Test a storyboard

Whenever you modify a storyboard, you might want to view the resulting animation. You can run your storyboard in Design view of Microsoft Expression Blend, or you can run your application (F5) to view your storyboard. Use the following table to decide which way is most useful for you:

Test the storyboard in Design view

Test the storyboard in your application

You can test any storyboard, even one that is triggered by a user action. However, you cannot test that the trigger initiates the storyboard. For that functionality, you must test the storyboard in your application. You can instantly test any part of your storyboard by scrubbing the timeline, and you can make changes, without having to switch between windows. You cannot test the repeat behavior of sections of the storyboard (between simple keyframes) or the repeat behavior the whole storyboard. When you press the Play button, you will see the storyboard play only once.

If the storyboard runs because of a trigger, you can verify that the trigger initiates the storyboard and see how the storyboard behaves in your application. If your storyboard does not appear until you have navigated through your application, or if your storyboard is triggered by a complex set of actions, it can be tedious to test your storyboard by running your application. You can test the repeat behavior of sections of the storyboard (between simple keyframes) or the repeat behavior of the whole storyboard.

To test a storyboard in Design view

1. Select the storyboard from the Storyboard picker by clicking the Open a Storyboard button  under Objects and Timeline, and then selecting the storyboard.

   Note

   If your storyboard is a part of a style or control template, you will have to open the style or control template to access the storyboard. For more information, see Create or edit a control template or Edit a style.

2. Using the playback controls above the timeline window, do one of the following:

   • To move to the first frame in the animation, click the Go to first frame button.

     Note

     The name of the button appears when your pointer pauses over the button.

   • To move back a frame, click the Go to previous frame button.

   • To play an animation, click the Play button.

   • To move forward a frame, click the Go to next frame button.

   • To move to the last frame in the animation, click the Go to last frame button.

   Playback controls under Objects and Timeline

   

To test a storyboard by running your application

• With your project open in Expression Blend, click Test Project on the Project menu or press F5. If the test build is successful, your project automatically opens in an application window and you can verify whether your animation behaves correctly.

See also

Concepts

Test the interactivity of triggers

Controlling when your storyboard runs