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50.diceroller-skill

README.md

dice roller skill

Bot Framework v4 dice roller skill sample

This sample demonstrates how to implement a Cortana Skill that properly handles EndOfConversation events.

Prerequisites

  • [Node.js][4] version 8.5 or higher
# determine node version
node --version

To try this sample

  • Clone the repository 
    git clone https://github.com/microsoft/botbuilder-samples.git
  • In a terminal, navigate to samples/javascript_nodejs/50.diceroller-skill 
    cd samples/javascript_nodejs/50.diceroller-skill
  • Install modules 
    npm install
  • Start the bot 
    npm start

Testing the bot using Bot Framework Emulator v4

Microsoft Bot Framework Emulator is a desktop application that allows bot developers to test and debug their bots on localhost or running remotely through a tunnel.

  • Install the Bot Framework emulator from here

Connect to bot using Bot Framework Emulator v4

  • Launch Bot Framework Emulator
  • File -> Open Bot Configuration and navigate to samples/javascript_nodejs/50.diceroller-skill
  • Select diceroller-skill.bot file

Cortana Skills

Cortana skills are standard BotBuilder bots that require a few additional considerations specific to Cortana.

The first thing to understand about a Cortana skill is that Cortana follows a very rigid turn based model of speaking where the user sends a single message to the bot, then the bot sends a single reply to the user, then the user sends a message back to the bot, the bot then sends a reply, and so on. The important thing to note from the bots perspective is that once you've sent a message to the user you are not allowed to send another message to the user until they've replied. You can work around this to some extent using the inputHint property off the outgoing activity but in general your skill needs to conform to this back and forth conversation flow.

Another thing unique to Cortana skills is the use of the EndOfConversation activity to indicate that the current skill invocation is finished. This activity can be sent from Cortana to the bot to indicate that the user closed the Cortana window in the UI, and it can be sent from the bot to Cortana to indicate that the Cortana window should be closed. It's worth noting that Cortana in some cases will re-use the same conversation ID on multiple invocations. This can potentially lead to skills starting off in the wrong state so as a best practice your skill should include logic to clear its conversation state anytime an EndOfConversation activity is detected. The sample includes a CortanaSkill base class that you can derive your bots main dialog from and automatically pickup the logic to clear your bots conversation state anytime an EndOfConversation activity is detected.

Cortana skills tend to be more multi-modal in their use of both speech and text. You can use the activities speak field to send Cortana standard Speech Synthesis Markup Language(SSML) that should be spoken to the user. The sample includes a simple ssml module that helps make composing valid SSML easier.

When creating skills targeted at Cortana for the desktop you'll want to fill in both the text and speak fields of the outgoing activity and you'll find the thing you want to show to the user and speak to the user are often quite different. The sample includes a simple Language Generation (LG) module that simplifies composing activities containing both text and speak fields.

Deploy this bot to Azure

You can use the MSBot Bot Builder CLI tool to clone and configure any services this sample depends on. In order to install this and other tools, you can read Installing CLI Tools.

To clone this bot, run

msbot clone services -f deploymentScripts/msbotClone -n <BOT-NAME> -l <Azure-location> --subscriptionId <Azure-subscription-id> --appId <YOUR APP ID> --appSecret <YOUR APP SECRET PASSWORD>

NOTE: You can obtain your appId and appSecret at the Microsoft's Application Registration Portal

Further reading