How to include custom API request in ALEXA intent by using async - node.js

Question

I have following problem which already took me several hours but I can´t fix it.
I want to create an Alexa skill, where the user is asked several questions. The user input afterwards sent to an API.
When I make the request separate everything works well. When it´s included in the intent it doesn´t work. It´s skipped even if I use async.
Here the code:
/* This code has been generated from your interaction model by skillinator.io
/* eslint-disable func-names */
/* eslint quote-props: ["error", "consistent"]*/
// There are three sections, Text Strings, Skill Code, and Helper Function(s).
// You can copy and paste the contents as the code for a new Lambda function, using the alexa-skill-kit-sdk-factskill template.
// This code includes helper functions for compatibility with versions of the SDK prior to 1.0.9, which includes the dialog directives.
// 1. Text strings =====================================================================================================
// Modify these strings and messages to change the behavior of your Lambda function
var request = require('request');
var size;
var heightSlot = 188;
var ageSlot = 35;
var weightSlot = 88;
var gender = "MALE"
var jsonBody = {
"gender" : gender,
"unit": "METRIC",
"height": heightSlot,
"weight": weightSlot,
"age": ageSlot
}
const options = {
method: 'PUT',
uri: "https://custom.apicall.com/api/finder/",
//headers: headers, // headers if your api requires
body: jsonBody,
json: true
};
let speechOutput;
let reprompt;
let welcomeOutput = "This is a placeholder welcome message. This skill includes 6 intents. Try one of your intent utterances to test the skill.";
let welcomeReprompt = "sample re-prompt text";
// 2. Skill Code =======================================================================================================
"use strict";
const Alexa = require('alexa-sdk');
const APP_ID = undefined; // TODO replace with your app ID (OPTIONAL).
speechOutput = '';
const handlers = {
'LaunchRequest': function () {
this.emit(':ask', welcomeOutput, welcomeReprompt);
},
'AMAZON.HelpIntent': function () {
speechOutput = 'Placeholder response for AMAZON.HelpIntent.';
reprompt = '';
this.emit(':ask', speechOutput, reprompt);
},
'AMAZON.CancelIntent': function () {
speechOutput = 'Placeholder response for AMAZON.CancelIntent';
this.emit(':tell', speechOutput);
},
'AMAZON.StopIntent': function () {
speechOutput = 'Placeholder response for AMAZON.StopIntent.';
this.emit(':tell', speechOutput);
},
'SessionEndedRequest': function () {
speechOutput = '';
//this.emit(':saveState', true);//uncomment to save attributes to db on session end
this.emit(':tell', speechOutput);
},
'AMAZON.FallbackIntent': function () {
speechOutput = '';
//any intent slot variables are listed here for convenience
//Your custom intent handling goes here
speechOutput = "This is a place holder response for the intent named AMAZON.FallbackIntent. This intent has no slots. Anything else?";
this.emit(":ask", speechOutput, speechOutput);
},
'AMAZON.NavigateHomeIntent': function () {
speechOutput = '';
//any intent slot variables are listed here for convenience
//Your custom intent handling goes here
speechOutput = "This is a place holder response for the intent named AMAZON.NavigateHomeIntent. This intent has no slots. Anything else?";
this.emit(":ask", speechOutput, speechOutput);
},
'findOutMyCalorie': function () {
//delegate to Alexa to collect all the required slot values
let filledSlots = delegateSlotCollection.call(this);
speechOutput = '';
//any intent slot variables are listed here for convenience
let genderSlotRaw = this.event.request.intent.slots.gender.value;
console.log(genderSlotRaw);
let genderSlot = resolveCanonical(this.event.request.intent.slots.gender);
console.log(genderSlot);
let ageSlotRaw = this.event.request.intent.slots.age.value;
console.log(ageSlotRaw);
let ageSlot = resolveCanonical(this.event.request.intent.slots.age);
console.log(ageSlot);
let weightSlotRaw = this.event.request.intent.slots.weight.value;
console.log(weightSlotRaw);
