Introduction to profiles

Interaction Host Recorder is primarily a tool for building and editing host profiles, the scripts that allow handlers to send and receive data from a host session. This topic offers an overview of one profile building method, but once you are familiar with the process you can perform these steps in a different order.

Before you begin

Before you can begin creating host profiles make sure you have login and password information that the handlers will need to connect with the host.

1. Configure the connection properties
   
   Before you can start a host session you must configure connection properties such as host address, type, and several more. The online help for the Connection dialog explains the options. Once properly configured, you can connect to the host and open the first screen.

2. Define the screen
   
   After connecting, you should define the current screen. You must name the current screen before you can create validation rules, user defined fields, or transitions. Handlers cannot act upon screens that are not defined.

3. Create validation rules for the new screen
   
   Validation rules are the distinguishing characteristics of a specific named screen. You can define a screen by its screen ID, the appearance of certain text in a certain location, or several other characteristics. The online help for the Validation Rules list explains the different kinds of validation rules.

4. Creating user defined fields
   
   User defined fields are the areas on the screen where handlers can read and write information. There are eight types of user defined fields that allow you to define a set of coordinates, or a position relative to some other element on the screen. The online help for User Defined Fields explains your options. You can create user defined fields on any named screen.

5. Creating Transitions
   
   After defining one or more screens and setting the validation rules for those screens, you will probably want to create transitions between the screens. Transitions are the collection of instructions (transition commands) used to move from one screen to another. Interaction Host Recorder has a recording feature that allows you to automatically record transitions, or you can create and edit them manually.

6. Publishing Host Profiles
   
   When your host profile contains the defined screens, user defined fields, and transitions that you need, you can publish the host profile to the Host Server. The Host tools in handlers can then tell the Host server to run the profiles and perform one or more transitions within the host profile.