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Test a flow

Objective. Walk every intended conversation branch in the simulator and verify the path, variables, and conditions before anyone uses the live bot.

Prerequisites

  • A bot with at least one connected path from the built-in Start node.
  • An editable flow containing the messages, choices, questions, or conditions you want to test.
  • No WhatsApp number, WABA, or Meta credentials.

Open and start the simulator

  1. 1Open the bot editor. If the right-hand sidebar is collapsed, expand the Inspect and Test sidebar, then choose Test.
  2. 2In Test your bot, type any message and send it. The simulator starts the flow and renders the resulting customer conversation.
  3. 3Respond the way a customer would: type an answer for a Question node, tap a Buttons quick reply, or open a List and choose a row. The simulator can also send a test photo, location, or sample order for flows that use those inputs.

Walk every branch and inspect state

  1. 1Follow the happy path first. Then choose Reset simulator and repeat the run for every menu option and fallback path.
  2. 2For a Condition node, try input that should satisfy each rule and input that should reach Else. A Question stores its response under its configured variable, and a Set Variable node can change variables during the run.
  3. 3Open the Debug panel to inspect Position, Call stack, Variables, and Trace. Confirm the saved variable values before deciding whether a condition is configured correctly.
  4. 4Leave highlight on canvas enabled to see the executed nodes and exact edges from the accumulated test run on the canvas. Turn it off only when you want to inspect the unhighlighted flow.

Expected result

Expected result. Each intended input reaches the expected response or handoff, the Debug panel shows the expected variables and trace, and the canvas shows the path the simulator traversed. All of this happens without a live WhatsApp number or Meta setup.

Common errors

The simulator does not produce a first reply.
Send any message to begin, then verify that Start is connected to the first usable node in the active flow.
A condition takes the wrong branch.
Open the Debug panel and inspect Variables. Then compare the stored value with the Condition node Variable and Rules, including its Else path.
I cannot see the path on the canvas.
Enable highlight on canvas in the Debug panel. The canvas only marks nodes and edges when that option is on.
I think I need to connect WhatsApp before I can test.
You do not. The simulator runs the flow directly, so no Meta account, WABA, or WhatsApp number is needed.

Related guides

Getting startedWhat Fluenta is, what you need, and the shortest path from empty workspace to a tested flow.Create your first botStart from a template or a blank canvas and build a working greeting-to-handoff flow.Publish and versionShip an immutable, versioned snapshot of your flows to your connected number.