> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ixdx.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ixdx.org/using-the-software/starting-an-interview.md).

# Starting an interview

## Open the Case Manager

* *either* click ![](/files/fqDKUoGLv05X50rxPSA4) on the **3di** **toolbar**
* *or* click **Add and interview patients** on the **Main Menu**
* *or* press **\<Ctrl + Shift + P>** (think of **P**-atients)

<img src="/files/W5cZFF0LDHIq4GdPTTua" alt="" width="375">

The **Case Manager** is divided horizontally into three sections. The principal job of the bottom section, captioned **Reports and forms for current subject**, is to generate reports for the patient whose details are displayed in the top section. The middle section, captioned **Current interview**, shows the name of the patient for whom an interview is currently being run – or **None** if no interview is open.

## Enter a patient

To create a new record:

* *either* press **\<Ctrl +>**
* *or* click the new record icon: the right-hand icon with the asterisk amongst the navigation buttons at the foot of the **Case Manager** as shown below

<figure><img src="/files/2BrzH8Ns5JEtwTc1fuFE" alt=""><figcaption><p>Creating a new case in the Case Manager</p></figcaption></figure>

* complete the top section of the form, noting that:
  * **ForeNow** will be the name inserted in the text of the interview questions, and should therefore be any contraction of the patient’s forename which is generally used by the family
  * **Patient number** requires the entry of a patient or hospital number – which will be rejected if it has already been entered for another patient
  * **Interview date** is optional: if you leave it empty, it will be completed automatically when **Run interview** is clicked
* click **Save**

In general in the 3di, you do not need to click any button to save your work; your changes are saved continuously as you make edits. The **Save** button to save a new case is the only exception to this.

## Interview a patient

If you have just created a record for the patient in the **Case Manager**, after saving simply click **Run interview**.

Otherwise if you are starting or resuming an interview with a child whose record you created earlier:

1. Use the **Find** dropdown to move to the patient’s **Case Manager** record.
2. Click **Revisit interview** or **Run interview** (the single button displays the caption appropriate to the patient).