Wit.ai seems to be jumping randomly between stories - wit.ai

I have two separate simple stories on my Wit.ai bot,
the first one takes in the word "Debug", sends "test" then runs a function that outputs context stuff to the console called test_context()
the second one takes in an address, runs a function that changes the context called new_session(), then sends a confirmation of the change to the user structured like "your location has been changed to {address}"
when I type directly into the wit.ai test console it seems to correctly detect the stories and run the corresponding functions, but when I try to use it through the Node.js API it seems to act completely randomly.
Sometimes when typing in an address it will run test_context() followed by new_session(), then output no text, sometimes it will just output the test text followed by the address text and run no functions, sometimes it will act correctly.
The same behavior happens when inputting "Debug" as well.
The back end is set up correctly, as 2 other stories seem to be working perfectly fine.
Both of these stories were working fine earlier today, I have made no changes to the wit stories themselves and no change to the back-end has even touched the debug function.
Is this a known issue?

I encountered this problem as well.
It appears to me as when you do not handle setting context variables in the story from wit.ai correctly (by setting them to null for example), it messes up the story. As a developer it is your own responsability to handle the story correctly "client side", so I can understand wit.ai lets weird stuff happen when you do not do this. Maybe wit.ai decided to jump stories to keep their bot from crashing, still remains a bit mysterious to me. Maybe your problem is of a different kind, just sharing a similair observation and my solution.
Exactly for reasons of testing I created three stories;
handle greetings
tell what the weather in city x is
identify when you want to plan a meeting
The bot is connected to facebook and I handle actions (like planning a meeting) on my nodejs express server.
I said to the bot "I want to plan a meeting tomorrow", resulting in a wit date/time. One timeslot by the way. This is going ok. Then I sent the message "I want to plan a meeting this morning". This resulted in TWO date/time variables in the wit.ai context. In turn, my code could not handle this; two timestamps resulted in null (probably json message getting more complicated and I try to get the wrong field). This in turn resulted in null for the context variable that had to be returned.
So what I did is to catch the error for when the context variable is not filled and just fill in [wit.js could not find date]. This fixed the problem, even though I now of course need to handle this error better.
Old code:
'createAppointment': ({sessionId, context, text, entities}) => {
return new Promise(function(resolve, reject) {
const myDateTime = firstEntityValue(entities, 'datetime');
console.log('the time trying to send ',myDateTime);
createAppointment(context, myDateTime)
context.appointmentText = myDateTime
return resolve(context);
},}
New, working code:
'createAppointment': ({sessionId, context, text, entities}) => {
return new Promise(function(resolve, reject) {
const myDateTime = firstEntityValue(entities, 'datetime');
console.log('the time trying to send ',myDateTime);
if(myDateTime){
createAppointment(context, myDateTime)
context.appointmentText = myDateTime
return resolve(context);
} else {
context.appointmentText = '[wit.js could not find date]'
return resolve(context);
}
});
},
Hope this helps

Related

Specific issue with a fetch request on input

I have an input field and when on input a function is called. It stops the timeout if there is one, if not then we know the user stopped typing. If the timeout finishes it makes a fetch request to determine if the user's input is valid. Lastly, if the fetch request returns valid, the user's input goes into a list. It will never be valid if a special character exists.
My problem is that when a user enters a valid input, after the 1-second timeout finishes, if the user just happens to within that microsecond window between the fetch and the sending to the list a user enters a special character... the user's valid input plus the special character will go into the list.
My solution is to disable the input field while awaiting the pending promise to resolve (which takes maybe a quarter of a second).
My boss however wants me to see if there is a better solution out there. Since my situation feels rather unique I thought I'd just ask other developers if they perhaps did have a better solution.
Thank you for your help everyone.
The code is something like:
function (){
if (timeoutexists){
clearTimeout
}
timeout = setTimeout ({
submitting = true
fetch user input
submitting = false
if fetch resolve input is valid and put users input in list else it's invalid and do not put user input in list.
})
}