let weightSlot = resolveCanonical(this.event.request.intent.slots.weight);
console.log(weightSlot);
let weight_unitSlotRaw = this.event.request.intent.slots.weight_unit.value;
console.log(weight_unitSlotRaw);
let weight_unitSlot = resolveCanonical(this.event.request.intent.slots.weight_unit);
console.log(weight_unitSlot);
let heightSlotRaw = this.event.request.intent.slots.height.value;
console.log(heightSlotRaw);
let heightSlot = resolveCanonical(this.event.request.intent.slots.height);
console.log(heightSlot);
let height_unitSlotRaw = this.event.request.intent.slots.height_unit.value;
console.log(height_unitSlotRaw);
let height_unitSlot = resolveCanonical(this.event.request.intent.slots.height_unit);
console.log(height_unitSlot);
myAsyncFn();
//Your custom intent handling goes here
speechOutput = "Deine Kalorienverbrauch ist " + size;
this.emit(':ask', speechOutput, speechOutput);
//Your custom intent handling goes here
//speechOutput = "This is a place holder response for the intent named findOutMySize, which includes dialogs. This intent has 6 slots, which are gender, age, weight, weight_unit, height, and height_unit. Anything else?";
//this.emit(':ask', speechOutput, speechOutput);
},
'Unhandled': function () {
speechOutput = "The skill didn't quite understand what you wanted. Do you want to try something else?";
this.emit(':ask', speechOutput, speechOutput);
}
};
exports.handler = (event, context) => {
const alexa = Alexa.handler(event, context);
alexa.appId = APP_ID;
// To enable string internationalization (i18n) features, set a resources object.
//alexa.resources = languageStrings;
alexa.registerHandlers(handlers);
//alexa.dynamoDBTableName = 'DYNAMODB_TABLE_NAME'; //uncomment this line to save attributes to DB
alexa.execute();
};
// END of Intent Handlers {} ========================================================================================
// 3. Helper Function =================================================================================================
async function myAsyncFn() {
try {
await request(options, function(err, response) {
size = response.body.size;
console.log(response.body.size)
});
}
catch (error) {
console.log(error);
}
}
function resolveCanonical(slot){
//this function looks at the entity resolution part of request and returns the slot value if a synonyms is provided
let canonical;
try{
canonical = slot.resolutions.resolutionsPerAuthority[0].values[0].value.name;
}catch(err){
console.log(err.message);
canonical = slot.value;
};
return canonical;
};
function delegateSlotCollection(){
console.log("in delegateSlotCollection");
console.log("current dialogState: "+this.event.request.dialogState);
if (this.event.request.dialogState === "STARTED") {
console.log("in Beginning");
let updatedIntent= null;
// updatedIntent=this.event.request.intent;
//optionally pre-fill slots: update the intent object with slot values for which
//you have defaults, then return Dialog.Delegate with this updated intent
// in the updatedIntent property
//this.emit(":delegate", updatedIntent); //uncomment this is using ASK SDK 1.0.9 or newer
//this code is necessary if using ASK SDK versions prior to 1.0.9
if(this.isOverridden()) {
return;
}
this.handler.response = buildSpeechletResponse({
sessionAttributes: this.attributes,
directives: getDialogDirectives('Dialog.Delegate', updatedIntent, null),
shouldEndSession: false
});
this.emit(':responseReady', updatedIntent);
} else if (this.event.request.dialogState !== "COMPLETED") {
console.log("in not completed");
// return a Dialog.Delegate directive with no updatedIntent property.
//this.emit(":delegate"); //uncomment this is using ASK SDK 1.0.9 or newer
//this code necessary is using ASK SDK versions prior to 1.0.9
if(this.isOverridden()) {
return;
}
this.handler.response = buildSpeechletResponse({
sessionAttributes: this.attributes,
directives: getDialogDirectives('Dialog.Delegate', null, null),
shouldEndSession: false
});
this.emit(':responseReady');
} else {
console.log("in completed");
console.log("returning: "+ JSON.stringify(this.event.request.intent));
// Dialog is now complete and all required slots should be filled,
// so call your normal intent handler.
