Rename @discobot's start new user command

[debryc (Deborah Chang)]

I think that something like

@discobot start tutorial

Start a tutorial to learn how to use this forum. Earn a at the end.

@discobot start advanced tutorial

Start a tutorial to learn how to use this forum at an advanced level. Earn a at the end.

would make a lot more sense than the existing

@discobot start new user

Starts one of the following interactive narratives: new user, advanced user.

[Stephen]

It’s a tricky one, because it’s for new, existing, migrated and returning users. Some communities were on Discourse before discobot was implemented, while others migrated to Discourse after a decade or longer on another platform.

In all of those cases only one is a new user.

[pfaffman (Jay Pfaffman)]

@debryc

would make a lot more sense than the existing

Perhaps, but it still wouldn’t be something that anyone would guess.

[codinghorror (Jeff Atwood)]

Sure I support this, can we add it as a synonym @tgxworld?

[debryc (Deborah Chang)]

@pfaffman

Perhaps, but it still wouldn’t be something that anyone would guess.

I think what we really need is a one-click link that sends the discourse narrative bot new user tutorial message to the user.

This opens so many possibilities. For example, the %{new_user_tips} template can now append a new line at the bottom if the narrative bot is enabled. It would look like:

For a few quick tips on getting started as a new user, check out this blog post.

As you participate here, we’ll get to know you, and temporary new user limitations will be lifted. Over time you’ll gain trust levels that include special abilities to help us manage our community together.

For even more tips, click to start our interactive new user tutorial.

[supermathie (Michael Brown)]

Would these links do?

• Start New User Tutorial
• Start Advanced User Tutorial

---

source:

* [Start New User Tutorial](/new-message?username=discobot&title=Discobot%20Tutorial&body=@discobot%20start%20new%20user)
* [Start Advanced User Tutorial](/new-message?username=discobot&title=Discobot%20Advanced%20Tutorial&body=@discobot%20start%20advanced%20user)

[debryc (Deborah Chang)]

Yes! These are perfect! How are these links generated? I’d love to be able to link to other Discourse actions, like Reply to a topic.

[pfaffman (Jay Pfaffman)]

@debryc

How are these links generated?

You copy/paste the stuff under the word “source”.

EDIT:

@supermathie

to be fair I edited that into the OP after he asked

oops.

[supermathie (Michael Brown)]

to be fair I edited that into the OP after he asked

[debryc (Deborah Chang)]

@pfaffman

You copy/paste the stuff under the word “source”.

I understand that part. Just created a custom message for my instance of Discourse

https://discourse.nycedu.org/new-message?username=pupbot&title=Start%20new%20user%20tutorial&body=@pupbot%20start%20new%20user%0D%0A%0D%0ANote:%20Just%20click%20on%20the%20blue%20Message%20button%20below%20to%20start.

My question is more, in the future if I want to create links like this for other actions, how do I do that? For example, I really want to have a Reply to topic link. My particular user base isn’t necessarily very tech savvy, so I really need to spell things out for them and make it as easy as possible.

[supermathie (Michael Brown)]

@debryc

I really want to have a Reply to topic link.

Not sure how to do that offhand, but is there a reason the existing options are insufficient? You could even make them more clear:

or add text to this button:

[debryc (Deborah Chang)]

@supermathie

is there a reason the existing options are insufficient?

I’ll play around with it

Going back to the @discobot start new user command… As you can see from my source code, I definitely hacked together the link that would work for us. Do you see this as a useful enough tool that Discourse could potentially write into existing text content?

[supermathie (Michael Brown)]

@debryc

Do you see this as a useful enough tool that Discourse could potentially write into existing text content?

I’m not sure what you’re asking here.

[dax (Daniela)]

Probably you are looking for

Create a link to start a new topic with pre-filled information

Discourse now supports composing a new (pre-filled) topic via URL! To compose a new pre-filled topic, modify URL params like this: https://discourse.example.com/new-topic?title=topic%20title&body=topic%20body&category=category/subcategory&tags=email,planned This will open composer window pre filled with topic title, body, category and tags. Breaking down the link / URL to show the available options, we have: the base URL / link: https://discourse.example.com/new-topic the ? URL operator to…

and

Create a link to start a new personal message with pre-filled information

Discourse now supports composing a new (pre-filled) personal message via URL! To compose a new pre-filled message, modify URL params like this: https://discourse.example.com/new-message?username=techapj&title=message%20title&body=message%20body This will open a composer window pre-filled with username, title and body. Breaking down the link / URL to show the available options, we have: the base URL / link: https://discourse.example.com/new-message the ? URL operator to add the dif…

[debryc (Deborah Chang)]

I meant, will the Start New User Tutorial link be included in future automated messages?

[dax (Daniela)]

@debryc

I meant, will the Start New User Tutorial link be included in future automated messages?

@codinghorror

Sure I support this, can we add it as a synonym @tgxworld?

I would say yes

[tgxworld (Alan Tan)]

It turns out that is nothing for me to do here. What I forgot is that I built the triggers in a way that they can be customized via the admin panel.

Simply change the reset_trigger in admin > Customize > Text Content and

[Stephen]

@tgxworld

I built the triggers in a way that they can be customized via the admin panel

That’s only going to allow for a community to replace the trigger though, rather than add a synonym.

@codinghorror

Sure I support this, can we add it as a synonym @tgxworld?

It creates the risk someone familiar with Discourse from another community being unable to use the standard trigger.

[tgxworld (Alan Tan)]

@codinghorror will need to confirm but I assumed that he suggested adding a synonym because we thought we didn’t have a way to customize those triggers.

[debryc (Deborah Chang)]

@tgxworld

will need to confirm but I assumed that he suggested adding a synonym because we thought we didn’t have a way to customize those triggers.

Yes, my original thought was that I didn’t have a way to customize the triggers. At the same time, I do think it’s a more user-friendly command in general, so I continue to advocate for it to be a synonym to make the transition between discourse instances seamless.

As an FYI - my pronouns are she/her/hers.