URL Block
What is a URL block?
The URL block allows you to ask users for input in the form of a URL. By incorporating the URL block, chatbots can handle more complex interactions, improve problem resolution times, and provide a richer user experience.
Why use the URL block?
This block ensures that the user's input is validated as a URL.For example, if a user needs to provide a link to an external resource, such as a document, URL, or webpage, that is relevant to their query or request, they can easily share this information through the URL block.
The character limit for the URL is 3000.
Error message if the user adds an invalid URL:
Steps to create a URL block
1. To add the URL block to the flow, click on the add block icon (+)
2. Choose URL under the Question Cards section.
If you try to close the block listing without saving the URL block, all the unsaved changes will be lost permanently.
3. Add the Question in the question field
4. Add a unique name for your block in the Block name field.
5. Input variable will auto-populate according to the added block name; you can change it if needed.
4. Add a unique name for your block in the Block name field.
5. Input variable will auto-populate according to the added block name; you can change it if needed.
If you enter the name of an existing block for another block, the below error will be displayed.6. Adjust the existing Validation Error Message to fit the context of your text block.
7.Click on the Preview block option to see how the block would be displayed to the user.
8. If you are satisfied with the output, click Save.
7.Click on the Preview block option to see how the block would be displayed to the user.
8. If you are satisfied with the output, click Save.
9. Click Save.
10. Publish the flow.
10. Publish the flow.
- 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.
Editing the URL block
You can edit a URL 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 the URL Block, which you may have named differently.
3. Choose Edit Block from the displayed options.
4. Make the required changes to the block and click Save.
5. Click Save.
6. Publish the flow.
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, you will need to 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 updated automatically across all flows where the variable is used.
Copying the URL block
The Copy Block option can be used when 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 URL Block block you wish to copy.
2. Choose the Copy Block option; the block will be pasted on the clipboard.
3. When you require to paste that block, click the Add block icon (+).
The pasted block would appear on the block listing section and be stated as From Clipboard.4. Edit the block if required or simply click Paste.
- The copied URL block can be pasted multiple times. If you no longer need to paste it, you can clear the clipboard by clicking the close icon corresponding to the clipboard option.
- When copying an existing URL block, all of its content, including any variables, will be copied as is. You can edit it as needed 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 URL block
1. Open the flow and click on Edit.
2. Click on the URL Block, which you may have named differently.
3. Select Delete Block from the displayed options.
4. Confirm deleting the selected block by clicking Yes, Delete it.
You can use the undo option to restore a deleted block as your following action, but not otherwise.
5. Click Save.
6. Publish the flow.
- If you delete a URL 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, you will need to publish the flow for those changes to be reflected in an end user's session.
If the deleted block has dependencies, such as those given below, errors will be displayed.
Path below the block:
If the block was used to jump to a different flow:
Use case
After receiving a vacuum cleaner from Zylker Electronics online, the user reviewed the user guide and wished to provide feedback on a particular article. The chatbot then prompted the user to provide the URL of the specific page they wanted to give feedback on, ensuring that it accurately linked to the relevant article.
Example of the URL blocks in a flow
Feedback on a guide document:
The chatbot requests the URL of the page the user wants to provide feedback on, ensuring that the feedback is associated with the right article.
The chatbot requests the URL of the page the user wants to provide feedback on, ensuring that the feedback is associated with the right article.
Bot prompt: Please enter the URL of the page you'd like to provide feedback on:
Input given in the builder:
GC widget's output:
After the user adds and submits the URL:
Best practices
- Use the URL block in contexts where specific links are necessary, such as for sharing documents, referencing articles, or linking to external resources.
- Clearly explain to users why you are asking for a URL. For example, "Please provide the URL of the page you are referring to for us to assist you better."
- Ensure that the URLs provided by users are safe and do not pose security risks. Avoid requesting URLs for sensitive or private information.
- After receiving the URL, acknowledge it and inform users about the next steps or actions you will take based on the provided link.
- Provide guidance on where users can find the URL they need to share, such as from their browser's address bar or by copying it from a document.
Supported channels
The URL block is supported in the following channels:
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 or delete unnecessary flows.
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