If you use the paper clip on the end of a thread or needle at the end of a thread, you may see your pendulum appear to vibrate slightly. I have no idea what makes that happen, but it was my experience so you may get similar results. It looks a little spooky if you're not used to it. When I started I didn't expect this to happen. Unless you have a good reason to do that vice versa I don't recommend it.
Programming is nothing complex, it's just a way of establishing yes and no answers.
After you get your pendulum to answer simple questions accurately many times then you are ready to start dowsing messages from the spirit world. I recommend a trial period before doing any serious dowsing. I only think that this will work for all people, I don't know it will work. Don't let yourself get too anxious to get started right away dowsing entire messages. The trial period is for your own benefit.