Advanced Methods - Bots Limited

Inline Mode

Inline mode lets users interact with your bot from any chat by typing @your_bot_name followed by a query. Your bot receives an inline_query update and must respond with results.

answerInlineQuery

Sends answer results back to an inline query. Must be called within 10 seconds of receiving the query.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`inline_query_id`	String	Yes	Unique ID of the inline query. Use `raw_message.get("id")`.
`results`	JSON String	Yes	JSON-encoded array of `InlineQueryResult` objects (max 50).
`cache_time`	Integer	No	Max seconds the result is cached on the client. Default: `300`.
`is_personal`	Boolean	No	If `True`, results are only cached for the requesting user.
`next_offset`	String	No	Offset for pagination of results.
`button`	Object	No	A button shown above the results (e.g., Switch to PM).

Result types: article, photo, gif, mpeg4_gif, video, audio, voice, document, location, venue, contact, game, and cached variants.

BLP Example

results = [
    {
        "type": "article",
        "id": "1",
        "title": "Welcome to Bots.LT",
        "description": "Click to send a message",
        "input_message_content": {
            "message_text": "Hello from Bots.LT! 🚀"
        }
    },
    {
        "type": "article",
        "id": "2",
        "title": "Another Result",
        "input_message_content": {
            "message_text": "This is result #2"
        }
    }
]

Bot.answerInlineQuery(
    inline_query_id=raw_message.get("id"),
    results=jsondumps(results),
    cache_time=300,
    is_personal=True
)

savePreparedInlineMessage

Saves a message to be sent to a user via an inline query.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`user_id`	Integer	Yes	Unique identifier of the target user.
`result`	Object	Yes	A JSON-serialized object describing the message to be sent.
`allow_user_chats`	Boolean	No	Pass True if the message can be sent to private chats.
`allow_bot_chats`	Boolean	No	Pass True if the message can be sent to private chats with bots.
`allow_group_chats`	Boolean	No	Pass True if the message can be sent to group and supergroup chats.
`allow_channel_chats`	Boolean	No	Pass True if the message can be sent to channel chats.

Bot Configuration

setMyCommands

Registers the bot’s command list, visible in the Telegram / menu.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`commands`	JSON String	Yes	JSON-encoded array of `{command, description}` objects. Up to 100 commands.
`scope`	Object	No	Scope of commands (e.g., all users, specific chat, or chat admin).
`language_code`	String	No	Two-letter IETF language code (e.g., `"en"`, `"bn"`).

BLP Example

commands = [
    {"command": "start", "description": "Start the bot"},
    {"command": "help", "description": "Get help"},
    {"command": "profile", "description": "View your profile"},
    {"command": "settings", "description": "Configure your settings"}
]

Bot.setMyCommands(commands=jsondumps(commands))

deleteMyCommands

Deletes the bot’s command list. After this, Telegram shows no menu commands.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`scope`	Object	No	Scope to delete commands from.
`language_code`	String	No	Language code.

BLP Example

# Remove all commands globally
Bot.deleteMyCommands()

getMyCommands

Gets the current list of registered commands.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`scope`	Object	No	Scope to get commands for.
`language_code`	String	No	Language code.

BLP Example

result = Bot.getMyCommands()
commands = result.result
for cmd in commands:
    Bot.sendMessage(chat_id=u, text=f"/{cmd.command} — {cmd.description}")

setMyName

Sets the bot’s display name.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`name`	String	No	New name (1–64 characters). Pass empty to reset.
`language_code`	String	No	Language-specific name.

BLP Example

Bot.setMyName(name="My Awesome Bot")

getMyName

Gets the bot’s current display name.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`language_code`	String	No	Two-letter ISO 639-1 language code or an empty string.

setMyDescription

Sets the bot’s “What can this bot do?” description shown on the start page.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`description`	String	No	New description (up to 512 characters).
`language_code`	String	No	Language-specific description.

BLP Example

Bot.setMyDescription(description="I help you manage your tasks and reminders effortlessly!")

getMyDescription

Gets the current bot description.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`language_code`	String	No	Two-letter ISO 639-1 language code or an empty string.

setMyShortDescription

Sets the short description shown in the bot’s profile.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`short_description`	String	No	New short description (up to 120 characters).
`language_code`	String	No	Language-specific short description.

