getting-started.md

copyright	lastupdated	keywords	subcollection	content-type	account-plan	completion-time
years 2015, 2021	2021-02-09	assistant, omnichannel, virtual agent, virtual assistant, chatbot, conversation, watson assistant, watson conversation	assistant	tutorial	lite	10m

{:shortdesc: .shortdesc} {:new_window: target="_blank"} {:external: target="_blank" .external} {:deprecated: .deprecated} {:important: .important} {:note: .note} {:tip: .tip} {:pre: .pre} {:codeblock: .codeblock} {:screen: .screen} {:javascript: .ph data-hd-programlang='javascript'} {:java: .ph data-hd-programlang='java'} {:python: .ph data-hd-programlang='python'} {:swift: .ph data-hd-programlang='swift'} {:hide-dashboard: .hide-dashboard} {:download: .download} {:video: .video} {:step: data-tutorial-type='step'}

Getting started with {{site.data.keyword.conversationshort}}

{: #getting-started} {: toc-content-type="tutorial"} {: toc-completion-time="10m"}

In this short tutorial, we introduce {{site.data.keyword.conversationfull}} and walk you through the process of creating your first assistant. {: shortdesc}

Before you begin

{: #getting-started-prerequisites} {: hide-dashboard}

You need a service instance to start. {: hide-dashboard}

1. {: hide-dashboard} Go to the {{site.data.keyword.conversationshort}}{: external} page in the {{site.data.keyword.cloud}} catalog.

   The service instance will be created in the default resource group if you do not choose a different one, and it cannot be changed later. This group is sufficient for the purposes of trying out the product.

   If you're creating an instance for more robust use, then learn more about resource groups{: external}.

2. {: hide-dashboard} Sign up for a free {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} account or log in.

3. {: hide-dashboard} Click Create.

Open Watson Assistant

{: #getting-started-launch-tool} {: step}

After you create a {{site.data.keyword.conversationshort}} service instance, you land on the Manage page. {: hide-dashboard}

1. Click Launch {{site.data.keyword.conversationshort}}. If you're prompted to log in, provide your {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} credentials.

A new browser tab or window opens and {{site.data.keyword.conversationshort}} is displayed.

An assistant named My first assistant is created for you automatically. An assistant is a chatbot. You add skills to your assistant so it can interact with your customers in useful ways.

A skill named My first skill is added to the assistant for you automatically.

The type of skill that is added is different for different users. The skill will be either a dialog skill or an actions skill.

• If Actions is displayed as the first item in the page navigation, you have an actions skill.

  

  If you have an actions skill, continue the tutorial by reading Getting started with an actions skill.

• If Intents is displayed as the first item in the page navigation, you have a dialog skill.

  

  If you have a dialog skill, continue the tutorial by reading Getting started with a dialog skill.

Only if an assistant and skill are not created for you, complete Steps 2 and 3. (A skill is created and added to the assistant for you only on first use of the product. When you create an assistant later, you can choose the skills you want to add to it.) {: important}

Create an assistant

{: #getting-started-create-assistant} {: step}

An assistant is a cognitive bot to which you add skills that enable it to interact with your customers in useful ways.

1. Click the Assistants icon , and then click Create assistant.

   

2. Name the assistant My first assistant.

   

3. Click Create assistant.

Create a dialog skill

{: #getting-started-add-skill} {: step}

A dialog skill is a container for the artifacts that define the flow of a conversation that your assistant can have with your customers.

1. Click the My first assistant tile to open the assistant.

2. Click Add dialog skill.

   

3. Give your skill the name My first skill.

4. Optional. If the dialog you plan to build will use a language other than English, then choose the appropriate language from the list.

   

5. Click Create dialog skill.

   The skill is created and opens to the Intents page.

To continue with the tutorial, see Getting started with a dialog skill.