Telegram

The best messenger

What is Telegram

Telegramarrow-up-right is a messenger that allows for the creation of advanced chatbots. Let's explore how you can create a Telegram bot using Directual.

Directual–Telegram basics

Step 1. Create a bot

Open the messenger and go to the BotFatherarrow-up-right and type /newbot

Secret token is red. Here on the screenshot it is masked partially :)

The BotFather will give you an HPPT API secret token (the red one).

Step 2. Connect your bot to the app

Go to Directual app, Plugins section → Telegram , insert the secret token you copied and click Install.

Step 3. Find Telegram structures in Directual

Go to Database section, Integrations/Telegram folder (it appears automatically). Here you will find five data structures:

  • Incoming Telegram messages (system name TMessageIn). Stores all messages that users have sent to the bot.

  • Outcoming Telegram messages (system name TMessageOut). Stores all messages that the bot have sent to users.

  • Users Telegram (system name TUser). Stores Users who have sent messages to the bot.

  • Chats Telegram (system name TChat). Stores Chat-objects. That is the object which is used by scenario Telegram step as a 'destination'.

  • Keyboards Telegram (Legacy) (system name TKeyboard).

Also, a webhook for receiving Telegram messages has been added, and a new System scenario Parse incoming telegram messages has appeared (do not edit them!).

Step 4. Test the integration and investigate TMessageIn structure

Type something to the bot! Send a picture, a file, or location details. Then check the TMessageIn structure.

Different messages are being sent to the bot

Let's have a look at new objects which appeared in TMessageIn!

The clue field for text messages is text — it contains the message. Also there is information referring to images, files and locations.

circle-info

Information about files and images are stored as Telegram file IDs, further in this manual we'll figure out how to download and process them.

Step 5. Creating a simple scenario

Create a new scenario, which triggers new objects in TMessageIn structure. (See scenarios documentation):

Put the Telegram step in scenario and configure it as follows (don't forget to publish and run the scenario):

The bot will behave as follows:

Check out some useful techniques for building Telegram bots with Directual

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