Save chatter information using the Capture block

Overview

The Capture block takes information provided by a chatter and saves it in a variable. You can then use that variable to tailor the chat experience based on the chatter’s specific details. This is an important tool for creating real value in your chatters conversations.

To learn more about variables and how to use them, check out our Variables guide.

Use the Capture block

Insert a Capture block in an Answer when you need to record and work with data directly from the chatter. You can use the variable it creates in a range of other processes. This lets you tailor those processes according to the information from the chatter.

For example:

In a Conditional block to customize responses and actions based on the chatter’s selection
Transfer data to support ticket fields in a handoff block
To simply address the chatter by name

If chatters don’t have a piece of information required to continue through the Answer flow, your bot can serve an Answer called Cancel Capture, which prompts them to ask about something else instead.

Place the Capture block at a point in an Answer where you need to gather data from the chatter. Keep in mind that the Capture block must always precede any blocks that are to use the variable it creates and populates.

A Capture block can only capture one variable at a time. To capture more than one variable, add a separate Capture block for each.

On the Ada dashboard, go to Build > Answers and open an existing Answer, or create a new one. Drag and drop a Capture block into the Answer editor.
Configure the Capture block using the table below as a guide:

Field	Instructions
Content	Add a message to this field requesting the information you want to capture.
Placeholder Text on the Chat Input (Optional)	Use this field to customize the placeholder text visible in the message field. Craft a brief instruction or example to help your chatters understand what information they should send.
Validation	Set the type of data the created variable will accept: Text – Accepts any character type. Email – Only accepts valid email addresses. Also verifies that the domain is valid, such as .com, .ca, etc. Phone Number – Only accepts input formatted as a phone number, disregarding any letters or special characters. Number – Only accepts numbers; allows periods and commas. Yes and No – Only accepts a positive or negative response (e.g., yes/no, true/false).
Capture Settings	This section contains toggles that let you control the block’s interaction behavior. Always Ask Deactivated – The Capture block won’t display for chatters if its variable is already populated. This ensures the bot only asks for specific information once, such as a chatter’s name. Activated – The block will always trigger whenever it is encountered, and overwrite any data that already exists in its variable. Required Deactivated – A Skip button displays in the chat window. Clicking this allows the chatter to skip the Capture block and move on to the next block in the Answer. Activated – A Never mind button displays in the chat window. Clicking this exits the Answer entirely, and directs the chatter to the Cancel Capture Answer instead.
Save Response As	Use the drop-down menu to choose the variable the Capture block populates with the captured data. You can select an existing variable, or create a new one.
Smart Detection (Optional)	Your bot can detect relevant information that returning chatters have provided in past conversations. Depending on your bot’s configuration, this option may not be available. Click the Select entity type drop-down menu and select the relevant entity for this capture event. Click Clear to remove a previously assigned entity type (e.g., full name, city, airport, date or time, etc.)

At the bottom of the Answer editor, click Save.