Adding Slots to an Alexa Skill

1. Initialize the ASK CLI:

ask init --no-browser

1. Copy/paste the URL that appears from the terminal to a browser window.
2. Log in to the developer console when prompted.
3. Copy/paste the authorization code.
4. Enter y for Yes to connect to the AWS account already set up on the VM.
5. Choose the default AWS account.

1. Clone the template skill:

   ask new --url https://github.com/linuxacademy/content-aws-skill-builder.git
   

2. Navigate into the directory:

   cd content-aws-skill-builder
   

3. To start with a template and perform the tasks for this lab yourself:

   git checkout lab_slots
   

4. To start with the solution to the lab:

   git checkout lab_slots_solution
   

In ../models/en-US.json:

1. Add custom slots for pet_type and pet_name to RegisterPetIntent.

2. Change the samples in the same intent to say '"i want to register my {pet_type} names {pet_name}"'.

   {
     ...,
     {
       "name": "RegisterPetIntent",
       "slots": [
         {
           "name": "pet_type",
           "type": "petType"
         },
         {
           "name": "pet_name",
           "type": "petName"
         }
       ],
       "samples": [
         "i want to register my {pet_type} named {pet_name}"
       ]
     },
     ...
   

3. Add custom slot type "types" at the same level as "intents".

     ...],
     "types": [
       {
         "name": "petType",
         "values": [
           {
             "name": {
               "value": "pet_type"
             }
           }
         ]
       },
       {
         "name": "petName",
         "values": [
           {
             "name": {
               "value": "pet_name"
              }
           }
         ]
       }
     ]
     ...
   

In ../lambda/custom/index.js:

1. Change the LaunchRequestHandler message to: "Exclusive Veterinary Services welcomes you. You can say things like I want to register my dog named Scraps or I want to register my cat named Freckles."

     const LaunchRequestHandler = {
       canHandle(handlerInput) {
         return Alexa.getRequestType(handlerInput.requestEnvelope) === 'LaunchRequest';
       },
       handle(handlerInput) {
         const speakOutput = "Exclusive Veterinary Services welcomes you. You can say things like I want to register my dog named Scraps or I want to register my cat named Freckles.";
   
         return handlerInput.responseBuilder
           .speak(speakOutput)
           .reprompt(speakOutput)
           .getResponse();
       }
     };
   

2. Change RegisterPetIntentHandler to use custom slots.

     const RegisterPetIntentHandler = {
         canHandle(handlerInput) {
             return Alexa.getRequestType(handlerInput.requestEnvelope) === 'IntentRequest'
                 && Alexa.getIntentName(handlerInput.requestEnvelope) === 'RegisterPetIntent';
         },
         handle(handlerInput) {
             pet_type = handlerInput.requestEnvelope.request.intent.slots.pet_type.value
             pet_name = handlerInput.requestEnvelope.request.intent.slots.pet_name.value
             const speakOutput = "We are happy to welcome your " + pet_type + ' ' + pet_name + "!";
   
             return handlerInput.responseBuilder
                 .speak(speakOutput)
                 //.reprompt('add a reprompt if you want to keep the session open for the user to respond')
                 .getResponse();
         }
     };
   

1. Deploy the skill:

   ask deploy 
   

2. Begin performing a test:

   ask dialog --locale en-US
   

3. The prompt will change to User >.

4. Enter open exclusive vet and follow the prompts.

At this point, the skill you just created should be deleted from your Alexa Developer Console.

Please do so here: Alexa Console.