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Structure & people

Start: the block where the bot begins the flow

The flow's entry point — the place where the bot picks up a customer and walks them through the steps.

In short

The "Start" block in the Forgebot Telegram bot builder is the flow's entry point: the block where the bot begins guiding a customer step by step. Every published flow has exactly one, and the launch condition (a /start command or a keyword, say) is set in the flow's settings, not in the block itself.

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Visual Telegram bot builder: a coffee-shop flow built from blocks — start, messages, buttons, branch and operator handover
Visual flow builder
About the block

What the "Start" block does

"Start" marks the beginning of the flow — the point where the bot picks up a person and leads them along the chain of blocks. The customer configures nothing and often doesn't even notice this block: they simply message the bot or tap a button, and the conversation begins. Each flow has exactly one such block — every other step branches out from it.

Fields

Block settings

The "Start" block itself has no settings — its panel reads "No settings — entry point". What triggers the flow (a /start command, a keyword, a button) is set in the flow's own settings, not here.

No setup required — drop the block into your flow and it works right away.

Example

Example: the first message to the bot

A customer opens a coffee shop's bot for the first time and taps "Start". The flow begins at the "Start" block, and the next block, "Message", greets them and offers the menu.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the "Start" block required?

Yes. Every published flow must have exactly one "Start" block — without it the bot has nowhere to begin. You can't have two entry points in one flow.

Where do I set which command launches the flow?

Not in the block, but in the flow's settings. There you specify what launches it — a /start command, a keyword in a message, or a button tap. The "Start" block only marks where the chain begins.

Why does the "Start" block have no settings?

Because its job is simply to mark the beginning. All the logic (what launches the flow, what the bot replies) lives in the flow's settings and the blocks that follow. That's why its panel says "No settings — entry point".

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