BLP Example

Bot.setMyShortDescription(short_description="Your personal task manager bot.")

getMyShortDescription

Gets the current short description of the bot.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`language_code`	String	No	Two-letter ISO 639-1 language code or an empty string.

setMyProfilePhoto

Sets the profile photo of the bot.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`photo`	String	Yes	New profile photo (must be uploaded via file ID).

removeMyProfilePhoto

Removes the profile photo of the bot.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`photo_id`	String	No	Optional. Specific profile photo to remove. If not specified, removes the most recent photo.

setChatMenuButton

Sets the menu button shown in private chats with the bot.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`chat_id`	Integer	No	Specific private chat. If omitted, sets default for all chats.
`menu_button`	JSON String	Yes	JSON object. Types: `default`, `commands`, or `web_app`.

BLP Example

# Open a Web App from the menu button
menu_button = {
    "type": "web_app",
    "text": "Open App",
    "web_app": {"url": "https://bots.lt"}
}

Bot.setChatMenuButton(
    chat_id=u,
    menu_button=jsondumps(menu_button)
)

# Reset to default commands button
Bot.setChatMenuButton(
    chat_id=u,
    menu_button=jsondumps({"type": "commands"})
)

getMe

Returns basic information about the bot.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
(none)	—	—	No parameters required.

Returns fields like id, is_bot, first_name, username, can_join_groups, can_read_all_group_messages, supports_inline_queries.

BLP Example

result = Bot.getMe()
me = result.result
Bot.sendMessage(chat_id=u, text=f"Bot: @{me.username} (ID: {me.id})")

Web Apps

answerWebAppQuery

Sets the result of an interaction with a Web App and sends a corresponding message on behalf of the user to the chat from which the query originated.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`web_app_query_id`	String	Yes	Unique identifier for the query to be answered.
`result`	Object	Yes	A JSON-serialized object describing the message to be sent.

sendChatJoinRequestWebApp

Allows a Web App to create a request for a user to join a channel or a group.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`chat_id`	Integer or String	Yes	Target chat ID.
`user_id`	Integer	Yes	Unique identifier of the target user.

Payments and Deliveries

answerPreCheckoutQuery

Once the user has confirmed their payment and shipping details, the Bot API sends the final confirmation in the form of an Update. Use this method to respond to such pre-checkout queries.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`pre_checkout_query_id`	String	Yes	Unique identifier for the query to be answered.
`ok`	Boolean	Yes	Specify True if everything is alright (goods are available, etc.).
`error_message`	String	No	Required if ok is False.

answerShippingQuery

If you sent an invoice requesting a shipping address and the parameter is_flexible was specified, the Bot API will send an Update with a shipping_query. Use this method to reply.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`shipping_query_id`	String	Yes	Unique identifier for the query to be answered.
`ok`	Boolean	Yes	Specify True if delivery to the specified address is possible.
`shipping_options`	Array of Object	No	Required if ok is True. A JSON-serialized array of available shipping options.
`error_message`	String	No	Required if ok is False.

Stories

editStory

Edits a story previously posted by the bot.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`chat_id`	Integer or String	Yes	Unique identifier for the target chat.
`message_id`	Integer	Yes	Identifier of the story to edit.
`caption`	String	No	New caption of the story.
`media`	Object	No	A JSON-serialized object for a new media content of the story.

deleteStory

Deletes a story posted by the bot.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`chat_id`	Integer or String	Yes	Target chat ID.
`story_id`	Integer	Yes	Unique identifier of the story to delete.

Prepared Keyboard Buttons

savePreparedKeyboardButton

Saves a keyboard button that allows a user to perform an action on behalf of the bot.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`user_id`	Integer	Yes	Unique identifier of the target user.
`request`	Object	Yes	A JSON-serialized object describing the button to be saved.
`allow_user_chats`	Boolean	No	Pass True if the button can be used in private chats.
`allow_bot_chats`	Boolean	No	Pass True if the button can be used in private chats with bots.
`allow_group_chats`	Boolean	No	Pass True if the button can be used in group chats.
`allow_channel_chats`	Boolean	No	Pass True if the button can be used in channel chats.

