# Skype Custom Messages and Message Templates In this guide: 1. [Intro](#intro) 2. [Text messages](#text-messages) 3. [Emoticon messages](#emoticon-messages) 4. [Photo messages](#photo-messages) 5. [Carousel messages](#carousel-messages) 1. [Hero](#hero-messages) 2. [Thumbnail](#thumbnail-messages) 3. [Receipt](#receipt-messages) 6. [Button types](#button-types) 7. [Typing messages](#typing-messages) 8. [Handling errors](#handling-errors) ## Intro Skype Template Message builder allows you to generate more complex messages for Skype Messenger without writing JSON files manually. To use it, just require `skypeTemplate` function from _Claudia Bot Builder_: ```javascript const skypeTemplate = require('claudia-bot-builder').skypeTemplate; ``` `skypeTemplate` exports an object that contains multiple classes that allows you to generate different types of structured messages for Skype: - Photo - Carousel Carousel class gives you ability to add Hero, Thumbnail and Receipt messages. See more here: https://docs.botframework.com/en-us/skype/getting-started/#cards-and-buttons ## Text messages If you simply want to answer with the text you can just return text. And if you want your messages Markdown or XML support, use this API. ### API `Text` (class) - Class that allows you to build a text messages. _Arguments:_ - text, string (required) - message you want to send - format, string (optional) - `plain`, `markdown` or `xml`. default is `plain`. ### Methods | Method | Required | Arguments | Returns | Description | | ------------------------ | -------- | ---------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | get | Yes | No arguments | Formatted JSON to pass as a reply | Get method is required and it returns a formatted JSON that is ready to be passed as a response to Skype Messenger | ### Example ```javascript const botBuilder = require('claudia-bot-builder'); const skypeTemplate = botBuilder.skypeTemplate; module.exports = botBuilder(message => { if (message.type === 'skype') return new skypeTemplate.Text('**HELLO**!', 'markdown').get(); }); ``` more markdown or XML syntax, refer to: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/bot-framework/rest-api/bot-framework-rest-connector-create-messages ## Emoticon messages Skype doesn't have specific API method for sending emoticons. If you want to send emoticon, just retun a string with emoticon shortcut. You can find list of emoticons and shortcuts here: https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA12330/what-is-the-full-list-of-emoticons ## Photo messages Photo attachment allows you to send images. ### API `Photo` (class) - Class that allows you to build a photo messages. _Arguments:_ - photo, base64 string URL (required) - a base64 encoded image. ### Methods | Method | Required | Arguments | Returns | Description | | ------------------------ | -------- | ---------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | get | Yes | No arguments | Formatted JSON to pass as a reply | Get method is required and it returns a formatted JSON that is ready to be passed as a response to Skype Messenger | ### Example ```javascript const botBuilder = require('claudia-bot-builder'); const skypeTemplate = botBuilder.skypeTemplate; module.exports = botBuilder(message => { if (message.type === 'skype') return new skypeTemplate.Photo('data:image/png;base64,...').get(); }); ``` ## Carousel messages Carousel class allows you to send cards and buttons. ### API `Carousel` (class) - Class that allows you to build carousel with Skype cards and buttons. _Arguments:_ - summary, string (optional) - a caption summary. - text, integer (optional) - an optional text. ### Methods | Method | Required | Arguments | Returns | Description | | ------------------------ | -------- | ---------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | addHero | No | See [Hero](#hero-messages) | `this` for chaining | Hero card | | addThumbnail | No | See [Thumbnail](#thumbnail-messages) | `this` for chaining | Thumbnail card | | addReceipt | No | See [Receipt](#receipt-messages) section | `this` for chaining | Receipt card | | get | Yes | No arguments | Formatted JSON to pass as a reply | Get method is required and it returns a formatted JSON that is ready to be passed as a response to Skype Messenger | ### Example ```javascript const botBuilder = require('claudia-bot-builder'); const skypeTemplate = botBuilder.skypeTemplate; module.exports = botBuilder(message => { if (message.type === 'skype') return new skypeTemplate.Carousel('summary', 'text') .addHero(['http://lorempixel.com/400/200/']) .addThumbnail(['http://lorempixel.com/400/200/']) .addReceipt('$100') .get(); }); ``` ## Hero messages Hero message requires Carousel class to be initialized. ### API `addHero` (method) - Method that allows you to build Hero messages with optional images and buttons. _Arguments:_ - images, array (required) - an array of urls of images. ### Methods | Method | Required | Arguments | Returns | Description | | ------------------------ | -------- | ---------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | addTitle | No | title (string, required, title for Hero) | `this` for chaining | Adds title on Hero message | | addSubtitle | No | subtitle (string, required, subtitle for Hero) | `this` for chaining | Adds subtitle on Hero message | | addText | No | text (string, required, text for Hero) | `this` for chaining | Adds text on Hero message | | addButton | No | title (string, required, title of button), value (string, required, value of button), type (string, required, [Button types](#button-types)) | `this` for chaining | Adds button on Hero message | | get | Yes | No arguments | Formatted JSON to pass as a reply | Get method is required and it returns a formatted JSON that is ready to be passed as a response to Skype Messenger | ### Example ```javascript const botBuilder = require('claudia-bot-builder'); const skypeTemplate = botBuilder.skypeTemplate; module.exports = botBuilder(message => { if (message.type === 'skype') return new skypeTemplate.Carousel() .addHero(['http://lorempixel.com/400/200/']) .addTitle('New Hero') .addSubtitle('Our new Hero') .addText('Some description') .addButton('Hi', 'hello', 'imBack') .addButton('Other button', 'hello again', 'imBack') .get(); }); ``` ## Thumbnail messages Thumbnail message requires Carousel class to be initialized. ### API `addThumbnail` (method) - Method