Text bot response control

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 3 minutes to read
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    Summary of Text Bot Response Control

    The Text bot response control in the Virtual Agent allows you to display formatted bot responses as text in various channels. It supports rich text formatting, including bold, italics, links, and lists, enhancing user interaction.

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    Key Features

    • Response Formatting: Use the text editor to format messages, including adding emojis and links.
    • Response Properties: Customize responses with options such as node name, response message (rich text or script), and alternate messages for varied responses.
    • Advanced Options: Features like shortening long responses, making responses secure, and requesting feedback through thumbs up/down icons.
    • Channel Support: Compatible with multiple channels including Web UI, Mobile UI, Microsoft Teams, and Facebook Messenger, though with some constraints for specific platforms.

    Key Outcomes

    Using the Text bot response control, customers can create dynamic and engaging conversations within the Virtual Agent. By formatting responses and providing feedback options, users can enhance their interaction experience, leading to higher engagement and satisfaction in service requests. Additionally, the ability to secure sensitive information and tailor messages according to user input ensures greater privacy and personalization.

    Use the Text bot response control in a Virtual Agent topic to display a bot response as text. You can format the Text bot responses using the text editor controls. For example, you can bold or italicize the text, as well as include links, bulleted lists, and emojis.

    Text bot response properties

    Use the Text response properties panel to design bot responses to the user.

    Bot text response properties.

    Table 1. General options
    Property Description
    Node name Name that identifies this Text bot response node in the topic flow.
    Response message The Text bot response to the user. The response can be one of the following:
    • Rich text message.
    • Script, which can include Glide record variables or script variables.
      Note:
      The script can also include a temporary password for the end user.

    You can format the text messages using the text editor controls. For example, you can use the icons on the Response Message field to bold or italicize the text, as well as include links, bulleted lists, numbered lists, and emojis.

    Text bot response message options: Open an incident in the Support Portal, or call for immediate assistance.

    You can also include an input variable, such as a temporary password, in the response message.

    Temporary password text response message.

    To include a link, do one of the following:
    • Select the link icon: Link icon..
    • Add your response message. Select the text to use as a link, and then select the link icon.

    Fill in the fields in the Confirmation window. Enter the text to use as the link, and then enter the URL in the Link field.

    Enter the display label for the link and a static URL, or use the data pill picker to create a dynamic URL.

    Add alternate message Add one or more alternate response messages for the user. Virtual Agent randomly chooses one of your responses for each conversation.

    Three defined alternate response messages: "User, sounds great," "Excellent choice," and "Let's proceed with Chosen Option, then."

    Table 2. Advanced options
    Shorten responses
    Enable When turned on, long bot responses are shortened. A Show more link is shown along with the truncated response. When the option is turned off, the entire response is used. By default, this option is turned on.
    Make this response secure
    Enable When enabled, the bot response is displayed to the user, but thereafter securely masked and not viewable by others.
    Request feedback
    Enable When turned on, thumbs up and down icons are displayed next to bot responses for feedback.
    Hide this node
    Conditionally show this node if

    A no-code condition statement or low-code script that specifies a condition for presenting this node in the conversation. The condition must evaluate to true.

    Channel support

    Table 3. Channel support for the Text bot response control
    Channel Support Constraints
    Web UI Supported None
    Mobile UI Supported None
    Now Assist panel Supported None
    Microsoft Teams Supported None
    Slack Supported None
    Workplace Supported None
    Facebook Messenger Supported Plain text string only
    SMS Twilio Supported None
    LINE Supported None
    WhatsApp (powered by Twilio) Supported None
    WhatsApp Supported The maximum limit is 4,096 characters.
    Apple Messages for Business Supported None
    Alexa (Voice) Supported For screen devices, full support. For nonscreen devices, the header is read.

    Example Text bot response script

    In this example, the script returns a string that greets the user. The gs.getUser().getFirstName() property is used to append the first name of the current user.

    (function execute() {
        return 'Hello ' + gs.getUser().getFirstName();
    })()

    In this example, the script returns links to three instances in the response. Use Markdown to include multiple links in the script.

    (function execute() {
        var output = 'Hello\n';
        output += '\n- [Instance 1](http://instance1.com)';
        output += '\n- [Instance 2](http://instance2.com)';
        output += '\n- [Instance 3](http://instance3.com)';
        return output;
    })()

    Example Text bot response control

    Note:
    Virtual Agent Designer controls may display and function differently in other channels.
    Response properties Text bot response output
    Figure 1. Text bot response control basic properties
    Basic properties include the node name and a rich text response message area.
    Figure 2. Web UI Text bot response output
    Text response with emojis that reads, "We could not find any assets currently assigned to you." A phone number, additional steps, and a link are included.