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Preferred Format for Uploading Word Documents to Fast Start

AI Fast Start works best when your Word precedent is formatted with merge placeholders. These indicate where variable data should appear in the document, allowing Fast Start to accurately detect fields and automatically build the questionnaire for you. This article explains the preferred format for preparing your Word documents before uploading them into Fast Start.

Why Placeholder-Based Documents Work Best

When you upload a document to AI Fast Start, the system analyses its structure and identifies logical sections, field names, and relationships to build a first-draft form.

Placeholders make that possible — they help the AI distinguish between fixed text and variable data, producing a cleaner, more accurate starting point for your automation.

    • Preferred Placeholder Styles

      Fast Start recognises several common placeholder formats. Any of the examples below will work well.

      Example

      Description

      [First Name]

      Bracketed placeholders are ideal and widely used.

      {First Name}

      Curly braces work equally well.

      <<First Name>>

      Double angle brackets are also supported.

      #FirstName

      Hashed placeholders can be used where compact formatting is preferred.

Tip: Keep placeholder styles consistent throughout the document. Mixing [First Name] and {First Name} can make field naming less predictable.

Formats That Are Less Effective

AI Fast Start is designed to read placeholders, not pre-filled data or Word form fields.

While other formats may still upload, they are less likely to yield accurate results:

  • Completed forms (e.g., “First Name: John Smith”) — The system cannot tell which parts are variable data.

  • Forms with text boxes or Word content controls — These elements may not expose the data in a way Fast Start can interpret.

For the best results, use plain-text placeholders in a standard Word .docx file.

Visual Guide

Summary

Do

Don’t

Use placeholders like [Client Name] or {Date}

Upload filled-in forms with sample data

Keep placeholder style consistent

Mix multiple placeholder formats

Save in .docx format

Use Word text boxes or protected forms

Next Steps

Once your document is ready:

  1. Open Smarter Drafter Pro and select Fast Start.
  2. Upload your prepared Word document.
  3. Fast Start will detect placeholders, create the initial form, and automatically map fields to your Word template.

You can then review, refine, and publish your automation — starting from a solid, structured foundation.