LiveChat for React
This is a React component to easily add LiveChat widget to your application.
Getting Started
Prerequisites
To use LiveChat in your React application, you will need LiveChat license ID.
If you already have a LiveChat account, get your license_id here.
If you don't have an account, you can create one here.
Installation
To import LiveChat for React, run the following command:
npm install react-livechat --save
User Guide
Start
Having imported LiveChat for React, put it in your render method:
import LiveChat from 'react-livechat'
...
<LiveChat license={your_license_id} />
Group
You can set up group directly in LiveChat
component prop. Thanks to this, all chats will be routed to the specified group:
<LiveChat license={your_license_id} group={3} />
Here you can learn more about groups: Dividing live chat by group.
Separated chat sessions
You can separate chat sessions between groups by using chatBetweenGroups
prop:
<LiveChat license={your_license_id} group={3} chatBetweenGroups={false} />
Here is an article about it.
Visitor's details
If you already know who your visitor is, you can set up his/her name and/or email:
<LiveChat license={your_license_id} visitor={{name: 'John', email: 'john@example.com'}} />
Custom variables
Custom variables are additional details that you can pass to LiveChat from the code (i.e., login or profile link). Here is how to make it:
const params = [
{ name: 'Login', value: 'joe_public' },
{ name: 'Account ID', value: 'ABCD1234' },
{ name: 'Total order value', value: '$123' }
];
<LiveChat license={your_license_id} params={params} />
Customization
You can change the look and feel of your chat widget in Settings > Chat window section.
Methods
This module uses LiveChat JS API.
Get your chat reference using onChatLoaded
callback:
<LiveChat
onChatLoaded={ ref => this.livechat = ref }
license={your_license_id}
/>
You have access to all methods and variables of LiveChat JS API with your livechat
reference or
window.LC_API
.
Example:
this.livechat.hide_chat_window();
// is the same as:
window.LC_API.hide_chat_window();
LC_Invite exception
Sometimes it can happen that LC_Invite
is is still being loaded when onChatLoaded
is called.
To ensure that LC_Invite
is loaded you can give additional check to onChatLoaded
function:
onChatLoaded = (ref) => {
ref.on_after_load = function () {
//here you can use any method you want!
}
}
Available methods
Name | Note |
---|---|
close_chat | Closes the ongoing chat. |
disable_sounds | Mutes all sounds in the chat window on visitor's side (not supported with the pop-up chat window). |
open_chat_window | Maximizes the chat window (when using the embedded chat window) or opens the chat window (when using the pop-up window). |
minimize_chat_window | Minimizes the chat window (not supported with the pop-up chat window). |
hide_chat_window | Hides the chat window (not supported with the pop-up chat window). |
agents_are_available | Returns true if your agents are available to chat, otherwise it returns false. |
chat_window_maximized | Returns true if the chat window is maximized, returns false otherwise. |
chat_window_minimized | Returns true if the chat window is minimized, returns false otherwise. |
chat_window_hidden | Returns true if the chat window is hidden, returns false otherwise. |
visitor_queued | Returns true if the visitor is currently waiting in the queue, returns false otherwise. |
chat_running | Returns true if the visitor is currently chatting with an agent, returns false otherwise. |
visitor_engaged | Returns true if the visitor is currently chatting, waiting in the queue or the greeting is displayed to them. Returns false otherwise. |
get_window_type | Returns embedded if the chat window is embedded on the website or popup if the chat window opens in a new window. |
set_custom_variables | You can set custom variables that the LiveChat agents will see in their apps. Custom variables will be saved in the chat transcript, so you will see them in the Archives even after the chat has been finished. |
Callbacks
LiveChat React component gives you the option to control chat callbacks.
Let's say that you want display a received or sent message somewhere else. You can get new messages using the code below:
<LiveChat
...
onMessage={ data => console.log(data) }
/>
Available callbacks
Name | Note |
---|---|
onChatLoaded | Executed when LC_API object is loaded and ready to use. Returns reference to your LC_API object. |
onBeforeLoad | Executed before the chat window has been rendered (not supported with the pop-up chat window). |
onAfterLoad | Executed right after the chat window has been rendered (not supported with the pop-up chat window). |
onChatWindowOpened | Executed when the chat window is opened. |
onChatWindowMinimized | Executed when the chat window is minimized (not supported with the pop-up chat window). |
onChatWindowHidden | Executed when the chat window is hidden (not supported with the pop-up chat window). |
onChatStateChanged | Executed when the chat state is changed. You can find more information here. |
onChatStarted | Executed when the chat is started. |
onChatEnded | Executed when the chat is ended. |
onMessage | Executed when the message has been sent or received. You can find more information here. |
onTicketCreated | Executed when the ticket form has been filled in by the visitor. You can find more information here. |
onPrechatSurveySubmitted | Executed when the pre-chat survey has been submitted by visitor. |
onPostchatSurveySubmitted | Executed when the post-chat survey has been submitted by visitor. |
onRatingSubmitted | Executed when the chat rating is submitted. The only argument, data, can have three values: good, bad or none. |
onRatingCommentSubmitted | Executed when a chat rating comment is submitted. The only argument, data, contains the message entered by the visitor. |
Support
If you need any help, you can chat with us via email or on chat.
I hope you will find this module useful. Happy coding!