Hey everyone! I’m working on a Telegram bot where users send messages that get published on an external platform. The bot generates suggestions for what users might want to write, but they need to be able to modify these suggestions before sending them out.
Right now I just send the suggestion as a regular bot message and users have to copy-paste it into their input field. This works but it’s really annoying, especially on mobile devices where selecting and copying text is a pain.
What I really want is to somehow pre-fill the user’s text input area with my suggested content so they can just edit it directly and hit send. Has anyone figured out how to do this? I’m currently working with a Node.js library but I’m open to switching if there’s something better that supports this functionality.
Thanks for any help!
There’s no native way to pre-fill input fields in Telegram bots. I hit this same issue last year building a bot for social media posts. Here’s what worked: temporary storage with quick commands. When my bot suggests content, it saves the text with a unique ID and tells the user “Type /use123 to post this or /edit123 to modify it.” The edit command pulls up the stored text in a chat interface where they can say stuff like “make it more professional” or “add hashtags.” This actually created less friction than copy-paste since users just type short commands instead of wrestling with text selection on mobile. Keep the commands memorable and make editing feel like a conversation, not a technical process. Your Node.js setup can handle this easily with basic message handlers and temp storage.
No direct way to pre-fill user input fields through Telegram’s Bot API. Hit the same issue six months back building a content bot for my team. Here’s what worked: I built a draft system. Bot generates a suggestion, stores it temporarily, then sends two inline buttons: “Send as-is” and “Edit draft”. They pick edit, bot asks for modifications, I merge the changes with the original before posting. Another trick - use Telegram’s reply feature. Send the suggestion as a normal message, then follow up with “Reply above with edits, or send ‘OK’ to use as-is”. Cuts out copy-paste but still lets them modify stuff. Your Node.js library handles both methods fine. Focus on smooth conversation flow instead of fighting Telegram’s limits.
The Problem: You’re building a Telegram bot that suggests messages for users to send to an external platform. Currently, users must manually copy and paste the suggested text, which is cumbersome, especially on mobile devices. You want a way to pre-fill the user’s input field with the suggested content.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
The Telegram Bot API doesn’t directly support pre-filling user input fields. This is a fundamental limitation of the platform itself; no bot library can circumvent it. Therefore, the solution lies in designing a more user-friendly interaction flow that minimizes the need for copy-pasting.
Step-by-Step Guide:
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Implement an Interactive Workflow: Instead of trying to directly pre-fill the input field, create an interactive experience using inline keyboards. When your bot generates a suggestion, it presents the user with a series of buttons offering different editing options (e.g., “Change Tone,” “Make Shorter,” “Add Emoji”).
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Handle Button Clicks: Each button click should trigger a specific action. For example, clicking “Change Tone” might send the suggested text to an AI service that modifies its tone, and then the bot presents the revised text. The “Add Emoji” button could present a selection of emojis for the user to choose. This approach allows users to refine the suggestion step-by-step without tedious copy-pasting.
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Choose a Suitable Framework: Several frameworks can facilitate this interactive workflow. The original poster mentioned Latenode, which connects Telegram webhooks with AI services; this is a good choice for managing the back-and-forth between user clicks and content generation. However, other Node.js libraries could also be used depending on your existing setup and preferred architecture.
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Consider a Template System (Optional): For frequently used message formats, build a template system. Users could save common message templates and quickly access them for editing and sending. This approach enhances efficiency and reduces repetitive work.
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
- Error Handling: Ensure robust error handling in your bot’s logic to gracefully manage situations where the AI service fails or the user cancels an edit.
- User Experience: Prioritize a seamless and intuitive user experience. Clear button labels, concise prompts, and well-structured responses all contribute to a smooth interaction.
- Scalability: If your bot needs to handle a large number of users, consider optimizing the performance of your AI service and message processing.
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!
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