I’m having trouble with my Telegram bot. It’s built using the python-telegram-bot library. When I try to delete a message the bot just sent, I get a weird error. Here’s what’s happening:
def greet(update, context):
reply = update.message.reply_text('Hello there!')
print(reply)
msg_num = reply['message_id']
chat_num = reply['chat']['id']
from telegram import Bot
result = Bot.delete_message(chat_id=chat_num, message_id=msg_num)
print(result)
This code is part of a larger bot setup. When I run it, I get a TypeError saying delete_message() is missing a required ‘self’ argument. I’ve looked at the docs, but I’m still stuck. How can I fix this so the bot can delete its own messages? I’m new to making Telegram bots, so any help would be great!
hey sophia, looks like ur using the Bot class wrong. try making a Bot instance first like:
bot = Bot(token=‘YOUR_BOT_TOKEN’)
bot.delete_message(chat_id=chat_num, message_id=msg_num)
that should fix the ‘self’ error. lmk if u need more help!
The issue you’re facing is due to incorrect method invocation. When working with python-telegram-bot, it’s crucial to use the bot instance provided by the context object. Here’s a corrected version of your code:
def greet(update, context):
reply = update.message.reply_text('Hello there!')
msg_num = reply.message_id
chat_num = reply.chat.id
result = context.bot.delete_message(chat_id=chat_num, message_id=msg_num)
print(result)
This approach utilizes the existing bot instance, eliminating the need for creating a new Bot object. It’s more efficient and aligns with the library’s design. Remember to implement error handling for cases where message deletion might fail due to timing or permission issues.
I’ve encountered a similar issue while developing Telegram bots. The problem lies in how you’re calling the delete_message method. Instead of using Bot.delete_message directly, you should utilize the context.bot object that’s passed to your handler function.
Here’s how you can modify your code:
def greet(update, context):
reply = update.message.reply_text('Hello there!')
msg_num = reply.message_id
chat_num = reply.chat.id
result = context.bot.delete_message(chat_id=chat_num, message_id=msg_num)
print(result)
This approach leverages the existing bot instance, avoiding the need to create a new one. It’s more efficient and aligns with the library’s intended usage. Remember to add a small delay before deletion if you want users to see the message briefly.