Why Settings matter
Take a little time for this step. Small differences in source use, scope, citation style or writing style can later determine which sources are evaluated, how the proposal is structured and how the final text is written.
The settings groups
The real app interface divides step 3 into six areas: 1. Basic data, 2. Scope, 3. Sources & research, 4. Citation style, 5. Visualizations and Writing style. Go through these groups one by one and compare them with your assignment.
Basic data
Basic data is the profile of your paper. Target language controls the output language, Country helps with regional standards and Type of paper tells StudyTexter whether to plan more like a term paper, bachelor's thesis, master's thesis or another type of assessment.
The submission date is optional, but it can matter: literature published after that date is automatically excluded.
Impact on the next steps
Basic data influences cover-page information, regional framing, subject-specific terminology, methodological expectations and the language of the later draft.
Scope
In Scope, you set the page count through two values: minimum and maximum. The app calculates with around 250 words per page. Cover page, directories, tables, figures and similar elements are added on top.
If you enable Add abstract to the paper, the abstract is inserted directly into the final full text later. Without this option, it remains available as a separate bonus download.
Remember that the final page count can vary depending on formatting, for example margins, line spacing, font size and citation style such as a footnote style. Visualizations also increase the number of pages.
Impact on the next steps
Scope influences how detailed the proposal, chapter structure and full text are planned. Visualizations count in addition to the stated page count.
Sources & research
The sources and research logic is one of the most important decisions in this step. It defines whether StudyTexter should actively search for more literature or work only with your own files.
The app recommends keeping source types broad unless your instructions explicitly exclude certain types. Filters that are too narrow can cause StudyTexter to find fewer suitable sources.
Impact on the next steps
This selection controls whether new sources are searched later or whether Source evaluation mainly works with your uploads. It is directly connected to File upload, reference list and Source evaluation.
How to read the fields in this section
- No literature search
Enable this if StudyTexter should not run an additional open literature search. The AI then works with your uploads, your reference list and, if necessary, without sources if you did not upload any.
- Allowed source types
Keep these groups as broad as possible unless your instructions require something else. Exclude types only when they are genuinely unsuitable for your paper or explicitly forbidden.
- Number of sources
Set how many additional sources StudyTexter should research.
The number of sources you enter in Settings is added to your uploaded sources. For example, if you upload 7 of your own sources and set 40 sources to be researched, you will receive at least 47 sources (7 of your own + 40 from our AI research) in the Source evaluation step for the rest of the workflow.
- Source languages
Choose the languages in which sources are allowed. German and English are often useful; very narrow language filters can limit the selection of good literature.
- Year & citations
Use publication year and minimum citations only when they are genuinely relevant. Otherwise, good sources may be excluded unnecessarily. Minimum citations means that only sources cited at least that many times in other academic works are considered.
- Source preferences
Add qualitative preferences, for example language mix, peer-review focus, recency, methodology focus or specific topics that should be prioritized.
If you want to work only with your own sources
If you uploaded your own full-text sources and your own reference list and want to work only with those, set up the workflow like this:
In the File upload step
- Mark your complete PDFs/sources as Source.
- Really mark your reference list as Reference list.
- If possible, also upload all important sources from the reference list as full-text PDFs if you want to be sure that StudyTexter can use them.
In the Settings step
- Go to Sources & research.
- Enable No literature search there.
StudyTexter then does not work with an open additional literature search, but with your uploaded sources and, if available, the sources from your reference list.
Important: a reference list is no guarantee that every entry can be found. If you want to rely only on specific sources, upload every important source as a complete file and mark it as Source.
Citation style
Citation style defines the format of references in the text and bibliography. Examples include APA, Harvard, Chicago or a German citation style. If your university specifies a style, exactly that style should be selected here.
Page numbers in in-text citations add page references when page numbers are available. The option "cf." for indirect citations appears for German papers and affects paraphrases.
Impact on the next steps
The citation style is carried into Full text & Export later and can still be changed there as often as needed.
Visualizations
In the app, you can enable four types: Tables, Diagrams, Data charts and Source figures. The text field for visualization preferences is useful for notes such as "more tables than figures" or "about 3-5 tables and 2-3 figures overall".
Each visualization is generated with a description, source where applicable and additional information. This lets you understand how the visualization enriches the paper.
Impact on the next steps
Selected visualizations are later generated or taken from sources and assigned to chapters. In the Content review step, you can inspect them more closely and decide which visualizations should be included in the full text.
Writing style
Writing style is optional, but very helpful when you have concrete preferences. Examples include gender-neutral wording, no first-person voice or specific terms that should be used.
Impact on the next steps
StudyTexter follows these notes and also uses the style of your own input as orientation. The more precise your description, the better the AI can apply it.
How the AI uses your Settings
The AI uses your Settings as the binding frame. They connect your content from Free-form input and File upload with the formal rules under which the rest of the workflow should run.
- Basic data controls academic level, terminology and regional framing.
- Scope controls depth, length and the planning frame of the paper.
- Sources & research decides whether external literature is searched.
- Citation style affects in-text references and the bibliography.
- Visualizations can create tables, diagrams, data charts or source figures.
- Writing style influences wording, perspective and phrasing.
Do not forget to save!
After making changes, confirm them with the Save button before moving to the next step.