In the previous lesson, you learned how to get user input and re-use it as variables. Let's see now how the conversation can be steered in different directions based on variables.
Apart from being re-used inside the conversation itself, variables can help the bot steer the conversation in different directions, by using Condition blocks.
Step 8: Check a variable in a Condition block
Our Bee bot now asks if the user is new, then asks the user information.
We would like Bee to give a slightly different answer depending on if the user is new or returning. To do so, we’ll need a Condition block that checks a {userType} variable.
Condition blocks enable your bot to redirect the user to another block depending on the conditions of the session variables, following an if-then logic.
Get variables under button clicks
We’ll save a {userType} variable under button click of the Check user type block. This variable can have either the value returning or new.
To save a variable under a button click:
Open the Check user type block.
Under the first I’m new button, click on + Add a variable and create the variable userType.
Add the value new.
For the second button, do the same with the value returning.
Save your changes.
Now, when a user clicks on one of these buttons, the system will remember the {userType} variable. Let's utilize this variable within a Condition block.
Add a Condition block
We aim to create a Condition block that evaluates the {userType} variable and provides a different response based on its value.
To add a Condition block:
Open the Next block block.
Go to its Settings.
Change its Type to Condition.
You’ll get a warning message. Click Yes, change type.
Under Bot dialog name, change the block name to Route userType.
Go back to its configuration, and click on the + to add your first condition.
Fill in the block as follows, using the equal case insensitive operator:
If {userType} = new,
then Go to Send email new user. You can create this new block directly from the text field.
Else if {userType} = returning,
then Go to Send email returning user. You can create this new block directly from the text field.
Else:
Go to Error occurred.
The Error occurred block is a default block triggered when an API integration fails to complete a certain request, or when Chatlayer considers your bot to be blocked in a loop.
Your window should look like this:
Save your changes.
Your canvas looks a bit messy now, and that’s totally normal. Let’s organize it a bit:
Organize your flow
To re-organize your flow when it looks messy, click on the Auto-layout button at the bottom-right corner of your canvas.
What we created should look like this now:
Lesson 4 recap
Congratulations! In this lesson, you’ve learned how to:
Coming next
Coming next, we’ll see how to connect your bot to 3rd party providers so that you leverage your bot’s functionalities.