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Handle multiple bots on the same server
 
 

I have several bots on the same server and interrogate each on a different port.
My concern is how to switch from one bot to another without redoing a build of the bot to launch?

Thank you for a help.

 

 
  [ # 1 ]

there are a couple of techniques for multiple bots.  One is to compile them all in the same build, on the same port, with each having a different bot name and possibly a bot id.  You can have up to 64 different bots in a build (but only in the same language).  If you have a single machine running multiple copies of cs on different ports, you can tell an instance to relocate source and TOPIC folder to different places, so each can build independently

 

 
  [ # 2 ]

Thank you.
I understand and my case is the last. Is there a start command to start a CS copy with a default bot instead of making a build of the bot so that it appears by default.

 

 
  [ # 3 ]

If you have a multibot build, you can use bot=xxxx on the run command (or cs_init.txt) to specify what bot to be running.

 

 
  [ # 4 ]

Yes, I have multibot build but that I run the CS copy on a specific port like ./LinuxChatScript64 port=1099 bot=toto, it does not launch toto by default but for example the last bot compiled on this port. I thought that by launching this command it would prevent me from making a build of toto to make it available on this port.

Where do I find cs_init.txt or do I have to create it?

 

 
  [ # 5 ]

cs_init.txt is a top level file you create.  But it is no different than using bot=xxx on the command line. And that command does not change the default bot. Normally if you want a specific bot from outside, you’d pass that in as part of the 3-string message format. That’s what allows a server to serve lots of people different bots with the same server and port.
You already are selecting a port somehow. Can’t you name the bot within?

In a pinch, I could add a parameter that allows you to change the default bot on startup.

 

 
  [ # 6 ]

Sorry for my late response.
Indeed it would be very interesting to be able to change the default bot on startup unlike the build to do to activate a bot.

ALso, How can I name the bot while I choose the port?

 

 
  [ # 7 ]

1) you could have a batch file that edits a cs_init file to add a defaultbot= on startup or pass that in as a parameter to the cs command line for launch.

 

 
  [ # 8 ]

The default option on the command line does not set the specified bot. You have to go through :build bot
to have the wanted bot.

In which folder should I put the cs_init file?
I am under windows

 

 
  [ # 9 ]

the file is top level of CS, but if param doesnt work it wont help. I will have to debug param

 

 
  [ # 10 ]

ok, Maybe I have to open an issue for reminder.

 

 
  [ # 11 ]

Bruce,

Frejus states that he always gets the “last bot built”. Could that be because his filesXXXX.txt only picks up a single bot definition? This is how all of the samples like Harry work. You have a filesXXX.txt file for each individual bot.

According to: ChatScript Multiple Bots manual

if you want them to cohabit you must have a single filesxxx.txt file that names the separate bot’s folders- they must be built together

If he wants to have Dorothy and Toto, then he should have a filesOZ1.txt file that picks up /RAWDATA/Dorothy/botdef.top and /RAWDATA/Toto/botdef.top. He would then

:build OZ1 

If he does this then both bot definitions would be in the build and the bot=toto thing would work.

If this is correct then you would not have to add any new parameters to the engine.

Stephen G.

 

 
  [ # 12 ]

this is true

 

 
  [ # 13 ]

Bruce,

On a related note. What is the use case for having multiple bots in the same engine instance? Is it possible to have bot A send a message to bot B and have bot B respond back? If yes, how?

As I understand it the purpose of multiple bots is to allow each one to specialize in a type/area of conversation. Bot A could handle initial customer greeting and figuring out what area of information the customer wants [returns: bot-B, order-status: bot-C, find-a-product: bot-D], once it does that, it could pass the conversation of to the other bot. Is this thinking correct? Are there other use-cases for multiple bots?

Stephen G.

 

 
  [ # 14 ]

The enterprise use case is for A-B testing or experimental bot testing or as you mentioned, different areas of conversation. Typically we have 7-10 ongoing a-b tests where I work that are around for a few weeks before deciding to kill them or merge them into the std bot. There is no obvious way to have separated bots send each other messages, except by a call to an intermediary program via something like popen or system, but I dont have a real use for that.

 

 
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