Webhooks and System

getUpdates

Receives incoming updates using long polling (receive events manually if not using webhooks). Note: BLP uses webhooks internally, so calling this directly may interfere with normal bot operation in some contexts.

setWebhook

Specifies a URL and receives incoming updates via an outgoing webhook. BLP automatically handles this, so this method is mostly for advanced custom integrations or migrating bots out of BLP.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`url`	String	Yes	HTTPS URL to send updates to.

getWebhookInfo

Gets current webhook status.

deleteWebhook

Removes webhook integration.

logOut

Logs out the bot from the cloud server. After this, you can invoke close and run the bot locally.

close

Closes the bot instance on the cloud server before moving it to a local server.

Managed Bots (Bots owned by other Bots)

getManagedBotAccessSettings

Gets settings for a managed bot access.

setManagedBotAccessSettings

Changes settings for a managed bot access.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`allow_user_chats`	Boolean	No	Pass True if the bot can be added to private chats.
`allow_group_chats`	Boolean	No	Pass True if the bot can be added to group chats.
`allow_channel_chats`	Boolean	No	Pass True if the bot can be added to channel chats.

getManagedBotToken

Gets the token of a managed bot.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`bot_id`	Integer	Yes	Target bot identifier.

replaceManagedBotToken

Replaces the token of a managed bot.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`bot_id`	Integer	Yes	Target bot identifier.

Guest Queries & Suggested Posts

answerGuestQuery

Answers a guest query for a Web App or game.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`guest_query_id`	String	Yes	Unique identifier for the query to be answered.

approveSuggestedPost

Approves a suggested post on a channel.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`chat_id`	Integer or String	Yes	Target channel ID.
`message_id`	Integer	Yes	Target post message ID.

declineSuggestedPost

Declines a suggested post on a channel.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`chat_id`	Integer or String	Yes	Target channel ID.
`message_id`	Integer	Yes	Target post message ID.

Bot Management (BLP Platform)

These are Bots.LT-specific methods, not part of the standard Telegram API.

Bot.info

Returns detailed information about the current bot from the Bots.LT platform.

The full documentation for bot variables and Bot.info() is covered together in BLP Syntax & Variables → Bot Details.

Bot.Transfer

Programmatically transfers ownership of the bot to another Bots.LT user via their registered email or username.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`email`	String	No*	Registered email of the new owner.
`username`	String	No*	Bots.LT username of the new owner.
`bot_id`	String	No	Bot to transfer. Defaults to current bot. Can also transfer another bot you own.

* Either email or username is required.

Returns {"ok": True, "bot_id": "new_bot_id"} on success.

BLP Example

# Transfer current bot by username
Bot.Transfer(username="new_owner_username")

# Transfer current bot by email
Bot.Transfer(email="owner@example.com")

# Transfer a specific bot you own
Bot.Transfer(bot_id="other_bot_id", email="owner@example.com")

Bot.Clone

Creates an exact copy of the bot (all commands and code). Optionally assigns a new Telegram token immediately.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`bot_token`	String	No	A new BotFather token to assign to the cloned bot. If not provided, the clone is created without a token.
`bot_id`	String	No	Bot to clone. Defaults to current bot. Can also clone another bot you own.
`run_now`	Boolean	No	If `True`, starts the cloned bot immediately after creation. Default: `False`.

Returns {"ok": True, "bot_id": "new_bot_id"} on success.

BLP Example

# Clone current bot (no token yet)
Bot.Clone()

# Clone and assign a new BotFather token
Bot.Clone(bot_token="123456:ABC-DEF...")

# Clone and start immediately
Bot.Clone(bot_token="123456:ABC-DEF...", run_now=True)

# Clone a specific bot you own
Bot.Clone(bot_id="other_bot_id", bot_token="123456:ABC-DEF...")

BLP Engine Methods

These methods control the BLP execution engine and are specific to Bots.LT.

