After a successful submission of a BOT, Microsoft registers the BOT’s IM address as a ‘provisioned bot’. This makes the Messenger-servers treat your bot a little bit differently than normal Messenger accounts. For example, it removes (or extends?) the contact limit on your Reverse List (RL). This means an unlimited number of contacts will be able to add you to their buddy list. Next to this there are some limitations on the rate bots can change their personal messages, et cetera. These limitations have been introduced to make sure bots can be used by thousands of users without putting to much load on the Messenger network.
It appears that provisioned BOTs also aren’t able to receive status notifications of their contacts, a feature which is necessary for WebIM. Weird to notice the features you can use change after developing and testing an application.
However, I am pretty sure Microsoft will try to disable this limitation on the bot, since there was no way I could have known about this before submitting the bot. Colloquis even explains how to receive status notifications at their forum.
More good news: the WebIM Windows Live Spaces gadget I promised is finished. Once WebIM works again, you’ll be able to put the WebIM functionality on your Space in a matter of seconds! Actually you can already add the gadget to your space, via the Windows Live Gallery entry. However, it’ll show “status: Unknown” until the bot problem is fixed.
]]>
Step 1: register as webim user
You don’t want to show your IM address all over the web, so the first thing you should do is binding your email address to a webim nickname. Open a conversation with LiveBot, and say something like ‘register for webim’, and you’ll be able to pick a nickname. You can always unregister by saying ‘disable webim’, and you can change your username by saying ’change my webim username’. Let’s say we registered ourselve as John.
Obtaining John’s status
From now on, we’ll be able to get John’s Messenger status. There are three URLs we can use for this.
The status will be either ‘active’, ‘away’, ‘offline’, or ‘unknown’.
Starting a WebIM conversation with John
Let’s say John maintains a website. He can put an iframe on his website, and use http://livebot.msgweb.nl/_api/webim/john/chat/ as source. This is a simple module which shows his status, and prompts his visitor for his name when he wants to start a chat with John. John can also write his own interface asking for his visitor’s name. If Ronald wants to chat with John, John should lead him to http://livebot.msgweb.nl/_api/webim/john/chat/ronald/.
Windows Live Spaces Gadget
Would you like to show your presence information and a WebIM-chat-form on your Windows Live Space? Install the WebIM Gadget on your space!
Sample, contact me!
Here is my WebIM frame:
]]>Basics
Include the script http://livebot.msgweb.nl/_api/extended_activities.js in the head section of your activity. Call ActivityExtender.Initialize() just before ext.Channel.Initialize().
It’s not recommended to use any of the API calls before Channel_OnRemoteAppsLoaded has been called.
Instead of window.external, always use ‘ext’.
Reference
CHANNEL OBJECT
New events:
Edited events:
Edited functions:
New properties:
USERS OBJECT
New functions:
USER OBJECT
New properties:
Testing
To test your own ‘extended activity’, create a msgrp2p.xml file in your Messenger directory, as described in the original API documentation. Then, say ‘activity’ to the bot. When it says ‘What application do you want me to start?’ don’t choose one of the options, but just type ‘test activity http://url-of-your-activity’ instead.
The activity extender comes with a debugging module. Simply call ActivityExtender.Initialize(true) instead of calling the function without any parameters. You can now call ActivityExtender.debug(message), to add a debug message.
Example
Take a look at the source of the Memory game!
]]>Don’t forget to add LiveBot to your Messenger contact list. Simply add livebot@msgweb.nl as one of your buddies. You can also just click here, if you’re using Internet Explorer.
LiveBot brings enhances your instant messaging experience with various new features. Continue reading to find out more about them.
Activity Extender
Use activities with more then two users. The bot comes with two built-in activities: Memory and Meeting Place. Exposes an API so developers can create there own enhanced activities. Read more…
WebIM
Show your messenger status on your website or blog. Let people chat with you directly from your website, without forcing them to sign in somewhere. Read more…
RSS
LiveBot will notify you when your favourite feeds get updated. Read more…
Virtual Earth imagery to Display Picture converter
Looking for a new Display Picture? Be original, and use a satellite (or birds-eye) image from your favourite place on earth. Read more…
]]>