How to schedule recurring messages with python-telegram-bot

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1

I’m new to making Telegram bots with Python. I want to send messages at set times but I’m having trouble. The callback_minute function doesn’t seem to work right with multiple arguments. I’ve looked at examples and docs for the run_repeating function but I’m stuck.

Here’s what I’m trying to do:

def callback_minute(self, context):
    context.bot.send_message(chat_id='-1001198785547', text='Time check!')

j = updater.job_queue
j.run_repeating(bot.callback_minute, interval=60, first=10)

But I get this error:

ValueError: The following arguments have not been supplied: context

How can I fix this to send scheduled messages? I want to get the chat_id dynamically if possible. Any tips?

2

hey there! i’ve dealt with this before. try changing ur callback function like this:

def callback_minute(context):
context.bot.send_message(chat_id=context.job.context, text=‘Time check!’)

j.run_repeating(callback_minute, interval=60, first=10, context=‘-1001198785547’)

this should fix the error and let u send scheduled msgs. good luck!

3

I’ve been through this exact issue when setting up scheduled messages for my Telegram bot. The problem is likely with how you’re passing the callback function to run_repeating.

Try modifying your code like this:

def callback_minute(context):
    context.bot.send_message(chat_id='-1001198785547', text='Time check!')

j = updater.job_queue
j.run_repeating(callback_minute, interval=60, first=10)

Notice I removed ‘self’ from the function definition and call. This should resolve the ValueError you’re seeing.

For getting the chat_id dynamically, you could store it in context.bot_data when the bot first interacts with a chat, then retrieve it in the callback. Something like:

def callback_minute(context):
    chat_id = context.bot_data.get('chat_id', 'default_chat_id')
    context.bot.send_message(chat_id=chat_id, text='Time check!')

Hope this helps! Let me know if you run into any other issues.

4

I encountered a similar issue when implementing scheduled messages in my Telegram bot. The key is to understand how the job queue works with context.

Here’s a solution that should work:

def callback_minute(context):
    chat_id = context.job.context
    context.bot.send_message(chat_id=chat_id, text='Time check!')

j = updater.job_queue
j.run_repeating(callback_minute, interval=60, first=10, context='-1001198785547')

This approach passes the chat_id as context to the job, making it accessible within the callback function. It’s more flexible as you can easily change the chat_id for different jobs.

For dynamic chat_ids, consider storing them in a database or configuration file, then retrieve them when setting up the job queue. This allows for easier management of multiple chats and schedules.