Storing Data for a User

The Rivescript Way

Rivescript offers a way to store data in your chatbot. For example, you could use the following script.

+ my name is *
- <set name=<star>>It's nice to meet you, <get name>.

+ what is my name
- Your name is <get name>, silly!

For a more detailed explanation go here.The only limitation is that it only stores the name for the duration of the browser session. In other words if the user leaves your chatbot and comes back another time, his or her name will not be remembered (or stored) by the chatbot. The next way uses Javascript localStorage to store the data for longer periods.

The Javascript localStorage Way

Using this method we can store information that will remain in the browser, even after a browser refresh. (Unless the user clears the browser cache, which is not typical.) First let's create some Javascript functions in our Rivescipt file to store, get, or clear a user's name.

> object storeName javascript
  localStorage.setItem("name", args[0]);
< object

> object getName javascript
  var name = localStorage.getItem("name");
  if (name) return name;
  else return "what is your name?"
< object

> object clearName javascript
    localStorage.removeItem("name");
    return "Name removed.";
< object

Learn more about localStorage in Javascript here.

Next, create the script needed to use these functions, like below.

+ start // "start" autostarts the bot conversation 
- Hello, <call>getName</call>

+ *
% hello what is your name
- <call>storeName <formal></call>Nice to meet you <call>getName</call>

+ clear
- <call>clearName</call>

You can modify the examples above to store and retrieve different information.