> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.alysium.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Test your agent while you build

> Try questions in the builder before sharing and after changes. The preview uses credits, and you can compare replies in a fresh conversation.

Try real questions in the builder before sharing your agent, and after changing its instructions, knowledge or skills. The builder preview is a working conversation and uses credits. You do not need to publish the agent to try it there.

Keep a few actual source facts ready so you can compare the answer with what the agent should know. A successful test can reveal whether a particular answer is useful; it does not guarantee that every future answer will be correct.

**Already in the builder chat preview?** Continue with [Ask a question your source answers](#ask-a-question-your-source-answers).

## Open the preview

1. Open [Home](https://app.alysium.ai/spaces).
2. Select the intended agent.
3. Open **Build**.
4. Open **Settings**.
5. On a narrow layout, select **Chat Preview**.
6. Continue with [Ask a question your source answers](#ask-a-question-your-source-answers).

On a wide screen, the chat preview can appear beside the settings. Home opens your active space, where you choose the agent. If it asks you to sign in, sign in. Open Home again if needed.

For colors, menus and visitor appearance, use [Preview your widget](https://docs.alysium.ai/design-your-widget/preview-your-widget.md) to inspect the separate Design preview.

## Ask a question your source answers

Choose a question your real source material answers, and read the source first. For that knowledge test, confirm that the source is attached to the agent and shows **Ready**.

For a fictional shop agent with `Customer questions.md` attached, you might ask: “What should I bring when asking about a return?” If your real source says unused products and a receipt, those are the facts to look for. The fictional example does not establish your shop's return policy.

1. Enter the question in the preview's message box.
2. Send the message.
3. Wait for the reply.
4. Read the full answer and any source details.
5. Compare the answer with the source.

The conversation does not need a separate Save action.

## Try a gap and a follow-up

Ask about a fact your notes do not contain, such as a delivery date when no delivery information was supplied. Check whether the agent follows the knowledge behavior and instructions you chose, rather than inventing a business promise.

Then try a normal follow-up and check whether the wording is clear in context. For a clean comparison after changing the setup, [start a fresh conversation](#compare-in-a-fresh-conversation).

## Compare in a fresh conversation

Let any changed setting finish saving before you compare answers. **New conversation** is available when the preview has messages and the current reply has finished. If the preview is already empty, continue with [Ask a question your source answers](#ask-a-question-your-source-answers).

1. Wait for the current reply to finish.
2. Open the plus menu in the preview's message box, labelled **Add context or attachments**.
3. Select **New conversation**.
4. Check that the preview has reset.
5. Repeat the same test question using [Ask a question your source answers](#ask-a-question-your-source-answers).

## Use the result to choose a correction

| What you see | What to check |
| - | - |
| A missing source fact | **Attached knowledge** and the file's **Ready** state. See [Why your agent can't find something](https://docs.alysium.ai/knowledge-and-library/why-your-agent-cant-find-something.md). |
| Unsupported claims | **Behavior** and **Agent Instructions**. See [Control how your agent uses its knowledge](https://docs.alysium.ai/knowledge-and-library/control-how-your-agent-uses-its-knowledge.md). |
| An answer stopping halfway through | **Max Length**. |
| A blocked chat with a plan or usage notice | Follow that notice before repeatedly resending. See [Billing and usage messages](https://docs.alysium.ai/help/billing-and-usage-messages.md). |

Change the relevant setting, let it save, then try the original question again. The useful result is an answer you compared with a source, or a specific correction to investigate. A friendly greeting alone does not confirm the knowledge is ready.

When the agent explains its intended material clearly, [preview your widget](https://docs.alysium.ai/design-your-widget/preview-your-widget.md) to inspect the visitor experience. Use [Make your agent live](https://docs.alysium.ai/share-and-deploy/make-your-agent-live.md) when you are ready to publish.


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