MSDN Documentation

Create an Azure Bot

This guide walks you through the process of creating a new bot using the Azure Bot Service. We'll cover the essential steps to get your bot up and running.

Prerequisites

• An Azure subscription. If you don't have one, you can sign up for a free trial.
• Visual Studio Code or another supported IDE.
• Node.js and npm installed (if you choose the Node.js template).

Steps to Create a Bot

1. Navigate to the Azure Portal:

   Open your web browser and go to https://portal.azure.com/. Log in with your Azure account credentials.

2. Create a New Resource:

   Click on the + Create a resource button in the upper-left corner of the Azure portal.

3. Search for "Bot":

   In the search bar, type "Bot" and select Azure Bot from the search results. Then, click Create.

4. Configure Bot Settings:

   You will be presented with a form to configure your bot. Fill in the following details:

   • Bot handle: A unique name for your bot (e.g., MyAwesomeChatBot).
   • Subscription: Select your Azure subscription.
   • Resource group: Choose an existing resource group or create a new one.
   • Pricing tier: Select a pricing tier. The F0 (Free) tier is suitable for development and testing.
   • Microsoft App ID: Choose 'Create new Microsoft App ID'. This will automatically create an App Registration in Azure Active Directory for your bot.
   
5. Review and Create:

   Once you have filled in all the required fields, click on the Review + create button. After Azure validates the settings, click Create.

6. Deploy Your Bot:

   The deployment process will take a few minutes. Once completed, click Go to resource.

Next Steps

Congratulations! You have successfully created an Azure Bot resource. Now you can proceed to:

• Set up your bot's development environment.
• Understand bot concepts.
• Connect your bot to various channels like Web Chat, Microsoft Teams, or Slack.

Here's a quick example of how you might interact with your bot using the Bot Framework SDK:

// Example using Node.js Bot Framework SDK
const builder = require('botbuilder');
const restify = require('restify');

// Setup Restify Server
const server = restify.createServer();
server.listen(process.env.port || process.env.PORT || 3978, function () {
   console.log('%s listening to %s', server.name, server.url);
});

// Create chat connector for communicating with the Bot Framework Service
const connector = new builder.ChatConnector({
    appId: process.env.MICROSOFT_APP_ID,
    appPassword: process.env.MICROSOFT_APP_PASSWORD
});

// Listen for messages from users
server.post('/api/messages', connector.listen());

// Create your bot with a single dialog that echoes the user's message
const bot = new builder.UniversalBot(connector, [
    function (session) {
        session.send('Hi, I am your bot. You said: %s', session.message.text);
    }
]);
            

To test your bot, you can use the Web Chat channel directly within the Azure portal's Azure Bot resource page, or use the Bot Framework Emulator.

Get Started with Bot Development