The Windows Live Agents IDE allows you to launch agents as users would see them: in an Instant Messaging (IM) environment. In addition to supporting most common text messaging protocols, you can also deploy an agent using a Web-based interface.
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These instructions are for developers using the Windows Live Agents SDK who are testing their agents in a Self-Hosted environment. This information does not apply to the Microsoft Hosted environment.
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For the purpose of this exercise, we're going to launch the MSNActivitySample agent on the Windows Live network.
If you want to launch on Windows Live Messenger, you need to sign up for a separate Windows Live ID that you can use for the agent. This screen name needs to be different from the one you use to log onto Windows Live Messenger yourself, since you and the agent can't both use the same screen name at the same time. You can sign up for a new screen name through your Windows Live client software.
Launching an Agent on the Windows Live IM Network
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In the IDE, open up the connections file for your project (e.g. MSNActivitySample.connections)
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The following code should already be in the connections file. We need to change the login screen name as shown:
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<staging>
<auto-generated>
<sources></sources>
</auto-generated>
<entry-points>
<msn buddyid="MSNActivitySample_en" id="english-staging">
<login>agent_wlid@live.com</login>
<password>$_CHANGE_ME</password>
</msn>
</entry-points>
</staging>
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Be sure to change the staging screen name while you are still developing your agent.
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In the Solution Explorer window, single click on the connections file. The properties will display in the Properties dialog box below it.
Be sure to save connections file before updating this screen name field
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Next to the staging screen name, type the password for the WLID and hit ‘Enter’. The password will now be displayed encrypted in the connections file. For example:
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<password>crypto:6r//dJ5AdECJAl0=</password> |
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Save the connections file and build your project by clicking on Build -> Build Solution.
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Open a browser window and go to the URL http://localhost:8000.
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Click on “Add an Agent”.
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Click “Browse…” and select the bfg file for your agent. In this case we select MSNActivitySample.bfg. Then click “Open”.
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Click “Add” to add your agent.
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Now click the Monitoring and Control tab. You’ll see that the agent is currently in a stopped state.
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On the far right of the screen, there are three buttons. Click the Start button.
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After the agent starts, the screen updates to show the current status. Watch the bottom of the Services section: when the light turns green, the service is connected.
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You can now talk to your MSNActivitySample agent from your instant messenger. Add the agent (in this case agent_wlid@live.com) to your contact list. You should see that English MSNActivitySample – Staging is now online
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You can now open a new IM window and talk to MSNActivitySample. Try typing “Hello”.
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You have now successfully launched and tested the agent in an IM environment.
See Also