APL skill without lambda functions - alexa

Question

I am creating Alexa echo show skill, I have created one sample Alexa skill without lambda function that hits myserver api and I return response in Alexa accepted format like below:
{
"version": "1.0",
"sessionAttributes": {},
"response": {
"outputSpeech": {
"type": "PlainText",
"text": "My output speech"
},
"card": {
"type": "Simple",
"title": "hELLO",
"content": "Meetings"
},
"reprompt": {
"outputSpeech": {
"type": "PlainText",
"text": "Can I help you with anything else?"
}
},
"shouldEndSession": false
}
}
Till now my skill working fine, But now I want to show a template over the echo show that is possible with APL(Alexa Programming Language).
I am not getting APL examples without lambda function, I have tried to add some APL response json from the example that i got and put into above response json that is not working.
I am confused with APL, Should i just need to add some attribute only in the above response or need to use sdk at my server that is running with PHP whose sdk i did not find at the portal.
Please help me

Answer 1

If you want to send an APL document, you have to send a directive to the JSON
{
"body": {
"version": "1.0",
"response": {
"outputSpeech": {
"type": "SSML",
"ssml": "<speak>Hello world, change me</speak>"
},
"directives": [
{
"type": "Alexa.Presentation.APL.RenderDocument",
"token": "TemplateTypescript",
"document": {
"type": "APL",
"version": "1.7",
"license": "Copyright 2021 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.\nSPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-.amazon.com.-AmznSL-1.0\nLicensed under the Amazon Software License http://aws.amazon.com/asl/",
"theme": "dark",
"import": [
{
"name": "alexa-layouts",
"version": "1.4.0"
}
],
"resources": [
{
"description": "Default dimensions, numbers and strings for the AlexaHeadline.",
"dimensions": {
"primaryTextMaxWidth": "100%",
"secondaryTextMaxWidth": "100%",
"secondaryTextTopPadding": "#spacingXSmall",
"contentPaddingLeft": "#marginHorizontal"
},
"numbers": {
"headlinePrimaryTextMaxLines": 2
},
"strings": {
"textComponentAlign": "center"
}
},
{
"description": "Dimensions for the AlexaHeadline - hubLandscapeLarge.",
"when": "${#viewportProfile == #hubLandscapeLarge}",
"numbers": {
"headlinePrimaryTextMaxLines": 4
}
},
{
"description": "Dimensions for the AlexaHeadline - hubRound.",
"when": "${#viewportProfileCategory == #hubRound}",
"dimensions": {
"secondaryTextTopPadding": "#spacing3XSmall"
}
},
{
"description": "Dimensions for the AlexaHeadline - tvLandscapeOverlay/tvLandscapeXLarge.",
"when": "${#viewportProfile == #tvLandscapeXLarge || #viewportProfile == #tvLandscapeOverlay}",
"dimensions": {
"primaryTextMaxWidth": "560dp",
"secondaryTextMaxWidth": "560dp",
"secondaryTextTopPadding": "#spacing3XSmall"
}
},
{
"description": "Dimensions for the AlexaHeadline - tvLandscapeXLarge.",
"when": "${#viewportProfile == #tvLandscapeXLarge}",
"numbers": {
"headlinePrimaryTextMaxLines": 4
}
},
{
"description": "Dimensions, numbers and strings for the AlexaHeadline - tvPortraitOverlay.",
"when": "${#viewportProfile == #tvPortraitOverlay}",
"dimensions": {
"primaryTextMaxWidth": "220dp",
"secondaryTextMaxWidth": "220dp",
"contentPaddingLeft": "#spacing2XLarge"
},
"strings": {
"textComponentAlign": "left"
}
},
{
"description": "Dimensions, numbers and strings for the AlexaHeadline - mobileSmall portrait.",
"when": "${#viewportProfile == #mobileSmall && #viewportOrientation == #viewportOrientationPortrait}",
"numbers": {
"headlinePrimaryTextMaxLines": 4
}
},
{
"description": "Dimensions, numbers and strings for the AlexaHeadline - mobileMedium.",
"when": "${#viewportProfile == #mobileMedium}",
"dimensions": {
"primaryTextMaxWidth": "758dp"
},
"numbers": {
"headlinePrimaryTextMaxLines": 4
}
},
{
"description": "Dimensions, numbers and strings for the AlexaHeadline - mobileLarge.",
"when": "${#viewportProfile == #mobileLarge}",
"dimensions": {
"primaryTextMaxWidth": "1025dp"
},
"numbers": {
"headlinePrimaryTextMaxLines": 4
}
},
{
"description": "Dimensions, numbers and strings for the AlexaHeadline - hubPortraitMedium.",
"when": "${#viewportProfile == #hubPortraitMedium}",
"numbers": {
"headlinePrimaryTextMaxLines": 4
}
},
{
"description": "Dimensions, numbers and strings for the AlexaHeadline - hubLandscapeXLarge.",
"when": "${#viewportProfile == #hubLandscapeXLarge}",
"dimensions": {
"primaryTextMaxWidth": "1440dp"
},
"numbers": {
"headlinePrimaryTextMaxLines": 4
}
}
],
"styles": {
"primaryTextLight": {
"extends": "textStyleDisplay4",
"values": [
{
"color": "#colorTextReversed"
}
]
},
"secondaryTextLight": {
"extends": "textStyleCallout",
"values": [
{
"color": "#colorTextReversed"
}
]
}
},
"layouts": {
"AlexaHeadline": {
"parameters": [
{
"name": "theme",
"description": "Colors will be switched depending on the specified theme (light/dark). Default to dark theme",
"type": "string",
"default": "dark"
},
{
"name": "primaryText",
"description": "Primary message",
