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
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.
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. |
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.
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:
Type commands in lowercase when adding new commands. Example: Type check in instead of CHECK IN. |
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. |
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 Bots | Message Command | Corresponding Block | Need for Alert Block | Descriptions |
---|---|---|---|---|
TeamsCommand help | hi | Command-Help | Yes | Bot that recognizes the hi command to return answers related to help information |
TeamsCommand help | hello | Command-Help | Yes | Bot that recognizes the hello command to return answers related to help information |
TeamsCommand help | help | Command-help | Yes | Bot that recognizes the help command to return answers related to help information |
TeamsCommand in | in | Attendance-in | Yes | Bot that recognizes the in command for checking in into the Attendance Manager |
TeamsCommand out | out | Attendance-out | Yes | Bot that recognizes the out command when logging off in the Attendance Manager |
TeamsCommand break | break | Attendance-break | Yes | Bot that recognizes the break command for logging a pause from work in the Attendance Manager |
TeamsCommand lunch | lunch | Attendance-lunch | Yes | Bot that recognizes the lunch command for logging a lunchbreak the Attendance Manager |
TeamsCommand onsite | onsite | Attendance-onsite | Yes | Bot that recognizes the onsite command for the Attendance Manager check-in |
TeamsCommand back | back | Attendance-back | Yes | Bot that recognizes the back command when logging back to work in the Attendance Manager |
TeamsCommand pto | pto | Attendance-pto | Yes | Bot that recognizes the pto command to handle related leave operations |
TeamsCommand_wfh | wfh | Attendance-wfh | Yes | Bot that recognizes the wfh command for the Attendance Manager check-in |
Tech Stats Reviewer | stats or qa | Utilization-stats | Yes | This bot reports the total working hours, utilization rate, overlapping time entries, ongoing work orders, and pending tasks before the end of each user's workday. |
TeamsCommand nt | nt | NT command message formatting | Yes | When used, the nt command the bot returns data in a custom format. |
TeamsCommand reject | reject | Teams Command-reject | No | Bot that recognizes the reject command to skip the current ticket. This bot needs to be used with the nt command. |
TeamsCommand unknown | unknown | Teams Command-ChatGPT | Yes | Bot that returns answers from ChatGPT. You need to set up your OpenAI integration before you can start using this bot. |