> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.gowindmill.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a pulse

> Start a pulse from a prompt or from scratch, then set its questions, participants, and anonymity.

Create a pulse to prepare your questions and participants. Windmill saves the pulse as a draft. Nothing is sent until you launch it.

## Start a new pulse

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Pulse surveys">
    Open [Pulse surveys](https://app.gowindmill.com/COMPANY/pulse) and select **New pulse**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Describe what you want to learn">
    In the **Create pulse** dialog, enter a prompt in **What do you want to learn from your team?** Include any background that helps Windy write good questions.

    To start from an example, select one of the **Ideas**, such as **Engagement survey** or **Weekly blockers**. The idea fills the prompt, and you can edit it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Continue or start from scratch">
    Select **Continue** to let Windy generate questions from your prompt. Or select **Create from scratch** to start with one blank **Text** question and no generated content.
  </Step>
</Steps>

The **Pulse setup** page opens. It has 3 steps.

## Step 1: Questions

If you entered a prompt, Windy generates questions and suggests a name and description. You can edit all of them.

* **Icon:** Select the icon to change it.
* **Name:** Enter a name of up to 100 characters. The name shows in Slack and in your results.
* **Description:** Add a short introduction of up to 500 characters. Respondents see it at the top of the survey.
* **Questions:** Add, edit, reorder, or delete questions. See [Questions and question types](/features/pulse-surveys/questions-and-question-types).

Select **Preview** to see the survey as respondents will see it. The preview updates while you edit.

**Next** is available when the pulse has a name, at least one question, a label for each question, and complete answer choices.

## Step 2: Select participants

Choose who receives the pulse, such as your team, specific people, or a group. You must select at least one person. See [Choose participants](/features/pulse-surveys/choose-participants).

## Step 3: Pulse anonymity

Choose **Named (recommended)** or **Anonymous**. You cannot change this setting after you create the pulse. **Anonymous** is not available if you have fewer than 3 participants.

Then choose the **Completion location**: **Anywhere** or **Platform only**. See [Named and anonymous pulses](/features/pulse-surveys/named-and-anonymous-pulses).

Select **Create pulse**.

## What Windmill saves

The pulse opens with the status **Draft**. Windmill does not send it to anyone yet. The new pulse starts with these settings:

* **Owner:** You are the owner and the requester.
* **Expiration:** No expiration. You choose one when you launch.
* **Reminder:** Windy reminds participants one day after a run starts if they have not responded.
* **Response sharing:** Private to owners.
* **Notifications:** Windy sends you updates in Slack while a run is active. Owners get an email report after a run ends. See [Notifications](/features/pulse-surveys/notifications).

You can change the questions, participants, and settings from the pulse's tabs before you launch.

If you close **Pulse setup** before you select **Create pulse**, Windmill discards your changes.

## Next steps

* [Test a pulse](/features/pulse-surveys/test-a-pulse) to see what participants will get.
* [Launch the pulse](/features/pulse-surveys/launch-a-pulse) now or on a schedule.