How to create "Round Robin Call Forwarding Function" in Twilio Stack

I have researched high and low through multiple websites and have not found a single fully documented solution for round-robin call forwarding with-in the Twilio stack; let alone within Twilio Studio. The last time this question was asked in detail was in 2013 so your help is greatly appreciated. I am looking to find a solution to the following to educate myself and others:
[Round Robin Scenario]
Mentioned by Phil Krnjeu on Aug 1 '13 at 23:04, "I'm trying to create a website that has a phone number on it (say, a phone number for a school). When you call that number, it has different secretary offices (A,B,C, D). I want to create something where the main number is called, and then it goes and calls phone number A the first time, the second time someone calls the main number, number B is called, C, then D. Once D is called (which would be the 4th call), the 5th call goes back to A."
The response to the above question was to use an IVR Screening & Recording application which requires the caller to pick an agent which is not a true Round Robin solution. The solution I am looking for and many others require the system to know which agent is in a group and which agent is next to receive a call.
[Key Features Needed]
Ability to add forwarding numbers as identified above A, B, C, D as a group or IVR extensions such as 1 = Management, 2 = Sales and etc...
Set a subsequent calling rule that notates in a DB of some sort. Caller A through D, for example, equals 1 unsuccessful. When caller A has been forwarded a call it now equals 0 successful then the script stops and allows the call to be answered by the user or its voicemail. Then the next call comes in and is forwarded to user B and assigned a 0 successful value, then the script stops.
After the caller finishes the call or finishes leaving a voicemail the script needs to end the call.
[Final Destination]
The round-robin should finalize its call with the forwarded phone numbers voicemail.
[Known Issues]
Forwarding a call to multiple numbers not stopping when someone answers
[Options]
Once this question is posted I am sure someone will ask in the near future what if I wanted the call to be forwarded to a Twilio voicemail instead of using the forwarded phone number's voicemail which could be let's say a cell phone. I do not necessarily need this feature, however, making an additional comment would be very helpful to the community. Thank you for your time.
I have limited knowledge of programming besides having the ability to review articles posted by other users. One article I researched in detail that did not work for me was, "IVR: Screening & Recording with PHP and Laravel."
The solution I am looking for first would be to make this code through the new Twilio Studio interface if that is not possible then any other solution would be helpful to all.
Sam here from the Twilio Support Team. You can build what you've described using Twilio's Runtime suite, Studio, and Functions.
I wrote a blog post with detailed instructions and screenshots here, and I've included a summarized version below as well.
CREATE YOUR VARIABLE
First, you need to create a serverless Variable which will be used as the round robin counter. The variable must be inside an Environment, which is inside a Service. This is the only part of the application where you will need your own laptop. You can see how to create these with any of the SDKs or using curl in the docs.
Create a Service
Create an Environment
Create a Variable
Be sure to copy the SIDs of your Service, Environment, and Variable since you will need that for your function.
For convenience, this is how you create the Variable in NodeJS.
const accountSid = 'your_account_sid';
const authToken = 'your_auth_token';
const client = require('twilio')(accountSid, authToken);
client.serverless.services('ZSXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX')
.environments('ZEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX')
.variables
.create({key: 'key', value: 'value'})
.then(variable => console.log(variable.sid));
CREATE YOUR FUNCTION
Create the following Environment Variables here in the console and save set them equal to their respective SID that you saved earlier.
RR_SERVICE_SID
RR_ENV_SID
RR_VAR_SID_CTR
Next, make sure you check the Enable ACCOUNT_SID and AUTH_TOKEN checkbox above the Environment Variables section under Credentials.
Be sure your Twilio Client version in the Dependencies section is set to the latest, so we can be sure it includes the Serverless resources. At the time of writing (March 2020), the default Client version does not include them, so we upgraded to 3.41.1, which was the latest.
Go here in the console and create a blank Function.
Copy and paste the following code and replace the numbers with the ones you would like to include in your Round Robin (make sure the environment variables you just created match what's in the code).
exports.handler = function(context, event, callback) {
// Number List
let numbers = [
"+18652142345", //Sam
"+18651092837", //Tina
"+19193271892", //Matt
// Copy and paste line above to add another number.
];
// Initialize Twilio Client
let client = context.getTwilioClient();
// Fetch Round Robin Ctr
client.serverless.services(context.RR_SERVICE_SID)
.environments(context.RR_ENV_SID)
.variables(context.RR_VAR_SID_CTR)
.fetch()
.then(variable => {
// Use counter value to determine number to call
let number = numbers[variable.value];
// Create var with new ctr value
let ctr = variable.value;
// Check if current counter value is less than RR length (i.e. the number of numbers in round robin)
// If so, increment
if(ctr == numbers.length-1) {
ctr = 0;
}
// Otherwise reset ctr
else ctr++;
// Update counter value
client.serverless.services(context.RR_SERVICE_SID)
.environments(context.RR_ENV_SID)
.variables(context.RR_VAR_SID_CTR)
.update({value: ctr})
.then(resp => {
// Return number to call
let response = {number};
// Return our counter value and a null error value
callback(null, response);
});
});
};
CREATE YOUR STUDIO FLOW
Click the red plus sign to create a new Flow here.
Give the Flow a name and click Next.
Scroll to the bottom of the templates and click 'Import from JSON' and click Next.
Paste the Flow JSON shown here and click Next.
Click the RoundRobin function widget and select the Function you just created under the Default service.
Click the FunctionError widget, click MESSAGING & CHAT CONFIG, and change the SEND MESSAGE TO number to a number that you would like to notify by text in the event of a Function failure.
Click the DefaultNumber widget and change the default number that will be forwarded to in the event of a Function failure.
Click the Publish button at the top of your Flow.
CONFIGURE YOUR TWILIO NUMBER
Go here in the console.
Click the Twilio number you would like to configure.
Scroll down to the A CALL COMES IN dropdown in the Voice section and select Studio Flow.
Select your new Flow in the Select a Flow dropdown to the right.
Click Save at the bottom.
And that's it. You're now all set to test!

