Introduction

In this tutorial you will learn how to create complex pattern/template groups using Macros and loops in MakeAiml.

MakeAiml Macros

If you are familiar with the C programming language, you probably understand what a "macro" is, if you're not don't worry because the concept is very simple. A MakeAiml macro works exactly like C macro does in that it replaces the macro with predefined text. Here is an example:

   ! Remember...comments begin with the ! character
   ! The macro on the next line defines the bot's name
   $ my_name Larry
   
   p what is your name
   t My name is $$my_name.
               

There are two lines you need to look at above, line 3 (begins with the dollar sign $) and the line that starts the template (begins with t). Line 3 tells MakeAiml to remember a macro called my_name which contains the text Larry. In order to "use" this macro, all a programmer needs to do is insert the name of the macro somewhere into the line of MakeAiml code prefixed with two dollar signs $$. When MakeAiml reads the line:

   t My name is $$my_name.
               

It will see:

   t My name is Larry.
               

All spacing around the macro is preserved, so don't be afraid to allow the name of the macro to run together with the surrounding text...like so:

   $ i_am_a robot
   p you are weird
   t Please don't hold my $$i_am_aness against me :-(
               

MakeAiml will see the template line as:

   t Please don't hold my robotness against me :-(
               

It might take a little thinking to get the macro expanded correctly, but you will understand how powerful of a tool this can be in the next section of the tutorial.

About the Author

Grant Dryden works as a computer engineer. He writes software in C and C++ for embedded systems as well as firmware in VHDL. He has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering.