> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hubspotcards.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Preview and publish

> Check the card, understand the pre-publish check, and put a version live in HubSpot.

# Preview and publish

Preview is your functional check. Publishing is the action that creates an immutable version and makes it live.

## What the preview shows

The preview uses the same interpretation layer as the HubSpot runtime and maps the plan to the same HubSpot components. Use it to check:

* width and order in the chosen placement;
* dynamic texts and formatting;
* visibility rules;
* input fields and validation messages;
* steps, Back/Continue/Submit, and required fields;
* panels, accordions, and repeaters;
* buttons and user feedback.

The preview may use demo data. So also check a published card on a representative HubSpot record before rolling it out broadly.

## The pre-publish check

The publish dialog summarizes the number of building blocks, the object, the placement, data sources, rules, buttons, and any steps. The pre-publish check verifies, among other things:

* that there is at least one building block;
* that all required fields and values exist;
* that data sources and dynamic values are consistent;
* that the building blocks are allowed in the placement;
* that input rules, actions, and steps are consistent;
* that the card stays within the size, count, and nesting limits.

You cannot publish until all validation errors are resolved.

## Publish a version

1. Wait for **Saved**.
2. Select **Publish**.
3. Check the summary and the pre-publish check.
4. Select **Continue**.
5. Confirm the chosen placement and the objects.
6. Select **Publish now**.

Card Studio saves the draft, creates the next version number, and moves the live pointer to the new version. HubSpot shows the change automatically the next time the card loads.

## When another card is already live

Two cards cannot be live in the same combination of placement and object within the organization. If another card occupies one of the slots, the publish is rejected with the name of the existing card.

Go to the dashboard, select **Take offline** on the existing card, and then publish the new one. If you need both cards, they must use different placements or non-overlapping objects.

## After publishing

The draft and the live version are still two different things. You can keep editing the draft without affecting HubSpot. Select **Publish** again when the changes should go live.

See [Draft, live, versions, and offline](/cards/lifecycle) for rollback and operations.