Initialize the Azure Bot Service Project
- Open Visual Studio and create a new Bot Framework project. Choose the "Empty Bot" template within the Bot Framework v4 SDK options. This setup gives you the basic framework to expand upon with custom logic and connectors.
- Ensure the necessary NuGet packages are installed. You’ll commonly need the `Microsoft.Bot.Builder`, `Microsoft.Bot.Schema`, and `Microsoft.Bot.Builder.Integration.AspNet.Core` packages. Install them via the NuGet Package Manager Console:
Install-Package Microsoft.Bot.Builder -Version 4.x.x
Install-Package Microsoft.Bot.Schema -Version 4.x.x
Install-Package Microsoft.Bot.Builder.Integration.AspNet.Core -Version 4.x.x
Create the Bot Configuration
- Establish configuration settings using `appsettings.json`. Insert your Bot's Microsoft App ID and Password, which are used for authentication and interaction with Azure Bot Service.
- Example configuration:
{
"MicrosoftAppId": "your-app-id",
"MicrosoftAppPassword": "your-app-password"
}
Implement the Bot Logic
- Create a new class, e.g., `EchoBot`, which inherits from `ActivityHandler`. Override the `OnMessageActivityAsync` method to process incoming messages and craft the response logic.
public class EchoBot : ActivityHandler
{
protected override Task OnMessageActivityAsync(ITurnContext<IMessageActivity> turnContext, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
{
// Echo the received text message from the user
var replyText = $"Echo: {turnContext.Activity.Text}";
return turnContext.SendActivityAsync(MessageFactory.Text(replyText, replyText), cancellationToken);
}
}
Configure the Dependency Injection
- In `Startup.cs`, configure the services to properly utilize dependency injection for your `EchoBot` class. The `ConfigureServices` method should register `EchoBot`:
public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
{
services.AddControllers().AddNewtonsoftJson();
// Register the bot that will handle incoming messages.
services.AddTransient<IBot, EchoBot>();
services.AddSingleton<IStorage, MemoryStorage>();
}
Set Up HTTP Entry Point
- Inside the `Startup.cs` `Configure` method, include the routing for the bot. Ensure the ASP.NET Core pipeline can process requests coming into the Bot Framework Virtual Assistant by including `app.UseEndpoints`:
public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app, IWebHostEnvironment env)
{
app.UseRouting();
app.UseEndpoints(endpoints =>
{
endpoints.MapControllers();
});
}
Testing Your Bot Locally
- Utilize the Bot Framework Emulator to debug and test your bot locally. Connect to your bot by entering the endpoint (usually `http://localhost:3978/api/messages`)—ensure you configure the MicrosoftAppId and Password fields if authentication keys have been set.
- The Bot Framework Emulator will mirror Azure’s cloud interface and simulate chat interactions. Errors and logs can be checked within the console and logging UI.
Deploy Your Bot to Azure
- Once verified locally, deploy your bot to Azure using Visual Studio's publishing tools, or the Azure CLI for continuous integration and delivery setups. This will connect your logic to the live Azure Bot Service.
- In Azure, ensure that your bot service is properly linked with Microsoft’s Bot Channel Registration, aligning the Azure App Service URL with the endpoint registered within the Azure Bot Service.
