## Install Inspector

Install Inspector with the installer provided for your Visual Components
version. Start Visual Components once so the installer can create or load the
user settings file, then close Visual Components before editing that file.

## Select a release channel

The installer reads `ReleaseChannel` from the user `Installer settings.json`
file and uses it when checking for Inspector updates.

* The stable release channel is the default. The default is represented by an
  empty or null `ReleaseChannel`; the shipped settings file uses `null`, which
  the installer treats as equivalent to `release`.
* The beta channel is a public release channel. Set `ReleaseChannel` to
  `"beta"` to use it.

**Important:** The beta channel may be behind the stable channel outside an
active beta. It receives updates only during active beta periods. When a beta
is released as stable, switch back to the stable/default setting if you want
stable releases.

## Follow the release channels

![Release history showing beta branching from Stable 2, receiving two beta updates, and merging into Stable 3](https://inspector.4111778.xyz/assets/captures/beta_release_flow.png)

The main branch represents the stable/default channel. The beta branch is
updated only during an active beta, so it can remain behind stable. After a
beta is released as stable, switch `ReleaseChannel` back to `null` to receive
later stable releases.

## Change the setting

1. Close Visual Components.
2. In File Explorer, open `shell:Personal`, then open:

   ```text
   Visual Components\5.1\Inspector\Installer settings.json
   ```

   This is the path documented for Visual Components 5.1. For another Visual
   Components version, use the corresponding product/version folder under your
   Documents product folder.

3. Set `ReleaseChannel` to one of these values:

   Stable/default:

   ```json
   {
     "ReleaseChannel": null
   }
   ```

   Beta:

   ```json
   {
     "ReleaseChannel": "beta"
   }
   ```

4. Save `Installer settings.json`.
5. Start Visual Components again. Inspector reads the setting and checks for
   an available update on the selected channel.

If the file is not present after installation, start Visual Components once,
close it, and repeat these steps.