that allows you to build Thumbnail messages with optional images and buttons. _Arguments:_ - images, array (required) - an array of urls of images. ### Methods | Method | Required | Arguments | Returns | Description | | ------------------------ | -------- | ---------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | addTitle | No | title (string, required, title for Thumbnail) | `this` for chaining | Adds title on Thumbnail message | | addSubtitle | No | subtitle (string, required, subtitle for Thumbnail) | `this` for chaining | Adds subtitle on Thumbnail message | | addText | No | text (string, required, text for Thumbnail) | `this` for chaining | Adds text on Thumbnail message | | addButton | No | title (string, required, title of button), value (string, required, value of button), type (string, required, [Button types](#button-types)) | `this` for chaining | Adds button on Thumbnail message | | get | Yes | No arguments | Formatted JSON to pass as a reply | Get method is required and it returns a formatted JSON that is ready to be passed as a response to Skype Messenger | ### Example ```javascript const botBuilder = require('claudia-bot-builder'); const skypeTemplate = botBuilder.skypeTemplate; module.exports = botBuilder(message => { if (message.type === 'skype') return new skypeTemplate.Carousel() .addThumbnail(['http://lorempixel.com/400/200/']) .addTitle('New Thumbnail') .addSubtitle('Our new Thumbnail') .addText('Some description') .addButton('Hi', 'hello', 'imBack') .addButton('Other button', 'hello again', 'imBack') .get(); }); ``` ## Receipt messages Receipt message requires Carousel class to be initialized. ### API `addReceipt` (method) - Method that allows you to build Receipt messages with optional items and facts. _Arguments:_ - total, string (required) - total value. - tax, string (required) - tax value. - vat, string (required) - vat value. ### Methods | Method | Required | Arguments | Returns | Description | | ------------------------ | -------- | ---------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | addTitle | No | title (string, required, title for Receipt) | `this` for chaining | Adds title on Receipt message | | addSubtitle | No | subtitle (string, required, subtitle for Receipt) | `this` for chaining | Adds subtitle on Receipt message | | addText | No | text (string, required, text for Receipt) | `this` for chaining | Adds text on Receipt message | | addFact | No | key (string, required, key for Fact), value (string, required, value for Fact) | `this` for chaining | Adds fact on Receipt message | | addItem | No | title (string, optional), subtitle (string, optional), text (string, optional), price (string, optional), quantity (string, optional), image (string, optional), | `this` for chaining | Adds item to Receipt message | | addButton | No | title (string, required, title of button), value (string, required, value of button), type (string, required, [Button types](#button-types)) | `this` for chaining | Adds button on Receipt message | | get | Yes | No arguments | Formatted JSON to pass as a reply | Get method is required and it returns a formatted JSON that is ready to be passed as a response to Skype Messenger | ### Example ```javascript const botBuilder = require('claudia-bot-builder'); const skypeTemplate = botBuilder.skypeTemplate; module.exports = botBuilder(message => { if (message.type === 'skype') return new skypeTemplate.Carousel() .addReceipt('100') .addTitle('New Thumbnail') .addSubtitle('Our new Thumbnail') .addText('Some description') .addFact('factKey', 'I am fact') .addItem('Some item', 'I am some item', 'My description', '20', '5', 'http://lorempixel.com/400/200/') .addButton('Hi', 'hello', 'imBack') .addButton('Other button', 'hello again', 'imBack') .get(); }); ``` ## Typing messages Typing message allows you to send typing event from chat bot. ### API `Typing` (class) - Class that allows you to build a Typing message. ### Methods | Method | Required | Arguments | Returns | Description | | ------------------------ | -------- | ---------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | get | Optional | No arguments | Formatted JSON to pass as a reply | Get method is required and it returns a formatted JSON that is ready to be passed as a response to Skype Messenger | ### Example ```javascript const botBuilder = require('claudia-bot-builder'); const skypeTemplate = botBuilder.skypeTemplate; module.exports = botBuilder(message => { if (message.type === 'skype') return new skypeTemplate.Typing(); }); ``` ## Button types Skype buttons have specific types for the function they are supposed to do. Bellow is the table with the types and explanations: ### API `addButton` (method) - Method that allows you to add a button. _Arguments:_ - title, string (required) - text caption on button. - value, string (required) - type, string (required) - look table below. | Type | Explanation | |------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | openUrl | Open given url in the built-in browser. | | imBack | Post message to bot, so all other participants will see that was posted to the bot and who posted this. | | postBack | Post message to bot privately, so other participants inside conversation will not see that was posted. | | playAudio | Playback audio container referenced by url. | | playVideo | Playback video container referenced by url. | | showImage | Show image referenced by url. | | downloadFile | Download file referenced by url. | | signin | Signin button. | ### Example ```javascript const botBuilder = require('claudia-bot-builder'); const skypeTemplate = botBuilder.skypeTemplate; module.exports = botBuilder(message => { if (message.type === 'skype') return new skypeTemplate.Carousel('summary') .addReceipt('$100') .addButton('go to google!', 'https://www.google.com', 'openUrl') .get(); }); ``` ## Handling errors Skype Template Message builder checks if messages you are generating are following Skype guidelines and limits, in case they are not an error will be thrown. _Example:_ Calling `new skypeTemplate.Carousel().addHero('imageUrl')` where's `image` passed as string instead of array will throw `Images should be sent as array for the Skype Hero template` error. All errors that Claudia bot builder's skypeTemplate library is throwing can be found [in the source code](../lib/skype/format-message.js). Errors will be logged in Cloud Watch log for your bot.