# Trial mode and going live — a step-by-step guide

A new assistant always starts in trial mode: it reads the mail and writes drafts, but keeps them in draften. You go through them and, when you are happy, switch it to live — the drafts then wait right in your mailbox.

**Before you start**

- **An assistant in trial mode** — The Overview shows the pink band The assistant is in the trial mode.
- **A few days of mail** — Let the assistant work on trial for a while, so there is something to judge.

## Step 1 of 6: How you know the assistant is trying

On the screen: On the Overview, the pink band The assistant is in the trial mode. The trial mode label at the top of every page says the same.

Do this: In trial mode the assistant reads the mail and writes drafts, but keeps them in draften only. Nothing goes to your mailbox. Every new assistant starts like this.

## Step 2 of 6: Trial drafts

On the screen: Under the band, a card with the number of trial drafts.

Do this: This many replies the assistant wrote on trial. Click **Show the drafts** and go through them — they tell you whether the assistant is ready.

> Note: Trial drafts stay in draften, for you to look at. They do not go to the mail even after you go live; only drafts written after that do.

## Step 3 of 6: Go through the drafts

On the screen: In Drafts, the trial mode button and the list of drafts.

Do this: The **trial mode** button shows only the trial drafts. Open them one by one and read them as if you were about to send them: are the facts, the tone and the signature right?

> Note: When the same mistake keeps coming back, fix the knowledge or the instructions — The draft is wrong or invents things tells you which.

## Step 4 of 6: Check what the assistant skipped

On the screen: In Mail, the skipped button.

Do this: Click **skipped**. You see the mail the assistant wrote no draft for. Click a row to find out why.

> Note: It skipped mail you wanted answered? Adjust the Filter instruction. More in Why some mail gets no draft.

## Step 5 of 6: Switch to live

On the screen: In the band on the Overview, the Switch to live and Later buttons.

Do this: When you are happy with the drafts, click **Switch to live**. It switches at once, with no further confirmation; new drafts then wait right in your mailbox, in the Drafts folder.

> Note: **Later** hides the band only until your next visit. The assistant's owner and editors can switch.

## Step 6 of 6: Or in Settings

On the screen: In Settings → Behaviour and limits, the Trial mode tick box.

Do this: Untick **Trial mode** and click **Save** at the bottom. Ticking it again puts the assistant back into trial mode.

> Note: The change applies from the next mail check, within 5 minutes. When trial mode goes off, the mailbox owner gets an e-mail that the assistant is live.

**The assistant is live** — New drafts are now in your mailbox, in the Drafts folder. You always send them yourself.

- **Working with drafts** — The Drafts guide shows how to go through them and what their states mean.
- **Want to go back?** — Turn trial mode on again in Settings → Behaviour and limits.