Bot.handleNextCommand

Sets up a wait state for the next user input. The next message from the user will trigger the specified command instead of matching normally.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`command_name`	String	Yes	The command to trigger on the next user message (e.g., `"/save_name"`).
`options`	Dict	No	Data to forward to the next command (accessible via `params` or extra context).
`cancel_at_command`	Boolean	No	If `True`, wait state is cancelled if user sends a new bot command (e.g., `/start`). Default: `True`.

Aliases: Bot.handleNextCommand, Bot.runCommandAfter (see below)

BLP Example

# In command /ask_name
Bot.sendMessage(chat_id=u, text="What is your name?")
Bot.handleNextCommand("/save_name", {"user_type": "premium"})

# In command /save_name
name = message.text
data = params  # Contains {"user_type": "premium"} passed from previous step
Bot.sendMessage(chat_id=u, text=f"Hello, {name}! You are a {data['user_type']} user.")

Bot.runCommand

Programmatically triggers another command’s code from within the current command.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`command_name`	String	Yes	The command to run (e.g., `"/help"`).
`options`	Dict	No	Optional data to pass to the triggered command.

BLP Example

# Trigger the /welcome command from /start
Bot.runCommand("/welcome")

# Pass data to the triggered command
Bot.runCommand("/notify_admin", {"reason": "New user", "user_id": u})

Bot.runCommandAfter

Schedules a command to run after a delay.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`seconds`	Integer	Yes	Delay in seconds before the command runs.
`command_name`	String	Yes	The command to run after the delay.
`options`	Dict	No	Optional data to pass to the command.

BLP Example

Bot.sendMessage(chat_id=u, text="I'll remind you in 30 seconds!")
Bot.runCommandAfter(30, "/remind_user", {"message": "Time is up!"})

Bot.broadcast

Sends a message or runs a command for multiple users at once.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`code`	String	No	BLP code to execute for each user.
`command`	String	No	Command name to run for each user.
`mode`	String	No	`"single"` (current bot users) or `"all"` (all bots). Default: `"single"`.
`speed`	Integer	No	Messages per second (1–50). Default: `8`.
`bot_ids`	List	No	Specific bot IDs to broadcast to (for multi-bot broadcasts).
`callback_url`	String	No	Webhook URL to call when broadcast is complete.

BLP Example

# Broadcast a message to all bot users
Bot.broadcast(
    code='Bot.sendMessage(chat_id=u, text="Big announcement!")',
    speed=10
)

# Broadcast by running a command for each user
Bot.broadcast(
    command="/send_news",
    speed=5
)

Bot.getBroadcastStatus

Gets the status of a running or completed broadcast.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`broadcast_id`	String	Yes	ID of the broadcast to check.

BLP Example

status = Bot.getBroadcastStatus("broadcast_abc123")
Bot.sendMessage(
    chat_id=u,
    text=f"Status: {status.status}\nSent: {status.sent}\nFailed: {status.failed}"
)

Bot.pauseBroadcast / Bot.resumeBroadcast / Bot.stopBroadcast

Controls a running broadcast.

Method	Parameter	Description
`Bot.pauseBroadcast(broadcast_id)`	`broadcast_id`	Pauses a running broadcast.
`Bot.resumeBroadcast(broadcast_id, speed)`	`broadcast_id`, optional `speed`	Resumes a paused broadcast.
`Bot.stopBroadcast(broadcast_id)`	`broadcast_id`	Permanently stops the broadcast.

BLP Example

Bot.pauseBroadcast("broadcast_abc123")
Bot.resumeBroadcast("broadcast_abc123", speed=20)
Bot.stopBroadcast("broadcast_abc123")

sendInvoice

Sends an invoice for payments.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`chat_id`	Integer or String	Yes	Target chat ID.
`title`	String	Yes	Product name, 1-32 characters.
`description`	String	Yes	Product description, 1-255 characters.
`payload`	String	Yes	Bot-defined invoice payload, 1-128 bytes.
`currency`	String	Yes	Three-letter ISO 4217 currency code.
`prices`	Array of Object	Yes	Price breakdown, a JSON-serialized list of components.

