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Migration to v2

Foreword​

The v2 beta release of React ChatBotify is now available! This update includes significant internal rewrites and changes. The objectives of this beta release are to:

  • Onboard users with the new changes early
  • Identify and fix any bugs
  • Gather feedback for improvements
  • Prepare the chatbot for a stable release
  • Lay the foundation for supporting plugins

Future beta releases are not expected to introduce further breaking changes, as all major changes have been consolidated into this first release. That said, kindly report any bugs encountered as soon as possible on discord or via github.

This migration guide is organized by the importance of the changes:

  • Breaking Changes (mandatory to address to prevent library breakage)
  • Concept Changes (optional but beneficial for improving your flow)
  • New Features (optional but potentially useful)
  • Summary (a concise list of changes for quick reference)

It is recommended to read in order, but for a quick upgrade, refer to the summary section.

Note: The documentation site now resides on react-chatbotify.com instead of react-chatbotify.tjtanjin.com

Breaking Changes​

In version 1, the focus was on making things work, ensuring features like audio behavior, mobile view, and message notifications functioned correctly.

In version 2, the focus shifts to making things right, improving design and presentation. This has inevitably introduced some breaking changes, but this short term hassle will see long term benefits for the maintenance and development of the chatbot. Breaking changes are outlined below.

Removed Styles from BotOptions​

Initially, the chatbot had fewer features, making BotOptions manageable. However, as it grew, separating styling logic from chatbot settings became necessary. Styles have been moved from BotOptions to a new styles prop.

Changes Required:

  • Remove all style sections from BotOptions and move them to the new styles prop (refer to new features)

Removed isOpen from BotOptions​

Up till now, the chat window state (open/close) of the chatbot has been tracked by the isOpen variable which was found within the chatbot's options (now settings) prop. Apart from this special variable, all that options contained were configuration sections. That said, isOpen always felt out of place and it's not great having to handle a special case as it breaks consistency. With the introduction of hooks, the chat window state can now be exposed via the useChatWindow hook and isOpen can finally be retired.

Changes Required:

  • Remove usage of isOpen variable found within the options (now settings) prop and use the useChatWindow hook if required

Removed react-chatbotify.css import​

Since v1.5.0, importing of react-chatbotify.css is no longer necessary. With v2, this is being enforced so remove any react-chatbotify.css imports from your codebase.

Changes Required:

  • Remove all imports of react-chatbotify.css

Renamed BotOptions to Settings​

The term BotOptions was previously used for the options prop, causing confusion with the options attribute in conversation blocks. To minimize the potential for confusion, BotOptions is now simply called Settings.

Changes Required:

  • Replace BotOptionsContext with SettingsContext
  • Replace Options (BotOptions) type with Settings type
  • Replace getDefaultBotOptions with getDefaultSettings

Renamed Theme Section to General Section​

In version 1, the theme section within options (now settings) configured generic properties. With the introduction of a themes prop in version 2, this section is now called general to avoid confusion.

Changes Required:

  • Replace theme section with general section inside settings prop

Renamed Render Attribute to Component Attribute​

The render is understandably poorly named and has been a source of confusion for some users who mistakenly tried using component instead. Indeed, the purpose of this attribute was to allow users to provide their own components. With that said, it felt appropriate to update the name of this attribute to component.

Changes Required:

  • Replace render attribute with component attribute inside all applicable conversation blocks

Moved and renamed sendAttachmentOutput to sendFileName​

In the past, controlling whether file names were sent into chat for file attachments was determined via sendAttachmentOutput within chatInput section. However, this was a poor fit, as there was a fileAttachment section where such an option would be more relevant. With the addition of showMediaDisplay, it is also more appropriate to standardize these properties with fileAttachment. sendAttachmentOutput has also been renamed to sendFileName which more clearly communicates its purpose.

Changes Required:

  • Remove sendAttachmentOutput property from chatInput section
  • Add sendFileName property to fileAttachment section

Internal Message Component Changes​

This change is more subtle, but has a slight chance of breaking custom components. In short, updates were made to standardize the rules for displaying avatars beside chat bubbles. Where there are no configuration changes required, the update resulted in small styling changes in the core library, in particular to the message container for all messages in the chatbot. For users who are using the render (now component) attribute, you are advised to test the chatbot to see if there are any visual changes that require styling updates.

