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

# Create a Program

> Start a new program manually, generate one with AI, or clone an existing program

There are three ways to create a program in Exec: build one from scratch, generate one with AI, or clone an existing program.

***

## Create a Program Manually

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Programs page">
    From the left sidebar, click **Programs**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Create Program">
    Click the **Create Program** button at the top right of the page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in the details">
    * **Program Name** (required): A descriptive name for your program. This will be visible to participants. Examples: "Q3 Sales Onboarding," "Discovery Skills Bootcamp."
    * **Target Launch Date** (required): The date participants will be invited to the program. Must be in the future, up to one year out. You can adjust this later.
    * **Certification** (optional): If you want to automatically issue a certification when participants complete the program, select one from the dropdown. You can add this later too.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/exec-79a6bbdb/LEdZoRo3Qu00bl9S/images/programs/create-program-dialog.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=LEdZoRo3Qu00bl9S&q=85&s=423d4c7669c2a09518d6bd1caec0da25" alt="Create program dialog with name, launch date, and certification fields" width="2560" height="1300" data-path="images/programs/create-program-dialog.png" />
    </Frame>

    <Tip>
      The launch date is when enrollment emails go out and participants gain access. Give yourself enough time to add components and enroll participants before this date.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Create">
    Your program is created in **In Design** status. You are taken to the program dashboard where you can start adding components and participants.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Generate a Program with AI

If you have a general idea of what your program should cover, Exec's AI can build the full structure for you - including announcements, surveys, action items, videos, articles, and roleplays.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Programs page">
    From the left sidebar, click **Programs**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the AI generator">
    Click the dropdown arrow next to **Create Program**, then select **Generate with AI**. A drawer opens on the right side of the screen.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Describe your program">
    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/exec-79a6bbdb/7DWwcmveZ6F7fsyf/images/programs/generate-program-drawer.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=7DWwcmveZ6F7fsyf&q=85&s=c747acce7371d8adf87496056d51e222" alt="Generate Program with AI drawer showing name, launch date, and description fields" width="1280" height="720" data-path="images/programs/generate-program-drawer.png" />
    </Frame>

    Fill in the following:

    * **Program Name**: A descriptive name (e.g., "New Hire Sales Onboarding").
    * **Target Launch Date**: When the program should start.
    * **Program Description** (minimum 50 characters): Describe what the program should cover, who it is for, and any specific requirements. The more detail you provide, the better the result.

    <Info>
      Example description: "Create a 4-week onboarding program for new sales representatives. The program should include welcome materials and company overview, product training with videos, sales methodology fundamentals, practice roleplays for common objection handling, weekly check-in surveys, and a final assessment survey."
    </Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose component types">
    Select which types of components to include. **Announcements** are always included. You can toggle on or off:

    * Surveys
    * Action Items
    * Videos
    * Articles
    * AI Roleplays
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add reference materials (optional)">
    To give the AI more context, you can attach:

    * **Knowledge Hub items**: Select pages, files, and their linked scenarios from your Knowledge Hub.
    * **Reference files**: Upload PDFs, text files, or markdown documents (if file uploads are enabled).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Generate">
    Click **Generate Program**. The AI works through several steps:

    * Extracting content from your files
    * Researching content
    * Generating the program template
    * Creating the program and its components

    This typically takes 3-5 minutes. You can watch the progress in real time as each step completes.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and refine">
    Once generation completes, you are taken to the new program's dashboard. Review the components the AI created and make any adjustments - edit names, change dates, add or remove components, or update content.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  AI-generated programs are a starting point. Always review the generated components, dates, and content before launching to participants.
</Warning>

***

## Clone an Existing Program

Cloning creates a copy of an existing program's structure - all components are duplicated with their configuration, but participants are not copied.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Find the program to clone">
    On the Programs page, find the program you want to copy.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the actions menu">
    Click the three-dot menu on the program row and select **Clone**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure the clone">
    * **Program Name**: Pre-filled as "\[Copy] Original Name." Change it to something descriptive.
    * **Target Launch Date**: Set the launch date for the new cohort.
    * **Certification**: Optionally link a certification (inherits from the original if one was set).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Continue">
    The cloned program is created in **In Design** status with all components from the original. Adjust dates and content as needed for the new cohort.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Cloning is ideal for recurring programs. Run a sales bootcamp every quarter? Clone last quarter's program, update the dates, and you are ready to go.
</Tip>

***

## What Happens Next

After creating a program, you will want to:

1. [Add components](/programs/add-components) - Build out the learning path
2. [Enroll participants](/programs/manage-participants) - Add the people who will go through the program
3. [Launch](/programs/launch-and-lifecycle) - Send enrollment emails and go live

***

## Getting Help

Need help creating a program? Contact us at [hello@exec.com](mailto:hello@exec.com).