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You can use modified commands in MS Teams to return specific information from the MSPbots apps. This is done by configuring the Message Command bot block to recognize custom commands that will trigger your bot and return needed information. 

What's on this page  

Table of Contents

What is the Message Command bot block? Why should I modify it?

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The Message Command bot block is where chat commands for the Attendance Manager, NextTicket Manager, and Utilization apps are configured to return specific information. This block recognizes preset commands that, when sent to MS Teams or Slack, return needed information according to the set schedule or on demand. 

The preset commands for the MSPbots template bots are customizable in case none apply to your business requirements. If you have specific business needs that are not currently addressed by our preset commands, you can customize commands in the Message Command bot block. 

For example, if you prefer to use the check in command instead of in for recording attendance in MS Teams, you can create a new bot, set up the check in command in the Message Command block, and then add corresponding Attendance-in and Alert blocks so that entering the command check in in MS Teams will automatically trigger the attendance bot you created. 

Note

Only MS Teams allow the addition of new commands. Right now, Slack recognizes the commands nt and help only, but will soon recognize new commands in the upcoming feature releases.

Relevant applications and permissions 

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This information applies to MS Teams, Slack, Attendance Manager, NextTicket Manager, and Utilization apps. Only users with admin permissions can create bot blocks and configure the Message Command block. If you do not have the required permission, contact your administrator for help.

How to configure the Message Command bot block  

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The steps below show how you can create custom commands in the Message Command bot block. For this example, we want to set up a bot that will use the command check in instead of the preset in command. Do the following:  

  1. Log in to the MSPbots app

Table of Contents

Background Information

  • Message Command is a trigger-type bot block that primarily recognizes the commands you send to MSPbots on Teams or Slack.
  • For example, by setting Message Command block to in and appending the Attendance-in and Alert blocks, MSPbots can identify the in command you input, automatically store your check-in record in the database, and respond accordingly.

Main Section

  1. Log in to the MSPbots app using your Office 365 account. 
  2. Navigate to Bots on the left menu then click the New Bot button on the Bots screen.
    Image Removed
    You can also start creating a bot from a widget on your dashboard. Click the ellipsis button and select 
    Create Bot.
    create bot-widgetImage Removed 
  3. When the Create a new bot window opens, select Start From Blank > Message Command

    animated GIF create new botImage Added

  4. When the next When the Create a new bot  window window appears, click on Start From Blank > Message Command.
    Fill fill in the required fields for creating a bot
    Image Removedimage create new bot fieldsImage Added
    1. Enter a name in the Bot Name field.
    2. Identify the Role that will have access to the bot.
    3. Add a clear Description of the bot. (Recommended) 
    4. Then click the Continute button Continue to open the tab with the details and settings for your new bot.
      Image Removed
    Click Design to enter the Message Command
    1. Message Command pop-up window. 

  5. In theMessage Command pop-up window.
    Info

    Using the in command as an example, please refer to the other types of message command bots at: How to Configure the Message Command Bot Block.

    Message Tool - If you want to trigger the bot by sending commands in Teams, please select teams. And if you want , click the Message Tool dropdown list and select a tool. To use MS Teams to trigger your bot, select Teams; to use Slack, please select slackSlack instead. 
    Image Removed
    image select message tool for message commandImage Added
  6. Next, go to the command menu, select Command - Select the command you want MSPbots to recognize, or enter a custom commandand click Finish
    image select message commandImage Added
    For more information on the available commands for MS Teams, read the section on Teams Command Template Bots

    To use your preferred command, enter your custom command then click Finish.
    For example, if you want to trigger the attendance bot using the the check - in command  command instead of the the in command, you can enter check -in here.
    Image RemovedClick Finish buttonin
    Tip

    Type commands in lowercase when adding new commands. Example: Type check in instead of CHECK IN.


    animated GIF - add new message commandImage Added 
     
    Note

    The feature to add custom commands is only supported in MS Teams for now and is not yet available in Slack. Only the nt command and help commands are currently recognized by Slack.



