Chat Consultation

ChatConfig Object

For chat consultations, the consultation data will include the ChatConfig object This config data will be used to initiate and handle the chat between the user and the doctor

struct ChatConfig {
  id: Int?
  consultationId: Int?
  groupId: String?
  chatUserId: String?
  appId: String?
  chatUserToken: String?
}

Chat Initialization

From the Consultation data, just use the chatConfig to initialize the chat

import AltibbiTelehealth
import SendbirdChatSDK
import MobileCoreServices // For Image and File Pickers and handling sending them

if let info = consultationInfo, let config = info.chatConfig {
    AltibbiChat.initialize(config: config!)
}

Adding Event Listeners and Handlers

Handle chat connection and events by implementing the related protocols GroupChannelDelegate, ConnectionDelegate

// Connection Delegate
func didDisconnect(userId: String) {
    print("ConnectionDelegate >>> didDisconnect user id: \(userId)")
}

// Group Channel Delegate
func channel(_ channel: BaseChannel, didReceive message: BaseMessage) {
    // This is to handle the received messages
    self.messages += [message]
}
func channel(_ channel: GroupChannel, userDidLeave user: SendbirdChatSDK.User) {
    // This is to handle if the user left tha chat
    // It also indicates the consultation is closed
}
func channelDidUpdateTypingStatus(_ channel: GroupChannel) {
    // This reflects the typing status for the other side of the chat
    if channel.isTyping() {
        self.typingLbl.text = "Typing..."
    } else {
        self.typingLbl.text = ""
    }
}

Handle Chat Display

Handle Chat display by using UITableView and implementing the related protocols UITableViewDataSource, UITableViewDelegate

var messages: [BaseMessage] = []
@IBOutlet weak var tableView: UITableView!

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
    return messages.count
}

func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
    let message = messages[indexPath.row]

    if message.sender?.userId == (consultationInfo?.chatConfig?.chatUserId)! {
        let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "MyMessageCell", for: indexPath) as! MyMessageCell
        cell.configure(with: message)

        return cell
    } else {
        let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "MessageCell", for: indexPath) as! MessageCell
        cell.configure(with: message)

        return cell
    }
}

override func viewDidLoad() {
    tableView.delegate = self
    tableView.dataSource = self
    
    // Registering chat cell for TableView
    tableView.register(UINib(nibName: "MyMessageCell", bundle: nil), forCellReuseIdentifier: "MyMessageCell")
    tableView.register(UINib(nibName: "MessageCell", bundle: nil), forCellReuseIdentifier: "MessageCell")
    // MARK: File messages could be handled by checking if the message is a link then a new custom cell is needed
}

Loading All Channel Messages

On first load or at any exit and re-enter to the chat screen, you have to load the previous messages of the channel

Make sure this step is done after AltibbiChat.initialize() so that AltibbiChat.chatChannel could be ready to load the messages

Check the code below:

var query: PreviousMessageListQuery?
// After initialization
DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 3.0) {
    self.query = AltibbiChat.chatChannel!.createPreviousMessageListQuery { params in
        params.limit = 200
        params.reverse = false
    }
    self.query!.loadNextPage(completionHandler: { messages, error in
        guard error == nil else {
            // Check Error
            return
        }
    
        if let oldMessages = messages {
            DispatchQueue.main.async {
                self.messages += oldMessages
                self.tableView.reloadData()
                self.scrollToBottom()
                SendbirdChat.addChannelDelegate(self, identifier: "Channel_Delegate_\(config.groupId ?? "000000")")
                SendbirdChat.addConnectionDelegate(self, identifier: "Connection_Delegate_\(config.groupId ?? "000000")")
            }
        }
    })
}

Sending Messages

Once the chat is initiated you can start sending messages using sendUserMessage from the AltibbiChat.chatChannel instance with the message String

Check the code below:

AltibbiChat.chatChannel!.sendUserMessage(msg, completionHandler: {userMsg, error in
    if error != nil {
      print("sendUserMessage ERROR >>> \(error!.localizedDescription)")
    }
    if let sentMessage: BaseMessage = userMsg {
      DispatchQueue.main.async {
        self.messages += [sentMessage]
        self.tableView.reloadData()
      }
    }
})

Sending media files (Pictures or PDFs)

You can send pictures and PDF files on the chat using uploadMedia previously mentioned in create consultation section

Once you upload a file, you'll get an object of Media and you can use the url and send it as a message

For displaying these media messages, you can check if the message includes cdn or pdf