As an integrated development tool, Bot Framework Composer supports validation of data when you author an .lg template, an .lu template, and expressions to fill in property fields. Error indicators will show in both inline editors and corresponding all-up views (Bot Responses and User Input). The Notifications page (click Notifications icon on the left navigation pane) displays an aggregation of all errors and warnings. With the help of linting and validation, your bot-authoring experience will be improved and you can easily build a functional bot that can "run".

Whenever you see Start Bot button in grey, this indicates your bot has errors that prevent it from running successfully.

The number beside the error icon indicates the number of errors. Click the error icon you will be navigated to the Notifications page listing all errors and warnings.

Click any of the errors on the Notifications page will navigate you to the matching error location. After you fix all the errors, you will see the Start Bot button in blue, this indicates your bot has no errors and it will run successfully.

.lg files

When you author an .lg template that has syntax errors, an indicator will show in the inline editor with a red wiggling line.

To diagnose and fix the error, you can read the error message beneath the editor and click here to refer to the syntax documentation. You can also hover your mouse over the erroneous part and read the detailed error message with suggested fixes.

Click Bot Responses on the left navigation pane, you will find the error is also saved and updated in the lg all-up view. The tiny red rectangle on the right end of the editor helps you to identify where the error is. This is especially helpful when you have a long list of templates. Hover your mouse over the erroneous part you will see detailed error message with suggested fixes.

.lu files

When you author an .lu template that has syntax errors, the entire lu inline editor will be in red frame. To diagnose and fix the error, you can read the error message beneath the editor and click here to refer to the syntax documentation.

Click User Input on the left navigation pane, you will see a popup window describing the lu error message.

Click Edit button you will see the error is also saved and updated in the lu all-up view. You can choose to fix the error either in the lu all-up view or in the inline editor.

Expressions

When you fill in property fields with invalid expressions or when a required property is missing, the entire form editor will be in red frame.

To diagnose and fix the error, you can read the error message beneath the editor and click here to refer to the syntax documentation.

Next

TBD