return this.event.request.intent;
}
}
function randomPhrase(array) {
// the argument is an array [] of words or phrases
let i = 0;
i = Math.floor(Math.random() * array.length);
return(array[i]);
}
function isSlotValid(request, slotName){
let slot = request.intent.slots[slotName];
//console.log("request = "+JSON.stringify(request)); //uncomment if you want to see the request
let slotValue;
//if we have a slot, get the text and store it into speechOutput
if (slot && slot.value) {
//we have a value in the slot
slotValue = slot.value.toLowerCase();
return slotValue;
} else {
//we didn't get a value in the slot.
return false;
}
}
//These functions are here to allow dialog directives to work with SDK versions prior to 1.0.9
//will be removed once Lambda templates are updated with the latest SDK
function createSpeechObject(optionsParam) {
if (optionsParam && optionsParam.type === 'SSML') {
return {
type: optionsParam.type,
ssml: optionsParam['speech']
};
} else {
return {
type: optionsParam.type || 'PlainText',
text: optionsParam['speech'] || optionsParam
};
}
}
function buildSpeechletResponse(options) {
let alexaResponse = {
shouldEndSession: options.shouldEndSession
};
if (options.output) {
alexaResponse.outputSpeech = createSpeechObject(options.output);
}
if (options.reprompt) {
alexaResponse.reprompt = {
outputSpeech: createSpeechObject(options.reprompt)
};
}
if (options.directives) {
alexaResponse.directives = options.directives;
}
if (options.cardTitle && options.cardContent) {
alexaResponse.card = {
type: 'Simple',
title: options.cardTitle,
content: options.cardContent
};
if(options.cardImage && (options.cardImage.smallImageUrl || options.cardImage.largeImageUrl)) {
alexaResponse.card.type = 'Standard';
alexaResponse.card['image'] = {};
delete alexaResponse.card.content;
alexaResponse.card.text = options.cardContent;
if(options.cardImage.smallImageUrl) {
alexaResponse.card.image['smallImageUrl'] = options.cardImage.smallImageUrl;
}
if(options.cardImage.largeImageUrl) {
alexaResponse.card.image['largeImageUrl'] = options.cardImage.largeImageUrl;
}
}
} else if (options.cardType === 'LinkAccount') {
alexaResponse.card = {
type: 'LinkAccount'
};
} else if (options.cardType === 'AskForPermissionsConsent') {
alexaResponse.card = {
type: 'AskForPermissionsConsent',
permissions: options.permissions
};
}
let returnResult = {
version: '1.0',
response: alexaResponse
};
if (options.sessionAttributes) {
returnResult.sessionAttributes = options.sessionAttributes;
}
return returnResult;
}
function getDialogDirectives(dialogType, updatedIntent, slotName) {
let directive = {
type: dialogType
};
if (dialogType === 'Dialog.ElicitSlot') {
directive.slotToElicit = slotName;
} else if (dialogType === 'Dialog.ConfirmSlot') {
directive.slotToConfirm = slotName;
}
if (updatedIntent) {
directive.updatedIntent = updatedIntent;
}
return [directive];
}

Answer 1

Do you get an error message? My feeling is that the handler itself needs to be async too.
I solved it like this
const getSpeechOutput = async function (version) {
const gadata = await ga.getGA(gaQueryUsers, 'ga:users')
let speechOutput;
...
return speechOutput
}
const UsersIntentHandler = {
canHandle(handlerInput) {
return handlerInput.requestEnvelope.request.type === 'IntentRequest'
&& handlerInput.requestEnvelope.request.intent.name === 'UsersIntent';
},
async handle(handlerInput) {
try {
const speechOutput = await getSpeechOutput("long");
return handlerInput.responseBuilder
.speak(speechOutput)
.withSimpleCard(defaulttext.SKILL_NAME, speechOutput)
.getResponse();
} catch (error) {
console.error(error);
}
},
};
module.exports = {
UsersIntentHandler,
getSpeechOutput
}
That the function with the actual api call:
const getGA = async (gaQuery,requestResult) => {
try {
jwt.authorize()
const result = await google.analytics('v3').data.ga.get(gaQuery)
return result.data.totalsForAllResults[requestResult];
} catch (error) {
throw error
}2
}