Help Desk Guide for Message Simulator
Last updated: Dec 23, 2024•7 min read
Test your messaging workflows with our mobile simulator
The Message Simulator allows you to test and validate your messaging workflows in a safe environment before sending messages to real users. You can see exactly how your messages will appear and test your assistant's responses in real-time.
Step 1: Assistant Details
Configure the basic settings for your test message:
Assistant Name *
- Description: Select the assistant that will handle the conversation in the simulator.
- Purpose: Choose the AI assistant you want to test. This determines which knowledge base, personality, and settings will be used during the simulation.
- How to use: Click the dropdown and select from your available assistants. This field is required.
Phone Number *
- Description: Enter the sender's phone number for this message.
- Purpose: This is the phone number that will appear as the sender in the simulation. It should match one of your configured phone numbers.
- How to use: Enter the complete phone number including country code. This field is required.
Delivery Channel *
- Description: Select the messaging channel you want to test.
- Purpose: Choose between WhatsApp, SMS, or other available channels. This ensures your test reflects the actual delivery method you'll use.
- How to use: Select your preferred delivery channel from the dropdown. This field is required.
Step 2: Select Simulator Type
Choose how you want to test your message:
Simulator Only
- Description: Test messages only within the browser simulator interface.
- Purpose: This option allows you to see how messages will appear and test your assistant's responses without sending anything to an actual device.
- Best for: Quick testing, validating message formatting, and checking assistant responses before going live.
Simulator to Phone Number
- Description: Send test messages to both the simulator and a real phone number.
- Purpose: This option sends messages to an actual device in addition to showing them in the simulator, allowing you to test the full end-to-end experience.
- Best for: Final testing before deployment, verifying delivery on actual devices, and testing notifications.
Step 3: Sending Message
Compose and send your test message:
Message *
- Description: Enter the text message you want to send to the assistant.
- Purpose: This is where you type the message that will trigger your assistant's response. You can test different scenarios, questions, or commands.
- How to use: Type your message in the text area. This field is required. You can test different types of messages:
- General questions
- Specific requests
- Edge cases or unusual inputs
- Commands or keywords
Send Text Message Button
- Description: Click this button to send your test message.
- Purpose: Initiates the message sending process and displays the assistant's response in the simulator.
- Result: The message will appear in the mobile simulator on the right, and you'll see your assistant's response in real-time.
Understanding the Simulator Display
The mobile phone simulator on the right side of the screen shows:
- Contact Header: Shows "Simulated Response" as the contact name with an "online" status indicator
- Encryption Notice: "Messages are end-to-end encrypted" appears at the top
- Message Thread: Your messages and the assistant's responses appear in chronological order
- Message Input: Shows the standard WhatsApp-style message input interface
- Real-time Updates: Responses appear instantly as if you were chatting with a real assistant
Best Practices for Testing
- Test Multiple Scenarios: Try various types of questions and requests to ensure your assistant handles all use cases
- Start with Simulator Only: Use the simulator-only mode for initial testing before sending to real devices
- Check Formatting: Verify that your messages display correctly with proper spacing, links, and special characters
- Test Edge Cases: Try unusual inputs, long messages, or unexpected questions to see how your assistant responds
- Validate Before Production: Always test thoroughly in the simulator before deploying to real users
- Document Issues: Keep track of any problems you discover during testing so you can address them
💡 Tip: The Message Simulator is a powerful tool for validating your assistant's behavior. Use it frequently during development and whenever you make changes to your assistant's knowledge base or settings.