Why won't the Google Maps Directions API example in the 'Google Maps' book work for me?

I'm using the Petrousos 'Google Maps' book, and trying to run the example in the CHAPTER17/HTML/Directions Service.html downloaded from the book's website at www.mhprofessional.com at item 0071823026.
I had to adjust the table dimensions to get it to display properly, but otherwise made no changes. I'm running it through Firefox.
I set the origin and destination and clicked "Show Directions", at which point nothing happened.
The event called the following function:
function showDirections() {
var start = document.getElementById("origin").value;
var end = document.getElementById("destination").value;
var request = {
origin: start,
destination: end,
travelMode: google.maps.TravelMode.DRIVING
};
directionsService.route(request, function(result, status) {
if (status == google.maps.DirectionsStatus.OK) {
directionsDisplay.setDirections(result);
printDirections(result);
}
});
}
I get as far as the directionsService.route call, but it is apparently not being executed, and status and result are not defined.
I have no idea how to debug this further, not having access to the API code..
Could the syntax of the call in the example be outdated?
I don't have an API key, but I understand it is not necessary, and I have run other examples without one.
Do you old examples still work? If not, then it's because you don't have an API key. Google will shut you down after you surpassed the quota. I believe the quota is at 50 requests per hours.
Google has the most recent documentation (and it's impressively well documented)
https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/directions/intro#Audience
Also, can you look at what the object returns? If so, that will usually indicate the quote being surpassed. You can do this by setting a breakpoint at the link
if (status == google.maps.DirectionsStatus.OK) {
If you're using Chrome, you can get to the debugger by right-clicking on the page adn choosing 'Inspect Element', then go to sources, find your line of code and click the link number to set a breakpoint.

Docpad : show error/success message on contact form

I added a route in my docpad.coffee file to handle form submissions, that I validate using the express-validator middleware. Now depending on the validation, I want to redirect the users to the same contact page but displaying either a success message when validation is successful (here I'll send an email), or display the error messages.
I didn't manage to pass the validation message to the template to display it. I tried almost all combinations of dynamic: true/false, res.locals = validationMessages, res.sessions = validationMessages, res.templateData = validationMessages with no success.
Furthermore, adding dynamic: true made the changes to the content not appear at all, whatever refresh strategy I use (private mode, cleaning cache, relaunching Docpad, refreshing without cache, etc.). I should probable file a bug about it.
How to ?
I'm using Docpad 6.53.0 (latest to date), node 0.10.15, on OS X 10.8.4
I cheated on this one a bit by appending a hash to the redirect url (eg: "www.mywebsite.com/#messagesent"). I then use client side javascript to read the hash and then show the appropriate message. Something like this:
if (location.hash == "#messagesent") {
$('#message-sent').show();
setTimeout(function () {
$('#message-sent').fadeOut(1000);
}, 1000);
}
Not quite what you were asking though :)

Send an email via MailChimp

I think problem is around $api->listSubscribers()
include('../libs/mailchimp/MCAPI.class.php');
$options = array('list_id' => '$list_id', 'subject' => 'Prova', 'from_name' => 'name', 'from_email' => 'info#example.com');
$content = array('html' => '<p>Testo di prova</p>');
$api = new MCAPI($apikey);
$campaignId = $api->campaignCreate('trans', $options, $content);
$api->listSubscribe($options['list_id']);
$api->campaignSendNow($campaignId);
if ($api->errorCode){
echo "Unable to Create New Campaign!";
echo "\n\tCode=".$api->errorCode;
echo "\n\tMsg=".$api->errorMessage."\n";
} else {
echo "New Campaign ID:".$campaignId ."\n";
}
Why does'nt it send an email?
You have a several issues here:
The first one is that you are not doing error checking after each API call. If you take the error checking code from the bottom and stick it after the listSubscribe() call, you'll immediately get an error because you aren't passing any sort of subscriber data (at the very least you need the email address). The docs for listSubscribe are here
Once you do that - unless you've thoroughly read and considered the options in the listSubscribe docs - your second issue is going to be that you are running listSubscribe with the double_optin parameter set to true (the default), which means they won't be subscribed until clicking a link in the confirmation email.
Next, that code is just going to get you in trouble, and probably quickly. If you are going to use psuedo-transcational campaigns it is imperrative that you only create ONE psuedo-trans campaign per type of email and then send that campaign over and over. That's how they are intended to work. Not doing that is going to cause you to fill up your account with a whole bunch of trash campaigns at which point there's no point in using a psuedo-trans campaign since that's the same as creating/sending a regular campaign to a single user over and over.
Do you get any errors?
It seems you are not including the api key, it should look like:
$api = new MCAPI($apikey);
Instead of:
$api = new MCAPI('apikey');
You get the API Key from your api dashboard: http://admin.mailchimp.com/account/api