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Publishing Your Telegram Form in Chatty Form

This guide explains how to publish your form so people can complete it through a native Telegram bot conversation.

Overview

Publishing makes your flow available to connected channels. For Telegram-first forms, users answer bot questions directly in Telegram, and all responses are collected in your dashboard for review.

Prerequisites

Before publishing, ensure that:

  • Your chat flow is complete with no broken connections
  • All required input fields have appropriate labels and names
  • You've tested the flow thoroughly using the preview panel
  • Your chat UI settings are configured as desired
  • Your Telegram bot token is connected in Settings if you want native Telegram delivery
  • The bot's status is currently "Draft"

Step-by-Step Publishing Process

Step 1: Prepare Your Chat

  1. Review your entire conversation flow
  2. Ensure all paths lead to logical conclusions
  3. Test the conversation using the "Test Chat" panel
  4. Verify all required input fields have both "Label" and "Name" filled
  5. Save your flow using the "Save Flow" button

Step 2: Access the Publish Feature

  1. Make sure you're in the flow builder for your chatbot
  2. Locate the "Publish" button in the top navigation toolbar
  3. Click the "Publish" button

Step 3: Handle Validation (If Required)

If your chat contains input fields that require validation:

  1. You'll see any validation errors highlighted
  2. Common issues include missing "Label" or "Name" fields in input nodes
  3. Fix any validation errors before proceeding
  4. Try publishing again after making corrections

Step 4: Complete the Publishing Process

  1. The system will process your publish request
  2. Wait for the confirmation message
  3. You'll receive a success notification when publishing is complete
  4. The bot status will change from "Draft" to "Published"

Step 5: Connect Telegram Delivery

  1. Open the bot settings page
  2. Select the "Telegram" tab
  3. Paste the token from BotFather and connect it
  4. Copy the generated Telegram start link
  5. Share the Telegram link with people who should complete the form

Telegram delivery uses native bot messages and inline buttons. It does not embed the web form or iframe inside Telegram.

What Happens When You Publish

Public Availability

  • Your Telegram form becomes available through the connected bot link
  • Users can answer input questions as Telegram replies
  • Single-choice select fields appear as Telegram inline keyboard buttons
  • Your web public URL and embed code can still be used as secondary web channels
  • The chat begins collecting responses immediately

Data Collection

  • All user interactions are recorded
  • Responses are stored securely in your dashboard
  • You can monitor submissions in real-time

Behavior Updates

  • The settings and flow you've configured become active
  • Users will experience the chat as you've designed it
  • Any email notifications you've enabled will start working

Managing Published Chats

Continuing to Edit

  • You can continue editing your chat flow even after publishing
  • Changes made in the flow builder don't immediately affect the published version
  • You'll need to republish to apply changes to the live version

Republishing Updated Versions

  1. Make your desired changes in the flow builder
  2. Save the updated flow
  3. Click the "Publish" button again
  4. Your updates will be applied to the live chat

Temporarily Unpublishing

While there isn't a direct unpublish feature:

  1. You can effectively unpublish by changing the flow to a simple "Under Construction" message
  2. Or share the embed code/link only when you want the chat active
  3. For permanent removal, you can delete the bot entirely

After Publishing

Share Your Chat

  • Use the Telegram start link as the primary form link
  • Use the public URL or embed code only when you also want a web form channel
  • Share via email, social media, or other channels

Monitor Activity

  • Visit the "Submissions" section to see responses
  • Check email notifications if enabled
  • Track how users interact with your chat

Collecting Feedback

  • Monitor the types of responses you receive
  • Look for patterns in how users interact
  • Make improvements based on user behavior

Troubleshooting Publishing Issues

Common Problems and Solutions

Validation Errors:

  • Problem: Cannot publish due to validation issues
  • Solution: Check all input fields have both "Label" and "Name" fields populated

Publish Button Not Responding:

  • Problem: Nothing happens when clicking "Publish"
  • Solution: Ensure your flow is saved and all connections are valid

Live Chat Not Updating:

  • Problem: Changes aren't reflected in the published version
  • Solution: Remember that you need to republish after making changes

Link Not Working:

  • Problem: The public URL returns an error
  • Solution: Verify the bot is published and the URL is correct

Telegram Bot Not Responding:

  • Problem: Messages sent to the Telegram bot do not start the form
  • Solution: Confirm the bot is published, the Telegram token is connected, and the app is deployed at a public HTTPS URL

Telegram Select Options Missing:

  • Problem: A select field does not show buttons
  • Solution: Confirm the select node has options and the saved flow has been republished

Best Practices for Publishing

Pre-Publish Checklist

  • [ ] All flow paths are complete (no dead ends)
  • [ ] Input fields have required "Label" and "Name" values
  • [ ] The flow has been thoroughly tested
  • [ ] UI settings are configured to your preference
  • [ ] Email notifications are set up if needed

Post-Publish Actions

  • Share your Telegram start link
  • Monitor initial submissions for issues
  • Gather feedback and make improvements
  • Plan for managing the collected data

Important Notes

Version Control

  • Publishing creates a live version of your current flow
  • Edits after publishing don't affect the live version until you republish
  • Always test thoroughly before publishing to production users

Privacy Considerations

  • Publishing makes your chat accessible to anyone with the link
  • Ensure your flow doesn't inadvertently ask for overly sensitive information
  • Consider data retention policies for the collected information

Performance Monitoring

  • Watch for how users navigate through your flow
  • Look for where users might drop off
  • Use insights to improve future iterations

Need Help?

  • Refer to other documentation sections for help with flow construction
  • Check that all input fields have required information
  • Contact support if you encounter technical publishing issues