Changes Required (for users using render (now component) attribute):

  • Test the chatbot to see if there are any visual changes that require updates to styling

Deepest apologies for this breaking change but standardizing the rules of showing avatar is important for delivering new features such as media display.

Advance Section Removed​

The advance section has been removed and replaced entirely by ChatBotProvider which exposes custom hooks. By moving to custom hooks, it is now possible to modify more than just settings, styles, messages and paths. It is now even possible to modify the text area, audio toggle, and toasts popup from outside the chatbot! The addition of custom hooks is covered here.

Changes Required:

  • Remove all instances of advance section from settings and move to custom hooks if required

Message Attributes Expanded and Required​

Previously, the Message attribute only had 2 required fields (sender and content). In v2, the Message attribute has been expanded to have 5 fields (sender, content, id, type and timestamp) with all of them being set as required. This should affect advanced users who were manipulating messages directly, but the advance section has since been replaced with hooks.

Changes Required:

  • move to custom hooks for direct manipulation of messages and include required fields

Concept Changes​

Conceptual changes do not break any existing features, functionalities or appearance, but they will aid your understanding in how the chatbot is designed and possibly help with your implementation.

Dynamic Attributes Dropped​

Previously, params (now AttributeParams) were used within predefined dynamic attributes. In version 2, all attributes can take AttributeParams, simplifying the process.

New Features​

With the v2 release, there are several new features that have been added, most of which are based on popular requests from users.

New Themes Prop​

With v2, there is now a themes prop available for users to browse and quickly customise their setup. You may browse themes on React ChatBotify Gallery as well as read up on the documentation or examples as well.

New Additions:

  • Added themes prop for quick customisation of chatbot

New Styles Prop​

Following the removal of styles from BotOptions, a new styles prop has been introduced for tweaking chatbot styles.

New Additions:

  • Added styles prop (essentially the style sections previously under BotOptions)
  • Added getDefaultStyles which provides an empty default list of styles

New Plugins Prop​

With v2, there is now a plugins prop available for users to import and load custom plugins. More information on plugins can be found here.

New Additions:

  • Added plugins prop for using custom plugins

New Hooks Feature​

In v2, it is now possible to interact with the chatbot in many ways (e.g. toggle audio) from within your own components. This is done via custom hooks provided by the chatbot. More information on hooks may be found here.

New Additions:

  • Added custom hooks that users can import to use in their components for interacting with the chatbot

New Events Feature​

In v2, the chatbot now emits custom events (e.g. RcbPreMessageInjectEvent). Users can add event listeners to listen and respond to these custom events. More information on events may be found here.

New Additions:

  • Added custom events that users can listen and respond to

A frequently requested feature, it is now possible to add custom buttons in the header, chat input, and footer. Furthermore, it is also possible to customize the order of the buttons as well as shift them across components of the chatbot. Want your file attachment button in the chat input component instead? No problem!

New Additions:

Path Control in Custom Components​

To simplify user routing with custom components, a new params.goToPath has been added, replacing the previous workaround of using advance custom paths.

New Additions:

  • Added params.goToPath to Params

Displaying Media with File Attachments​

It is now possible to show media display (preview) for file attachments that are either an image, video or audio via the showMediaDisplay property under the fileAttachment section.

New Additions:

Sending Voice Input as Audio File​

Voice inputs can now be configured to be sent as audio files via the sendAsAudio property under the voice section.

New Additions:

  • Added sendAsAudio property to voice section

Summary​

For a quick upgrade, follow these succinct instructions:

  • Move styles from BotOptions to the new styles prop.
  • Rename BotOptions to Settings, and adjust context and function names accordingly.
  • Utilize the new styles prop and getDefaultStyles.
  • Rename theme section to general section under settings (previously options).
  • Rename render attribute in blocks to component attribute.
  • Rename sendAttachmentOutput to sendFileName and move it from chatInput section to fileAttachment section.
  • Rename useAdvancedBotOptions to useAdvancedSettings in advance section under settings (previously options).
  • Test the chatbot for any visual changes (for those using custom components) and update styles if necessary.