8. Testing a Clip

Clip users and authors can update their Clip and preview the simulated result on Windows with the Test Clip feature. This way, Clip users do not have to sync a Clip file to the PDA every time they make changes to the Clip settings or the Clip Script.

When the Test Clip button is clicked, HandStory updates the Clip the same as HandStory Converter, and then displays the content in the Clip Preview screen to show how the Clip might look on a PDA. Users can also view the update log by clicking the View Log button in the Clip Preview window, enabling them to troubleshoot problems that occur during the Clip update process.

Users can use the Test Clip feature in two ways. One is by clicking the Test Clip button at the main window of HandStory Clip Editor. The other is by clicking the Test Clip button in the Edit Direct/Script Clip dialog box. See below for more information.

1. Test Clip in the Main Window

At the main window of HandStory Clip Editor, select a Clip from the list of Clips and click the Test Clip button. HandStory updates the Clip in real time and shows the updated result on the Clip Preview screen, which is sized to resemble a PDA screen. This method is useful when testing a Custom Clip received from another user before actually adding it to the list of Clips in HandStory Converter and syncing it to the handheld.

2. Test Clip While Editing It

When creating a new Direct/Script Clip or editing the Clip Script, the Test Clip feature can be very useful because users do not have to sync the updated Clip file to the PDA every time changes are made, but they can preview the result on Windows quickly and easily.

In the Edit Direct Clip dialog box or in the Edit Script Clip dialog box, make changes to the settings as needed and click the Test Clip button to update and preview the Clip.

• Testing a Script Clip
  
  1. After creating a new Script Clip or editing an existing Script Clip, click the Test Clip button in the Edit Script Clip dialog box.
  
  
  
  2. HandStory updates the Clip in real time according to the Clip Script rules.
  
  
  
  3. After the updating is over, the Clip Preview window opens. Because the screen size of this window is similar to that of most handhelds, users can see how the Clip would appear on the PDA without syncing and opening the Clip on the handheld.
  
  
  
  Note that the images in the preview result below are in 16 grayscale because the Clip's image setting was 16 grays.
  
  
  
  Note: Click the View Log button at the bottom of the Clip Preview window to see the Clip update log. If any problems occur while updating the Clip or in the preview result, users can check the detailed update log in this window and use the information to correct the errors.
  
  
  
   
• Test a Direct Clip
  
  1. After creating a new Direct Clip or editing an existing Direct Clip, click the Test Clip button in the Edit Direct Clip dialog box.
  
  
  
  2. HandStory updates the Clip in real time according to the settings selected by the user.
  
  
  
  3. After the update is finished, the Clip Preview window opens.
  
  
  
   
• Test a Login Script Clip

  1. After creating or editing a Login Script Clip, click the Test Clip button in the Edit Script Clip dialog box.
  
  2. A dialog box which asks the user ID and password for the clipping target Web site appears. If HandStory fails to log into the target Web site with the provided user ID and password, HandStory does not proceed with the Clip testing process. Click the Sign Up button to join the Web site.
  
  
  
  3. The rest of the Clip updating process is the same as that of the Script Clip.