  7. Click on the Message Command block, then click on the  image plus add new bot blockImage Modified under the blockit, and finally select Add a Block.
    animated GIF - add a new bot blockImage Modified

  8. Click on Next, add an Attendance-in block by clicking the generated blank block, and enter typing Attendance-in into in the search bar, and then click onselecting Attendance-in to add the blockin. 
    animated GIF - add Attendance-in blockImage Modified

  9. Click on the Attendance-in block block, then click on the  image plus add new bot blockImage Modified under the blockit, and finally select Add a Block.
    image gif add a new blockImage Modified
  10. Click on Next, add an Alert block by clicking the generated blank block and enter , typing Alert into in the search bar, and then click on Alert to add the block.selecting Alert. 
    animated GIF add Alert blockImage Modified

  11. Click the Next, start configuring the settings. Go to the Message Command block, click image ellipsis optionsImage Modified in the upper-right corner of the Message Command block, and then click Edit to make your settings.select Edit
    image gif edit bot blockImage ModifiedClick Next to configure
  12. Verify if the selections for Message Tool and command are the same as your selections in Steps 4 and 5. Click Next once confirmed. 
    image selected message commandsImage Added
  13. When the Attendance-in block.
    Image RemovedPlease customize MSPbots' window opens, customize the responses for each of the following scenarios in the Attendance-in pop-up window.
    • Clock in - Success
    • Clock in time is outside working hours -or- Clock in time is incorrect
    • Clock in update - Success
    • Wrong command
    • Clock in is done by an invalid account
      Image Removedimage attendance-in settingsImage Added
  14. When done, click Click Next to proceed to the Alert configuration pagewindow.
  15. Follow the prompts on the page to Alert window and configure the Alert block according to your preferences.
    Image Removedimage alert settingsImage Added
  16. Click Finish.
  17. Click Savein the on the upper right corner to save your settingsof your bot's window.
    Image RemovedAs shown in the figure below, when "in" is entered in MSPbots, it will be recognized and responded with the corresponding answer.
    Image Removed

    Message Command Bot Types

    Orderimage save bot settingsImage Added
  18. Verify your settings. Go to MS Teams and type check in. The command should be recognized and return a response based on the configurations you made. 

image test message commandImage Added

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commandslist
commandslist
MS Teams Command Template Bots 

The table below displays the commands available for MS Teams, including their descriptions, configuration blocks, and corresponding need for alerts. Use this table as a guide when modifying message commands. 

Template BotsMessage CommandCorresponding BlockNeed for Alert Block

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Descriptions
TeamsCommand help

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hiCommand-HelpYesBot that recognizes

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the hi

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command to return answers related to help information

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TeamsCommand helphelloCommand-HelpYesBot that recognizes

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the hello command to return answers related to help information
TeamsCommand helphelpCommand-helpYesBot that recognizes the help command to return answers related to help information

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TeamsCommand ininAttendance-inYesBot that recognizes

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the in

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command for

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checking in into the Attendance Manager

TeamsCommand out

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out

Attendance-outYesBot that recognizes

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the out

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command

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when logging off in the Attendance Manager 
TeamsCommand break

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breakAttendance-breakYesBot that recognizes

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the break

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command for

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logging a pause from work in the Attendance Manager
TeamsCommand lunch

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lunchAttendance-lunchYesBot that recognizes

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the lunch

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command for

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logging a lunchbreak the Attendance  Manager
TeamsCommand onsite

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onsiteAttendance-onsiteYesBot that recognizes

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the onsite

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command for

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the Attendance Manager check-in

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TeamsCommand backbackAttendance-backYesBot that recognizes

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the back

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command

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when logging back to work

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in the Attendance Manager
TeamsCommand pto

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ptoAttendance-ptoYesBot that recognizes

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the pto

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command to handle related leave

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operations 
TeamsCommand_wfh

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wfhAttendance-wfhYesBot that recognizes

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the wfh

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command for

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the Attendance Manager check-in

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Tech Stats Reviewerstats or qa Utilization-statsYes

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This bot reports the total working hours, utilization rate, overlapping time entries, ongoing work orders, and pending tasks

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before the end of each user's workday. 

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TeamsCommand ntntNT command message formatting

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YesWhen

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used, the

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nt

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command

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the bot returns data in a custom format.

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TeamsCommand rejectrejectTeams Command-rejectNoBot that recognizes

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the reject

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 command to skip the current ticket

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. This bot needs to be used

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with the

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nt

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command.

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14

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These bots are used by QA personnel to check various business scenarios.

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TeamsCommand unknownunknownTeams Command-ChatGPTYesBot that returns answers from

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ChatGPT.

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You need to set up your OpenAI integration before you can start using this bot.


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