> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://ailyze.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://ailyze.gitbook.io/ailyze-docs/getting-started/analyze-your-first-survey-dataset.md).

# Analyze Your First Survey Dataset

This page shows you how to run your first spreadsheet analysis, using the **"Analyze xlsx/csv files"** workflow. For the full set of options, see [Analyze open-ended survey responses](/ailyze-docs/common-research-workflows/analyze-open-ended-survey-responses.md).

{% hint style="info" %}
**What you need:** 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 limit is roughly **5,000 rows** per project.

**What you will have at the end:** a survey dashboard plus a thematic analysis of your open-ended questions, with [themes](/ailyze-docs/reference/glossary.md#theme), charts, and quotes.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="/files/f7OLoHjTwWwvYvW9hUMm" alt="Example survey spreadsheet with one respondent per row and one question per column"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## 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.

For your first run with a full survey, pick **"Analyze text, numerical, categorical, etc. survey data across all columns"**.

<figure><img src="/files/X4a2D0SeMjrWe3qUKPZh" alt="Choose the type of Analysis screen with the two analysis options"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
**Tip:** Choosing "across all columns" can create *several* projects at once (one overall project plus one per open-ended question). That's expected. See [Analyze open-ended survey responses](/ailyze-docs/common-research-workflows/analyze-open-ended-survey-responses.md) for details.
{% endhint %}

## 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.

<figure><img src="/files/rb8izFycw6Fsi4Cx5qBU" alt="Dragging columns between buckets on the Configure Column Types board"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Step 4: Set up themes for your text columns

For each text column, click **"Configure Text Analysis"** and choose **"Use AI to Identify top themes and sub-themes"**. Evidano proposes a [codebook](/ailyze-docs/reference/glossary.md#codebook) you can edit.

## Step 5: Create the project

Click **"Create Project and Start Analysis"** (or, for a survey-wide run, **"Analyze numerical, categorical, text, and segment data, and create survey report"**). You'll see an **"Analysis Starting"** confirmation and land on the project list.

<figure><img src="/files/ftZEPeCqEFam2fqHHTh9" alt="Analysis Starting confirmation after creating the survey project"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

What happens next?

* Projects show live status on the project list.
* You'll get an **email** when each one completes.
* A survey-wide run produces an **Overall** project and one project per text column — they may finish at different times.

## 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.

<figure><img src="/files/HWDjPcYwLlscRMrXqRx9" alt="Overall project dashboard with a visualization and analysis for each column"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

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.

<figure><img src="/files/wne4yA08qQZcQV1lbkKH" alt="Text-column project showing the codebook, synthesis, and frequency charts"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
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 CSV / DOCX**, **Share as Webpage** *(Pro)*, or **"Chat to generate report or chart"**.

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)
* Build a deliverable — [Create an Executive Summary](/ailyze-docs/create-deliverables/create-an-executive-summary.md)
* Something not working? [Analysis Issues](/ailyze-docs/troubleshooting/analysis-issues.md)


---

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