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Embedding Webchat v3 using npm lets you add a Webchat widget to your JavaScript project. This approach works best for modern web apps that use npm packages and bundlers. The Webchat npm package lets you pin versions and integrate Webchat into CI/CD pipelines, giving your team better control and stability across environments.

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Prerequisites

  • Basic understanding of JavaScript and npm. Familiarity with how to run a JavaScript project, for example, using npm start or similar commands.
  • A JavaScript project set up with npm and the ability to modify it.
  • Access to a Cognigy.AI instance with the Webchat v3 Endpoint.
  • Familiarity with Webchat v3 embedding parameters. Keep in mind that:
    • Specifying parameters in the embedding code overwrites parameters configured in the Endpoint settings.
    • Some settings are specific to embedding parameters and aren’t available in the Endpoint settings.

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Restrictions

  • If your app uses React, the React version must be earlier than 19.0; 19.0 isn’t allowed.

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Embedding

To embed Webchat v3 in your JavaScript project, follow these steps:
  1. Install the Webchat npm package: 
    npm install @cognigy/webchat
  2. Import and initialize the Webchat widget in your JavaScript code:
    • ESM (requires React)
    • UMD (includes React)
    When using the ESM build in a non-React project, you need to include React and ReactDOM manually:
    <!-- Include React and ReactDOM -->
<script src="https://unpkg.com/react@18/umd/react.development.js"></script>
<script src="https://unpkg.com/react-dom@18/umd/react-dom.development.js"></script>

<!-- Include Webchat ESM bundle via bundler (for example, Webpack, Rollup) -->
<script type="module">
  import { initWebchat } from "@cognigy/webchat";

  initWebchat("https://endpoint-trial.cognigy.ai/c62364a8a1b1e986efc5c5b3bed5b2300aeab6788a6551f88fa24dcf9c37dbmf");
</script>

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Include Custom Plugins and Stylesheets

If you have custom plugins or stylesheets: 
import "./path/to/myPlugin.js";
import "./path/to/myStylesheet.css";

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Customize Webchat Settings

You can customize the widget using a configuration object passed to initWebchat: 
initWebchat('https://endpoint-trial.cognigy.ai/URLTOKEN', {
  settings: {
    colors: {
      primaryColor: "#fab",
    },
    behavior: {
      enableTypingIndicator: true,
      messageDelay: 5,
      enableSTT: true, // Note: Not supported in Firefox
    },
    embeddingConfiguration: {
      awaitEndpointConfig: true,
    },
    maintenance: {
      enabled: true,
      mode: "inform", // hide | disable | inform
      text: "The agent is currently in maintenance mode, try again later",
      title: "Maintenance hours",
    },
    widgetSettings: {
      customAllowedHtmlTags: ["a", "abbr", "address", "article", "b", "blockquote", "div", "span", "img", "p"], // Example
    },
  },
});

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RTL (Right-to-Left) Configuration

For RTL languages, ensure the HTML root element has the dir="rtl" attribute: 
<html lang="ar" dir="rtl"></html>
The Webchat widget will automatically adjust its layout.

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Test Webchat

Run your JavaScript project and verify the widget loads and interacts correctly.

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What’s Next?

Customize Webchat further to align with your brand identity and meet specific interaction goals:
  • Webchat API. Use the Webchat API to create tightly coupled integrations.
  • CSS Customization. Customize the look and feel of the Webchat to match the design language of your website.
  • Analytics API. Get notified and react to events that happen in your Webchat.
  • Custom Avatars. Change the avatar of the bot or user during the conversation.
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