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

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:
  • Click the link icon: .
  • Add your response message. Select the text to use as a link, and then click 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."
Advanced
Make this response secure
Enable When enabled, the bot response is displayed to the user, but thereafter securely masked and not viewable by others.
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 1. Channel support for the Text bot response control
ChannelSupportConstraints
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 Supported None
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.