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Params

This page documents all the parameters that may be used in an Attribute. Parameters provide you with contextual detail or utility functions to base your decisions on and interact with the chatbot.

Overview​

The following table provides details about the parameters available for attributes. These parameters are accessible in all attributes, allowing dynamic behavior within your chatbot flows.

NameTypeAvailabilityDescription
userInputstringAll AttributesRepresents the user's input in the chat.
currPathstringAll AttributesRepresents the current path in the chat (can be null if conversation flow has not started).
prevPathstringAll AttributesRepresents the previous path in the chat (can be null if no previous path exists).
goToPathfunctionAll AttributesA utility function for navigating to another block.
injectMessageasync functionAll AttributesA utility function to inject a message into the chat.
streamMessageasync functionAll AttributesStreams a message into the chat. You can refer to the Real-Time Streaming example.
endStreamMessageasync functionAll AttributesEnds an existing message stream. You can refer to the Real-Time Streaming example.
removeMessageasync functionAll AttributesRemoves a message from the chat by message id.
setTextAreaValuefunctionAll AttributesSets a value directly within the text area.
showToastfunctionAll AttributesShows a toast that is dismissed after a duration or on user click.
dismissToastfunctionAll AttributesDismisses a toast by toast id.
openChatfunctionAll AttributesOpens or closes the chat component.
filesFileListOnly file AttributeRepresents the files uploaded by the user.
Caution

If you are using params.injectMessage, params.streamMessage, params.endStreamMessage or params.removeMessage, do remember that they are async and that without using await, behavior may be unexpected (e.g. multiple messages sent at once). This is a common pitfall!

Tip

Do consider checking out the live examples if you need more clarity on the usages of params.

Param Details​

Below is a detailed description on the usage of each parameter that may be used in an attribute.

userInput​

Description​

The last text area input submitted by the user.

Type​

string

Code Example​

start: {
  message: (params) => `This is what the user last said: ${params.userInput}!`
}

currPath​

Description​

The current path the user is in, can be null if the conversation flow has not started.

Type​

string | null

Code Example​

start: {
  message: (params) => `This is the user's current path: ${params.currPath}!`
}

prevPath​

Description​

The previous path the user came from, can be null if no previous path (e.g. start block).

Type​

string | null

Code Example​

start: {
  message: (params) => `This is the user's previous path: ${params.prevPath}!`
}

goToPath​

Description​

Sends the user to the specified path.

Type​

function

Parameters​

  • pathToGo (required): a string value representing the path to send the user to.

Code Example​

start: {
  message: (params) => {
    // some logic here
    params.goToPath("mystery_path");
  }
}

injectMessage​

Description​

Sends a message into the chat.

Type​

async function

Parameters​

  • content (required): a string or JSX.Element which is used as the content to send into the chat.
  • sender (optional): a string value representing the sender of the message (user or bot). Defaults to bot.

Code Example​

start: {
  message: (params) => {
    await params.injectMessage("Good morning from the bot!");
    await params.injectMessage(<div>Saying hi for the user!</div>, "user");
  }
}

streamMessage​

Description​

Streams a message into the chat. This works by replacing the last sent message from the sender with the content specified. For a detailed example on how to use this parameter, refer to the real-time stream example.

Type​

async function

Parameters​

  • content (required): a string or JSX.Element which is used as the content to send into the chat.
  • sender (optional): a string value representing the sender of the message (user or bot). Defaults to bot.

Code Example​

start: {
  message: (params) => {
    // take for example the text below is streamed in character by character
    const textToStream = "I'm just an example text"
    for (let i = 0; i < text.length; i++) {
        // this call replaces the last message sent by the bot with the new content
        await params.streamMessage(text.slice(0, i + 1));
    }
    // to end the stream once we're done streaming
    await params.endStreamMessage();
  }
}

endStreamMessage​

Description​

Ends the streaming of message into the chat - users should call this when done with params.streamMessage. Note that not calling params.endStreamMessage may cause chat history and the emitting of events to function incorrectly.

Type​

async function

Parameters​

  • sender (optional): a string value representing the sender to end the stream for (user or bot). Defaults to bot.

Code Example​

start: {
  message: (params) => {
    // take for example the text below is streamed in character by character
    const textToStream = "I'm just an example text"
    for (let i = 0; i < text.length; i++) {
        // this call replaces the last message sent by the bot with the new content
        await params.streamMessage(text.slice(0, i + 1));
    }
    // to end the stream once we're done streaming
    await params.endStreamMessage();
  }
}

removeMessage​

Description​

Removes a message from chat with the given message id.

Type​

async function

Parameters​

  • id (required): a string value representing the id of the message to remove.

Code Example​

start: {
  message: (params) => {
    await params.removeMessage("2e032ac4-b2bf-49e9-8897-706ad4dd214d");
  }
}

setTextAreaValue​

Description​

Sets a value inside the input text area.

Type​

function

Parameters​

  • value (required): a string value to set inside the input text area.

Code Example​

start: {
  message: (params) => {
    params.setTextAreaValue("This is the new input text area value!");
  }
}

showToast​

Description​

Shows a toast that lasts for a duration (if specified).

Type​

function

Parameters​

  • content (required): a string value representing the toast content to show.
  • timeout (optional): a number value representing the duration (in milliseconds) to show the toast for.

Code Example​

start: {
  message: (params) => {
    params.showToast("Hello there, I last for 3 seconds!", 3000);
  }
}

dismissToast​

Description​

Dismisses a toast with the given toast id.

Type​

function

Parameters​

  • id (required): a string value representing the id of the toast to remove.

Code Example​

start: {
  message: (params) => {
    params.dismissToast("fb8bf309-2a33-4683-955c-9e915768dadf");
  }
}

openChat​

Description​

Sets the chat window to be open or close.

Type​

function

Parameters​

  • isOpen (required): a boolean indicating if chat window should be set open.

Code Example​

start: {
  message: (params) => {
    params.openChat(true);
  }
}

files​

Description​

List of files uploaded by the user (only present in the file attribute).

Type​

FileList

Parameters​

  • None

Code Example​

start: {
  message: (params) => {
    params.openChat(true);
  }
}