How to Set Slots
This guide explains how to programmatically assign or clear slot values in your flows. With the Set Slots step, you can streamline your conversation logic by managing slot (stored user data) values independently from direct user input.
What is a Slot?
Think of slots as your assistant’s memory. They store important pieces of information from the conversation, like a user’s name, date, or location, and can be referenced throughout the flow.
Overview
With the Set Slots step, you can:
- Assign a value: Automatically update a slot value (e.g. set the 'age_category' slot to 'Minor' based on the user's birth year).
- Clear a value: Reset a slot value (e.g. clear the 'amount' slot if the user exceeds the allowed transaction limit to prompt re-entry)
This step runs silently in the background without any dialogue. If you need the assistant to prompt the user for input, consider using a Collect Step instead.
Setting a Slot Value
For example, if the user mentions their birth year during a conversation, we can automatically set the age_category slot to Minor and clear the permission_granted slot, streamlining the interaction accordingly.
Setting Multiple Slots
You can set multiple slots in one step. Simply click on "Set another slot" button to add more. You can see how many slots are set in one step by reading the number on the node.
Clearing a Slot
When you choose to clear a slot's value, its current value is reset, and the system will treat it as if it were null.
Use this option when a slot’s current value is no longer valid or needed. For example, if a user attempts to transfer more money than available, you can inform them of the issue and then clear the amount slot, prompting them to enter a correct value.
