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Overview

Interactive guides are step-by-step walkthroughs that help users navigate your application. Each guide consists of a series of steps that can include instructions, element highlighting, and automated actions.
All guides are automatically generated by AI — you don’t need to configure anything manually. The technical details below explain how guides work under the hood, helping you understand the system’s capabilities.

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Guide structure

A guide is defined by the following properties: 
interface Guide {
  id: string;          // Unique identifier for the guide
  name: string;        // Display name of the guide
  steps: Step[];       // Array of steps in the guide
  resumeData?: {       // Optional data for resuming guides
    currentStep: number;
    steps: Step[];
  };
}

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Guide triggers

Users can trigger guides by simply asking questions in the chat widget. The AI determines whether to provide a quick answer or create a visual guide. For example:
  • “How do I create a new project?”
  • “Can you show me how to update my profile picture?”
  • “I need help setting up my account”
Simple questions get instant answers through AI chat, while complex tasks trigger step-by-step guides. Learn more about AI chat.

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Step configuration

Each step in a guide contains: 
interface Step {
  id: string;          // Unique identifier for the step
  position: string;    // Position of the highlight/pointer
  instructions: string; // Text instructions for the user
  action?: Action;     // Optional action to perform
  page: string;        // Page/route where the step occurs
}

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Supported element interactions

Pointer can detect and interact with various UI elements:
  • Buttons
  • Links
  • Input fields
  • Lists
  • Tables
  • Media elements
  • Containers
  • Text elements
  • Navigation components
  • Dialogs
  • Tabs
  • Breadcrumbs
  • Icons
  • Progress indicators
  • Alerts
  • Accordions
  • Dropdowns
  • Sliders
  • Datepickers
  • Custom components

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User controls and feedback

Users are able to pause/resume guides, skip steps, and exit guides at any time. When a guide is completed, users can rate their experience by clicking 👍 or 👎, add comments about what worked or didn’t, and report any issues they encountered.

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Troubleshooting

In testing, we’ve noticed a few common issues that can occur during guide generation and execution:
  • Elements not found
  • Failed interactions
  • Navigation problems
  • Timing issues
Please contact us if you need help resolving persistent issues.