Ask URL

Overview

The Ask URL action prompts users to provide a URL in response during a WhatsApp chatbot interaction. This action is useful for collecting website links, document URLs, or any web-based resource. You can specify validations, handle errors, and store the response in a bot variable for later use.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Compose Your Message:

   • Enter the message that will prompt the user to provide a URL. This message can be up to 4096 characters.

   • Enhance the message with text formatting to make it clearer:

     • Bold: Select the text and click the "B" button to enclose it in double asterisks (*).

     • Italic: Highlight the text and click the "I" button to enclose it in underscores (_).

     • Strikethrough: Select the text and click the "s" button to enclose it in tildes (~).

   • Add emojis by clicking on the emoji icon to make the message more engaging.

2. Adding Variables:

   • Insert variables by clicking on the "Add Variables" button. This allows you to personalize the message with dynamic content, like the user's name or other relevant data. Tip: Make sure the variable you select has valid data to avoid unexpected outputs.

3. Error Handling:

   • Error Attempt: Define the number of attempts a user can make to provide a valid URL. If the user sends anything other than a URL (such as an image or text), this setting controls how many wrong inputs are allowed.

   • Error Message: Provide a message to alert the user when they have entered an invalid URL. For example, "Please enter a valid URL starting with http:// or https://."

4. Action on Invalid Input:

   • End the Flow: If the user exceeds the maximum number of invalid attempts, the bot will stop the flow entirely, preventing further interaction.

   • Fall Back Flow: Trigger a different flow if the user fails to provide a valid URL after the allowed attempts.

   • Skip the Question: If the user continuously provides invalid inputs, the bot can skip this question and move on to the next action.

5. Store Response in a Variable (Optional):

   • You can save the user's URL response by selecting a bot variable from the dropdown menu. This allows you to retrieve the URL later in the flow. Example: Save the response in a variable user_url and access it using {variable.user_url}.

Examples

• Website URL Request: "Please provide the link to your website (e.g., https://yourwebsite.com)."

• Document Submission: "Please share the URL for your document."

FAQs

1. Can users input any type of link?

   • No, the bot expects a valid URL (starting with http:// or https://). Invalid inputs will trigger an error message.

2. What happens if the user provides a non-URL response?

   • The bot will follow the error handling procedure based on the number of attempts and either prompt again, end the flow, or skip to the next action.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Invalid URLs: If users consistently provide invalid URLs, make sure the message clearly states the expected format and prompts them to include http:// or https://.

• Too Many Invalid Attempts: Adjust the error attempt limit if users are frequently failing to provide valid inputs.