Creating and testing a static HDML deck

Although your HDML services will probably be scripts or programs that dynamically generate HDML, static HDML decks are useful for providing help text, menus, and other elements of your service's interface that don't change often. Static HDML files are also useful for conducting a "simplest case" test of the UP.Simulator.

To create and test a simple static HDML deck:

1. Use a text editor to create the HDML file.

For example, create a file containing the following HDML deck:

<HDML VERSION="3.0">
    <DISPLAY>
        Hello Unwired World!
    </DISPLAY>
</HDML>


The HDML language provides a line-by-line description of this deck.

Make sure you save the file as a text-only file and that you save it to a filename with an .hdml extension.

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IMPORTANT     Many Windows text editors, such as Notepad, automatically add a txt filename extension when you save a text-only file--even if you have already specified another filename extension, such as hdml. After you save your HDML file, make sure it only has the filename extension hdml, and not an extension like hdml.txt. If the extension is not correct, use Windows Explorer or a DOS window to change the filename extension after you have saved the file.

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2. Start the UP.Simulator.

The procedure for starting the UP.Simulator is described in Using the UP.Simulator.

3. In the Go field below the UP.Simulator menu bar, type the URL of the HDML file you created and press Enter (on your computer keyboard).

For example, if you saved the file to c:\mydeck.hdml, type the following URL in the Go field:

file://c:/mydeck.hdml

The UP.Simulator should display the card as shown in Figure 3-5.

FIGURE  3-5.     An HDML deck with a display card

If the UP.Simulator does not display the card correctly, there may be an error in the HDML. See the following section for instructions on checking UP.Simulator status messages.