How to receive follow-up messages in a Telegram bot function using python-telegram-bot

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1

I’m working on a Telegram bot using the python-telegram-bot library. My goal is to create a message sender bot. Here’s what I want to do:

  1. User types /send command
  2. Bot waits for the next message
  3. User types and sends the message
  4. Bot processes this message in the ‘get_additional_updates’ function

I’m stuck on step 4. I can’t figure out how to get the user’s follow-up message into the ‘get_additional_updates’ function. Here’s a simplified version of my code:

from telegram.ext import Updater, CommandHandler

def start(update, context):
    update.message.reply_text('Bot is ready!')

def get_additional_updates(update, context):
    # How do I get the next message here?
    pass

def main():
    updater = Updater('BOT_TOKEN', use_context=True)
    dp = updater.dispatcher
    dp.add_handler(CommandHandler('start', start))
    dp.add_handler(CommandHandler('send', get_additional_updates))
    updater.start_polling()
    updater.idle()

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

Can someone help me figure out how to receive the follow-up message in the ‘get_additional_updates’ function? I’ve looked through the docs but couldn’t find the answer. Thanks for any help!

2

I’ve dealt with this issue before, and in my experience, ConversationHandler offers a more robust solution than CommandHandler for handling multi-step interactions. In my projects, I transitioned the bot to a dedicated state after the /send command so it could wait for a follow-up message. Once the bot entered this waiting state, the subsequent message was automatically routed to the appropriate handler. This approach may require a bit more initial setup, but it reliably manages the conversation flow and simplifies the processing of user input.

3

To receive follow-up messages in your Telegram bot, it is advisable to use ConversationHandler rather than a CommandHandler. In a multi-step conversation, you can designate a specific state for waiting on the user’s next input. Once the user sends a message after the /send command, your conversation handler directs this message to a designated processing function. By importing and implementing ConversationHandler, you can manage transitions between expecting input and processing the message. This method enhances the conversation flow and makes it easier to manage multiple steps in user interactions.

4

hey there! i’ve run into this before. you might wanna try using ConversationHandler instead of CommandHandler. it lets u set up different states for ur bot, like waiting for a message after /send. then u can easily grab that next message in ur function. it’s way simpler than trying to hack it with just CommandHandler. good luck!