Alexa Skill using Blueprints

Objective

This document demonstrates how to build an Alexa skill from a Blueprint.

Steps

1. Create Alexa skill from Blueprint

2. Publish to Alexa

3. Test the skill

Create Alexa Skill from Blueprint

1. Open Studio Mode of ixHello.

2. On the left-hand side, expand Apps and then click on App Blueprints

1. Scroll down and locate the Time Off Request Assistant. Press Create App

1. Enter an App Name and Description. The Selected Template value was determined by the Blueprint.

1. Press Create App. The process has 3 steps. These steps allow the user to customize the content of their app and entity types. Content can be text, files, multimedia like images, video and APL content.

2. The first step looks for shared content. If another app has already been created from this template, files will be listed. Unless other app developers have modified these files, select Yes.

1. The second screen displays similar warnings. Press Next

1. Click Submit on the final step.

1. Publishing an app to Amazon Alexa means that you can now access the app that you just created from your Alexa account. Press Publish App. No customization will be done.

Publish skill to Alexa

1. The App Publishing page will open. The new App appears on three rows so it can be published to multiple supported channels. We are going to publish the skill to Amazon Alexa.

2. Click on the ellipses on the right side of the Alexa row and select Publish to Alexa

3. The Publish App to Amazon Alexa page appears. Under Select Amazon Account (LWA), a dropdown will appear with previously created Amazon Alexa accounts. Select the desired account and press Publish to Alexa.

1. A Congratulations message will appear. Press Done to close the window.

Test the Skill using Simulator

1. To test the skill using simulator, click Go to Alexa Skill.

1. The Amazon Alexa Developer Console will open.

1. To enable the microphone, click Test from the top menu.

1. A microphone option window will appear. Select Allow while visiting this site.

1. Turn testing on by clicking on Off and selecting Development.

1. On the left hand side of the upper menu, select Your Skills

1. A list of Alexa Skills appears. Locate the Time Off Request skill, open the Choose Action dropdown list, and select Test

1. An Alexa Simulator opens. Test the skill by typing request time off to start the skill.

2. Enter a time off request.f

3. You can say “Goodbye” to exit the skill.

Congrats, you can now use the skill from any Alexa enabled devices.