BLP Example

Bot.sendInvoice(
    chat_id=u,
    title="Premium Plan",
    description="1 month of premium features.",
    payload="plan_monthly",
    currency="USD",
    prices=[{"label": "Premium", "amount": 999}]
)

createInvoiceLink

Creates a link for an invoice.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`title`	String	Yes	Product name.
`description`	String	Yes	Product description.
`payload`	String	Yes	Bot-defined invoice payload.
`currency`	String	Yes	Three-letter ISO 4217 currency code.
`prices`	Array of Object	Yes	Price breakdown.

BLP Example

link = Bot.createInvoiceLink(
    title="Premium Plan",
    description="1 month of premium features.",
    payload="plan_monthly",
    currency="USD",
    prices=[{"label": "Premium", "amount": 999}]
)
Bot.sendMessage(chat_id=u, text=f"Pay here: {link.result}")

setPassportDataErrors

Informs a user that some of the Telegram Passport elements they provided contains errors.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`user_id`	Integer	Yes	User identifier.
`errors`	Array of Object	Yes	A JSON-serialized array describing the errors.

BLP Example

Bot.setPassportDataErrors(
    user_id=u,
    errors=[{
        "source": "data",
        "type": "personal_details",
        "field_name": "first_name",
        "data_hash": "hash_here",
        "message": "First name mismatch"
    }]
)

​Inline Mode

​answerInlineQuery

​savePreparedInlineMessage

​Bot Configuration

​setMyCommands

​deleteMyCommands

​getMyCommands

​setMyName

​getMyName

​setMyDescription

​getMyDescription

​setMyShortDescription

​getMyShortDescription

​setMyProfilePhoto

​removeMyProfilePhoto

​setChatMenuButton

​getMe

​Web Apps

​answerWebAppQuery

​sendChatJoinRequestWebApp

​Payments and Deliveries

​answerPreCheckoutQuery

​answerShippingQuery

​Stories

​editStory

​deleteStory

​Prepared Keyboard Buttons

​savePreparedKeyboardButton

​Webhooks and System

​getUpdates

​setWebhook

​getWebhookInfo

​deleteWebhook

​logOut

​close

​Managed Bots (Bots owned by other Bots)

​getManagedBotAccessSettings

​setManagedBotAccessSettings

​getManagedBotToken

​replaceManagedBotToken

​Guest Queries & Suggested Posts

​answerGuestQuery

​approveSuggestedPost

​declineSuggestedPost

​Bot Management (BLP Platform)

​Bot.info

​Bot.Transfer

​Bot.Clone

​BLP Engine Methods

​Bot.handleNextCommand

​Bot.runCommand

​Bot.runCommandAfter

​Bot.broadcast

​Bot.getBroadcastStatus

​Bot.pauseBroadcast / Bot.resumeBroadcast / Bot.stopBroadcast

​sendInvoice

​createInvoiceLink

​setPassportDataErrors

Inline Mode

answerInlineQuery

savePreparedInlineMessage

Bot Configuration

setMyCommands

deleteMyCommands

getMyCommands

setMyName

getMyName

setMyDescription

getMyDescription

setMyShortDescription

getMyShortDescription

setMyProfilePhoto

removeMyProfilePhoto

setChatMenuButton

getMe

Web Apps

answerWebAppQuery

sendChatJoinRequestWebApp

Payments and Deliveries

answerPreCheckoutQuery

answerShippingQuery

Stories

editStory

deleteStory

Prepared Keyboard Buttons

savePreparedKeyboardButton

Webhooks and System

getUpdates

setWebhook

getWebhookInfo

deleteWebhook

logOut

close

Managed Bots (Bots owned by other Bots)

getManagedBotAccessSettings

setManagedBotAccessSettings

getManagedBotToken

replaceManagedBotToken

Guest Queries & Suggested Posts

answerGuestQuery

approveSuggestedPost

declineSuggestedPost

Bot Management (BLP Platform)

Bot.info

Bot.Transfer

Bot.Clone

BLP Engine Methods

Bot.handleNextCommand

Bot.runCommand

Bot.runCommandAfter

Bot.broadcast

Bot.getBroadcastStatus

Bot.pauseBroadcast / Bot.resumeBroadcast / Bot.stopBroadcast

sendInvoice

createInvoiceLink

setPassportDataErrors