glossary.md#codebook) for each text column; edit it if you like, then click **Done**. ## Step 5: Create the project Click **Create Project & Start Analysis**. A message confirms that your analysis is running and that you will receive an email once it completes; click **View all projects** to go to the project list. A survey-wide run produces an **Overall** project plus one project per text column; they show live status on the project list, may finish at different times, and each sends an **email** when done. ## Step 6: Read your results Open the **Overall** project to see a per-column dashboard: each column has a **Visualization** and an **Analysis** narrative, grouped into Text, Numerical, Categorical, Segment, and Respondent ID.

Overall project dashboard with a visualization and analysis for each column — Columns are grouped by type, and each card pairs a chart with its narrative.

Open a **text-column** project to see the deep view: **Codebook**, **Synthesis**, theme and sub-theme **frequency charts**, **word frequency**, the **coded data table**, and **theme elaboration** with quotes.

Text-column project showing the codebook, synthesis, and frequency charts — The codebook at the top is the list of themes; the charts below show how often each appears.

{% hint style="info" %} **See also:** New to these screens? Read [How to Read Your Results](/ailyze-docs/analyze-data/how-to-read-your-results.md). {% endhint %} ## Step 7: Compare and export Use the **Segment** dropdown on any chart to compare across the groups you set. From the **Action** bar: **Download as DOCX** or **Download as CSV** *(Pro)*, or **Chat to generate report or chart**. The **Share** section under the bar invites a colleague by email with **Add Collaborator** *(Pro)*. You did it. You now have a survey dashboard and a thematic analysis of your open-ended answers. ## Next steps * Dig into one question — [Categorize Responses](/ailyze-docs/analyze-data/categorize-responses.md) * Compare segments properly — [Compare Groups (Segments)](/ailyze-docs/analyze-data/compare-groups-segments.md) * Something not working? [Analysis Issues](/ailyze-docs/troubleshooting/analysis-issues.md)