This article details the differences and limitations you may notice when implementing and interacting with an a Helpfruit chatbot on WhatsApp.
\nThese differences - eg in numbers of characters on a button - are because of WhatsApp's inherent channel limitations. Any application running on that channel would behave in the same way.
\nThere is no Welcome Message displayed on WhatsApp by default.
\nA new conversation can be forced (eg for testing purposes) by typing GET_STARTED.
\nLimited to six. Only the first six buttons will be shown on this channel, in blocks of 3:
\nButtons are attached to the message as shown
\nButtons are separated from the message, in two button blocks
\nThe following Helpfruit features are affected by this WhatsApp limitation. We recommend you review your use of these features prior to deploying your bot on WhatsApp:
\n![](\"https://portal.faqbot.nz/api/images/079d861d72cc4aca80c65588df217079/files/engagement%20on%20Whatsapp.jpeg?width=&height=1000\")
![](\"https://portal.faqbot.nz/api/images/079d861d72cc4aca80c65588df217079/files/WhatsApp%20follow%20up%20example.jpeg?width=1000&height=\")
\n
\n
Displays as a separate message below the answer message
\n![](\"https://portal.faqbot.nz/api/images/079d861d72cc4aca80c65588df217079/files/Whatsapp%20image%20handling.jpeg?width=1000&height=\")
On the web bot widget, images are displayed inline.
\n\n
URL is displayed in brackets after the link text.
\nIf the URL is long, you may wish to consider using a link shortening service (eg TinyURL, bit.ly)
\nLink displayed in full (see example above). Link shortening not possible.
\n\n
Not available in WhatsApp – answers are displayed as plain text.
\nLong answers are truncated with a “read more” link:
\n
4096 is the maximum number of characters for an answer message.
Web search results are displayed as a list of messages in sequence (no carousel option). Links are displayed in full as noted above.
\nAlso note formatting limitations, compared to web chatbot widget.
\nLimit web search results to maximum of 2, possibly fewer. This is set by Helpfruit team (admin feature).
\nDisplayed as a link. This is different to the web experience, where YouTube videos play in the chat widget.
\n
","description":"","isMarkdown":false,"publishedOnUtc":"2024-06-04T21:59:24.7589535","modifiedOnUtc":"2023-11-26T22:29:34.7054923"}