Advanced Messages

Advanced messages (also called rich messages) let you combine multiple elements into a single message: text content, embeds, interactive components, and file attachments. They give you complete control over your bot’s message presentation.

What Are Rich Messages?

A rich message can contain:

• Text content - Plain text or formatted message
• Embeds - One embed (or up to 5 with webhooks)
• Components - Buttons and dropdown menus (up to 5 rows)
• Attachments - Files, images, or other uploads

Tip

Use rich messages when you need to combine multiple elements. For simple text or embeds, the basic reply with or post effects work great!

Creating a Rich Message

Use the create message section to build your rich message:

create a new message and store it in {_msg}:
    # Configure message properties here

reply with {_msg}

Inside the section, you’ll reference the message builder using message or last message builder.

Adding Text Content

Start by adding simple text to your message:

create a new message and store it in {_msg}:
    set the content of the message to "Hello World!"

reply with {_msg}

This produces the same result as reply with "Hello World!", but it sets up the foundation for adding more elements.

Adding Embeds

Combine text with embeds for rich, visually appealing messages:

create a new message and store it in {_msg}:
    set the content of the message to "Check out this embed!"

    make embed:
        set title of embed to "Amazing Embed"
        set embed color of embed to orange
        set description of embed to "Embeds make your messages stand out!"
        set footer of embed to "Created with DiSky v4"

    add last embed to the embeds of the message

reply with {_msg}

Caution

Bot messages can only contain one embed. However, webhooks can send up to 5 embeds per message!

Using Data Structures for Embeds

You can also use data structures for cleaner code:

create a new message and store it in {_msg}:
    content: "Check out this embed!"

    embed:
        title: "Amazing Embed"
        color: orange
        description: "Embeds make your messages stand out!"
        footer: "Created with DiSky v4"

reply with {_msg}

Adding File Attachments

Attach files to your messages using local file paths:

create a new message and store it in {_msg}:
    set the content of the message to "Here's a file!"

    make embed:
        set title of embed to "File Attachment Example"
        set embed color of embed to blue
    add last embed to the embeds of the message

    # Add a file from your server
    add "plugins/Skript/scripts/example.sk" to the attachments of the message

reply with {_msg}

Note

If SkImage is installed, you can also attach images directly. See the File Uploads guide for more details.

Using Attachments in Embeds

You can reference attached files in embed images:

create a new message and store it in {_msg}:
    make embed:
        set title of embed to "Image Embed"
        set embed color of embed to purple
        set image of embed to "attachment://my-image.png"
    add last embed to the embeds of the message

    # The attachment name must match the reference
    set {_upload} to new file upload from file "path/to/image.png" named "my-image.png"
    add {_upload} to the attachments of the message

reply with {_msg}

Adding Interactive Components

Add buttons and dropdown menus to make your messages interactive:

Adding a Single Button

create a new message and store it in {_msg}:
    set the content of the message to "Click the button below!"

    # Add a button (takes one row)
    add new success button with id "confirm" named "Confirm" to rows of the message

reply with {_msg}

Adding Multiple Buttons in One Row

create a new message and store it in {_msg}:
    set the content of the message to "Choose an option:"

    # Create a row with multiple buttons
    make new component row and store it in {_row}:
        add new success button with id "yes" named "Yes" with reaction "✅" to components of the row builder
        add new danger button with id "no" named "No" with reaction "❌" to components of the row builder
        add new link button with url "https://disky.me" named "Learn More" to components of the row builder

    add {_row} to rows of the message

reply with {_msg}

Adding a Dropdown Menu

create a new message and store it in {_msg}:
    set the content of the message to "Select your favorite color:"

    # Create dropdown
    set {_dropdown} to new dropdown with id "color_picker"
    set min range of {_dropdown} to 1
    set max range of {_dropdown} to 1
    set placeholder of {_dropdown} to "Choose a color..."

    # Add options
    add new option with value "red" named "Red" with description "The color of passion" with reaction "🔴" to options of {_dropdown}
    add new option with value "blue" named "Blue" with description "The color of calm" with reaction "🔵" to options of {_dropdown}
    add new option with value "green" named "Green" with description "The color of nature" with reaction "🟢" to options of {_dropdown}

    add {_dropdown} to rows of the message

reply with {_msg}

Tip

A message can contain up to 5 component rows. Each row can have up to 5 buttons, or 1 dropdown menu.

Complete Example

Here’s a comprehensive example combining everything:

command /welcome:
    trigger:
        create a new message and store it in {_msg}:
            set the content of the message to "Welcome to our server!"

