Tags and variables#

The bot stores two kinds of its own data about a contact: tags and variables. The bot itself also has global variables — shared by all contacts.

Tags#

A tag is a short mark on a contact. Tags are used to pick contacts and to branch the scenario.

How to assign a tag#

You do not need to create tags in advance: a tag appears when it is assigned for the first time.

• With the scenario. The "Assign tag" block sets tags, the "Delete tag" block removes them.
• Manually. In the list of contacts or in the contact card, click "Add", type the tag's name and press Enter. The cross on a tag removes it.
• When uploading from Excel — from the column with tags. See the Import and export page.

A tag's name in the account is up to 60 characters. The same tag is not added to a contact a second time.

Where tags are used#

• in the filters of the list of contacts — "Contact contains tags";
• in the filters of a mailing's recipients — "Contains tags" and "Does not contain tags";
• in the "Condition" block — "Contact contains tags" and "Contact does not contain tags".

Tag hints#

When you type a tag, the platform suggests names that have already been used in this bot. The list of these names is the "Tag hints" list: open "Lists" in the bot's menu and click the "Tag hints" row.

A name gets into the list when you first type the tag in the account. You cannot create or rename tags here — the list is needed to remove what is unnecessary from the hints: typos and tags you no longer use.

• To delete one name, click the bin icon in the row.
• To delete several, tick them with the checkboxes and click "Delete …".

Note

Deleting a tag from the list does not affect contacts' tags. Those who already have the tag keep it — only the hint disappears.

Contact variables#

A variable is a name and a value that the bot stores for a contact: an answer to a question, a chosen product, an order amount. Every contact has their own values.

Where variables come from#

• From the scenario. The "Save user answer to variable" and "Variable operation" blocks write values, the "Delete variable" block deletes them.
• From the link the person came by. The link's parameters are saved to the new contact's variables. Variables whose names start with utm_ are shown in the list of contacts in the UTM column. Links are covered in the Links to chatbot section.
• Manually — in the "Contact data" section of the card.
• When uploading from Excel — from the chosen columns of the file.

How to use them#

In a message's text, a contact variable is written in double curly braces with the $ sign: {{ $city }}. All the notations, functions and expressions are in the Templates section.

You can pick contacts by a variable's value with the "Contact contains variables" filter in the list of contacts, and check it in the scenario with the "Condition" block.

User variable hints#

A list of the variable names that have occurred in the bot. Open "Lists" and click the row with this name.

Using the list, the platform suggests names when you type a variable in the contact card, in filters and when uploading from Excel. The contact export depends on it too: a column in the file is created for every variable from the list.

Names are deleted the same way as tags: with the bin in the row, or with the checkboxes and the "Delete …" button.

Note

Deleting a variable from the list does not affect contacts' variables: the values stay. But there will be no more hints for this name and no column in the export.

Global variables#

A global variable belongs to the bot and is the same for all contacts: the shop's address, the support phone number, a counter of promotion participants. You change the value in one place — and it changes in all the messages where the variable is inserted.

Open "Lists" and click the "Global variables" row. The "Variables" page opens.

Creating a variable#

1. Click "Create".
2. In the "Create variable" window, fill in "Name" and "Value".
3. Click "Create".

The name is up to 255 characters, the value — up to 1000. One bot can have no more than 5000 global variables.

Tip

Name variables without spaces: shop_address, support_phone. Such a name is easier to insert into text.

Changing and deleting#

• The pencil icon opens the "Edit variable" window. Only the value can be changed — the name stays the same.
• The bin icon deletes the variable. Before deleting, check that it is not used in the scenario's messages.

The scenario can change global variables too — with the "Save user answer to variable" and "Variable operation" blocks.

How to use them#

In a message's text, a global variable is written in double curly braces without the $ sign: {{ shop_address }}. How to write a name with spaces and how to use a variable in expressions is on the Data you can insert page.

If something does not work#

• "This variable already exists." A global variable with this name has already been created. Open it with the pencil and change the value.
• "You cannot create more than 5000 global variables for one bot." The limit on the number of global variables is reached. Delete the ones you do not need.
• A variable is missing from the contact export. Its name is not in the "User variable hints" list. Add a variable with this name through "Add field" in the card of a contact who does not have it yet — the name returns to the list.
• A tag is deleted from the hints, but contacts with it are still found. This is how it should be: the list does not change contacts' tags. To remove a tag, take it off in the card or with the "Delete tag" block.