Calendar Block
What is a Calendar Block?
The calendar block allows you to prompt users for specific dates or date and time information within your chatbot interactions. For example, if you need to schedule a product delivery with a customer, the calendar block enables you to gather their preferred date and time.
Why use the Calendar Block?
Adding the Calendar block to your chatbot flow ensures accurate input validation and simplifies the process of scheduling appointments or deliveries.
Types of formats:
- Date
- Date and Time
- Supported in all channels, including WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger.
- Each format can be customized to align with the preferences and standards of the user's region.
Supported channels
Supported channels
The calendar block is supported in the following channels:
Steps to add a Calendar Block
1. Click the Add icon.
2. Choose Calendar under the Ask Question section.
3. Enter Block Name.
4. Add the Question in the question field.
5. Choose the Format options you want your users to choose the date or date and time.
6. Select the Default Time Zone according to the user’s region.
7. Block Variable will be auto-populated according to the added block name. You can edit the block variable if needed.
9. Adjust the existing Validation Error Message to fit the context of your calendar block.
10. Navigate to Advanced Settings.
- If this block is not mandatory for your user to answer, toggle 'on' the option to Skip Block.
- This option is not available for flows of WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger channels.
- If you want to keep this block as the end of your conversational flow, toggle 'on' the End block option.
10. Click the Preview option to see how the block would be displayed to the user.
11. Click Save.
11. Click Save.
Editing the Calendar Block
You can edit a Calendar Block whenever required, even after the flow is published or in the drafts section, by following these steps:
1. Open the flow and click on Edit.
2. Click on the Calendar Block, which you may have named differently.
3. Click on Edit.
4. Make the required changes to the block.
5. Click Save.
6. Publish the flow.
- If you edit a block while an end user is engaged in a live session with the bot, the previous version of the flow will be rendered until they restart the conversation.
- After making changes, it is necessary to re-publish the flow for those changes to be reflected in an end user's session.
- If a change is made to an input variable, it will be automatically updated across all flows where the variable is used.
Copy a Calendar Block
If you need to reuse a block that you previously created, you can copy that block and add it to your flow as it is or edit it according to the requirement.
1. Click on the Calendar Block you require to copy.
2. Copy the block to be pasted on the clipboard.
1. Click on the Calendar Block you require to copy.
2. Copy the block to be pasted on the clipboard.
3. When you want to paste that block, click on the Add block icon (+).
4. The copied block would appear on the block listing section and be stated as Clipboard.
5. Click Paste Block and edit the details.
- The copied calendar block can be pasted multiple times.
- If you no longer require to paste it, you can clear the clipboard by clicking on the close icon corresponding to the clipboard option.
- When copying an existing calendar block, all of its content, including variables, if any, will be copied as it is.
- You can edit it as required before adding it to the flow.
- Since the names of each block must be unique, the word '_copy' will be added to the copied blocks automatically; this can be changed if required.
- If you have copied a block and it is in the clipboard, deleting the copied block later will also remove it from the clipboard.
Deleting the Calendar Block
1. Open the flow and click on Edit.
2. Click the Calendar Block, which you may have named differently.
3. Click Delete.
4. Confirm deleting the selected block by clicking on Yes, Delete it.
5. Restore the deleted block by clicking the Undo option, but not otherwise.
5. Click Save.
6. Publish the flow.
- If you delete a block while an end user is engaged in a live session with the bot, the previous version of the flow will be rendered until they restart the conversation.
- After making changes, it is necessary to re-publish the flow for those changes to be reflected in an end user's session.
Dependent Blocks
If the deleted block has dependencies, such as given below, errors will be displayed.
If the block was used to jump to a different flow:
Example Use Case
From an online store selling store named Zylker electronics, the customer had received the order but was facing an issue with the gadget. He immediately checks their website and starts a conversation with the bot. After validating their return request, the bot guides them to select a date and time for the delivery personnel to collect the damaged gadget.
Examples of the calendar blocks in a flow
Delivery timing
The user is prompted to schedule a time and date for the delivery person to collect the damaged gadget.
Bot prompt: Please choose a date and time as per your convenience for the delivery personnel to take the damaged gadget.
Input given in the builder:
GC widget's output:
After the user adds the date and time:
Best practices
Mention working hours, if applicable for your business.
Set the date and time format according to the preferences and standards of the user’s region (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY for the U.S., DD/MM/YYYY for Europe).
Provide clear and concise instructions on how to select a date or date and time. For example, "Please select a date for your appointment."
Allow users to modify easily or cancel their selected dates and times, with clear confirmation messages.
A total of 500 blocks can be added in a flow. If you reach that count, you can use the jump block to create a new flow.
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