            # Add welcome embed
            make embed:
                set title of embed to "Getting Started"
                set embed color of embed to blue
                set description of embed to "Thanks for joining! Here's what you need to know."

                add inline field named "Members" with value "1,234" to fields of embed
                add inline field named "Channels" with value "42" to fields of embed

                set footer of embed to "Server established 2020"
                set timestamp of embed to now

            add last embed to the embeds of the message

            # Add action buttons
            make new component row and store it in {_row}:
                add new primary button with id "rules" named "Read Rules" with reaction "📜" to components of the row builder
                add new success button with id "verify" named "Get Verified" with reaction "✅" to components of the row builder
            add {_row} to rows of the message

            # Add role selection dropdown
            set {_dropdown} to new dropdown with id "role_select"
            set placeholder of {_dropdown} to "Select your interests..."
            set min range of {_dropdown} to 0
            set max range of {_dropdown} to 3

            add new option with value "gaming" named "Gaming" with description "Get gaming updates" with reaction "🎮" to options of {_dropdown}
            add new option with value "art" named "Art" with description "Get art updates" with reaction "🎨" to options of {_dropdown}
            add new option with value "music" named "Music" with description "Get music updates" with reaction "🎵" to options of {_dropdown}

            add {_dropdown} to rows of the message

        reply with {_msg}

Modifying Existing Messages

You can create a message based on an existing one:

# Create a base message
create a new message and store it in {_original}:
    set the content of the message to "Original message"

# Modify it
create a new message based on {_original} and store it in {_modified}:
    set the content of the message to "Modified message"

    make embed:
        set title of embed to "New Embed"
        set embed color of embed to green
    add last embed to the embeds of the message

reply with {_modified}

Embed JSON Serialization

Since DiSky v4.12.1, you can convert embeds to and from JSON:

Embed to JSON

make embed and store it in {_embed}:
    set title of embed to "My Embed"
    set description of embed to "This will be serialized"
    set embed color of embed to blue

# Convert to JSON string
set {_json} to embed {_embed} as json

# Store in database, file, etc.

JSON to Embed

# Load JSON from database, file, etc.
set {_json} to "..."

# Convert back to embed
set {_embed} to embed from json {_json}

reply with {_embed}

Why Use JSON Serialization?

Store embeds in databases or configuration files, share embed templates between scripts, or send embed data across different systems.

Best Practices

1. Keep it organized - Group related components together
2. Don’t overcrowd - Too many elements make messages overwhelming
3. Use meaningful IDs - Button and dropdown IDs should describe their purpose
4. Test thoroughly - Verify all components work as expected
5. Handle interactions - Always respond to button clicks and dropdown selections
6. Consider mobile users - Not all features display the same on mobile

Common Patterns

Confirmation Dialog

create a new message and store it in {_msg}:
    set the content of the message to "Are you sure you want to delete this?"

    make new component row and store it in {_row}:
        add new danger button with id "delete_confirm" named "Yes, Delete" to components of the row builder
        add new secondary button with id "delete_cancel" named "Cancel" to components of the row builder
    add {_row} to rows of the message

reply with {_msg}

Information Panel

create a new message and store it in {_msg}:
    make embed:
        set title of embed to "Server Information"
        set embed color of embed to blue

        add inline field named "Owner" with value "ItsTheSky" to fields of embed
        add inline field named "Region" with value "US West" to fields of embed
        add inline field named "Created" with value "January 2020" to fields of embed

        set footer of embed to "Server ID: 123456789"
        set timestamp of embed to now
    add last embed to the embeds of the message

    add new link button with url "https://discord.gg/example" named "Invite Link" to rows of the message

reply with {_msg}

Paginated Content

create a new message and store it in {_msg}:
    make embed:
        set title of embed to "Help - Page 1/3"
        set description of embed to "List of available commands..."
        set embed color of embed to purple
    add last embed to the embeds of the message

    make new component row and store it in {_row}:
        add new disabled secondary button with id "prev" named "◀ Previous" to components of the row builder
        add new primary button with id "next" named "Next ▶" to components of the row builder
    add {_row} to rows of the message

reply with {_msg}

Troubleshooting

Message Not Sending

• Check that all component IDs are unique
• Verify embed doesn’t exceed size limits (6000 characters total)
• Ensure file paths for attachments are correct
• Make sure you’re not exceeding 5 component rows

Components Not Working

• Verify you have event handlers for button/dropdown interactions
• Check that component IDs match between creation and event handling
• Ensure you’re replying or deferring interactions within 3 seconds

Embeds Not Displaying

• Verify all required properties are set
• Check that image URLs are valid and accessible
• Ensure color values are valid (named colors, hex, or RGB)
• Don’t exceed 1 embed per message (unless using webhooks)

Limitations

• Text content: 2000 characters max
• Embeds: 1 per message (5 with webhooks)
• Component rows: 5 rows max per message
• Buttons per row: 5 buttons max
• Attachments: 10 files max per message
• Total message size: 8MB max (including all attachments)

Next Steps

• Learn about Emojis in messages and reactions
• Explore File Uploads in detail
• Send messages with Webhooks
• Create Interactive Components
• Handle Button and Dropdown Interactions