bothub 0.1.30

Messaging

To send a message, use a self.send_message method with a message you want to send.

self.send_message('hello')

In most cases, you may omit user_id and channel arguments. Then it replies to whom sent a message to your bot. Put values to those arguments when you want to specify a receiver.

You can send a message with rich controls like ‘quick replies’ or ‘buttons’ using Message object.

from bothub_client.messages import Message

message = Message(event).add_quick_reply('Go ahead')\
                        .add_quick_reply('Never mind')\
                        .set_text('May I reserve the seat?')
self.send_message(message)

Message class provides these methods:

• set_text(text)

• add_url_button(text, url):

• add_postback_button(text, payload)

• add_quick_reply(text, payload=None, image_url=None)

• add_location_request(text)

• add_keyboard_button(text)

Storage

To store/retreive a property data, we provides following methods:

• Project level

  • self.set_project_data(data): set data to a project

  • self.get_project_data(key=None): get data from a project

• User level

  • self.set_user_data(data, user_id=None, channel=None): set user data

  • self.get_user_data(user_id=None, channel=None, key=None): get user data

data should be a dict. An existing properties not included in data will be ignored, not be deleted.

• If user_id and channel is None, it regarded as a message sender.

• When key is None, get whole dictionary will be returned. Otherwise, subtree of given key will be returned.

NLU Integeration

You can use nlu method to perform NLU after setup NLU integration at BotHub.Studio.

There are two styles to request to NLU service. (eg. to use API.ai)

First, use event object to construct message and session_id.

def handle_message(self, event, context):
    response = self.nlu('apiai').ask(event=event)
    self.send_message(response.next_message)

Or, put explicit message and session_id by yourself.

def handle_message(self, event, context):
    response = self.nlu('apiai').ask(message='hello', session_id='customer1')
    self.send_message(response.next_message)

If you want to use a language other than english, use lang keyword argument on ask() function.

ask method returns a NluResponse object which contains attributes like:

• raw_response: A raw response which NLU service returns.

• action: A NluAction class object to identify intent and required parameters.

• next_message: Next message text to respond NLU service recommend.

A NluAction object contains attributes like:

• intent: Intent name

• parameters: parameter dict

• completed: A boolean indicates whether action completed

For incompleted action, you need to reply to user with next_message attribute of a NluResponse instance to complete action.