"type": "string"
},
{
"name": "secondaryText",
"description": "secondary message",
"type": "string"
},
{
"name": "headerAttributionOpacity",
"type": "number",
"default": "${#viewportProfileCategory == #hubRound ? 1 : #opacitySecondary}"
},
{
"name": "headerTitle",
"description": "Primary text to render in header.",
"type": "string"
},
{
"name": "headerSubtitle",
"description": "Secondary text to render in header.",
"type": "string"
},
{
"name": "headerAttributionText",
"description": "Attribution text to render in header. Only shown when no headerAttributionImage is provided, and when headerAttributionPrimacy is true, or on a device that shows Title/Subtitle and Attribution.",
"type": "string"
},
{
"name": "headerAttributionImage",
"description": "URL for attribution image source. Only shown when headerAttributionPrimacy is true, or on a device that shows Title/Subtitle and Attribution.",
"type": "string"
},
{
"name": "headerAttributionPrimacy",
"description": "On devices that can only display one element due to screen size, Attribution is prioritized. Setting False displays Title/Subtitle. Defaults to true.",
"type": "boolean",
"default": true
},
{
"name": "headerDivider",
"description": "Toggle to display the divider that appears at the bottom of header to help separate it from the content below. Default to false",
"type": "boolean",
"default": false
},
{
"name": "headerBackButton",
"description": "Toggle to display back button in header. Defaults to false.",
"type": "boolean",
"default": false
},
{
"name": "headerBackButtonAccessibilityLabel",
"description": "An accessibility label to describe the back button to customers who use a screen reader.",
"type": "string"
},
{
"name": "headerBackButtonCommand",
"description": "Command that is issued when back button is pressed.",
"type": "any",
"default": {
"type": "SendEvent",
"arguments": ["goBack"]
}
},
{
"name": "headerBackgroundColor",
"description": "Optional color value to use as background color for Header. Defaults to transparent.",
"type": "color",
"default": "transparent"
},
{
"name": "backgroundColor",
"description": "Color value to use as background color for layout.",
"type": "color"
},
{
"name": "backgroundImageSource",
"description": "URL for background image source.",
"type": "string"
},
{
"name": "backgroundVideoSource",
"description": "URL for background video source.",
"type": "any"
},
{
"name": "backgroundScale",
"description": "Image/video scale to apply to background image/video. Defaults to best-fill.",
"type": "string",
"default": "best-fill"
},
{
"name": "backgroundAlign",
"description": "Image/video alignment to apply to background image/video. Defaults to center.",
"type": "string",
"align": "center"
},
{
"name": "backgroundBlur",
"description": "Toggle to apply background blur. Defaults to false.",
"type": "boolean",
"default": false
},
{
"name": "backgroundColorOverlay",
"description": "Toggle to apply overlay scrim to background image/video. Defaults to false.",
"type": "boolean",
"default": false
},
{
"name": "backgroundOverlayGradient",
"description": "Toggle to apply gradient to background image/video. Defaults to false.",
"type": "boolean",
"default": false
},
{
"name": "backgroundVideoAutoPlay",
"description": "Toggle to autoplay background video(s). Defaults to false.",
"type": "boolean",
"default": false
},
{
"name": "backgroundVideoAudioTrack",
"description": "Audio track to play on. Defaults to foreground. EM can select foreground | background | none.",
"type": "string",
"default": "foreground"
},
{
"name": "footerHintText",
"type": "string",
"description": "Hint text to display in Footer."
},
{
"name": "entities",
"description": "Array of entity data bind to this layout",
"type": "any"
},
{
"name": "layoutDirection",
"description": "The layoutDirection of AlexaHeadline. It can be LTR or RTL. By default, it uses environment layoutDirection.",
"type": "string",
"default": "${environment.layoutDirection}"
},
{
"name": "lang",
"description": "The lang property of AlexaHeadline. Set the lang property to a BCP-47 string (e.g., en-US). By default, it uses environment lang.",
"type": "string",
"default": "${environment.lang}"
}
],
"items": [
{
"type": "Container",
"layoutDirection": "${layoutDirection}",
"height": "100vh",
"entities": "${entities}",
"items": [
{
"type": "AlexaBackground",
"backgroundColor": "${backgroundColor}",
"backgroundImageSource": "${backgroundImageSource}",
"backgroundVideoSource": "${backgroundVideoSource}",
"backgroundScale": "${backgroundScale}",
"backgroundAlign": "${backgroundAlign}",
"backgroundBlur": "${backgroundBlur}",
"colorOverlay": "${backgroundColorOverlay}",
"overlayGradient": "${backgroundOverlayGradient}",
"videoAutoPlay": "${backgroundVideoAutoPlay}",
"videoAudioTrack": "${backgroundVideoAudioTrack}"
},
{
"type": "Container",
"height": "100vh",
"width": "100vw",
"position": "absolute",
"items": [
{
"type": "Container",
"grow": 1,
"justifyContent": "center",
"paddingLeft": "#contentPaddingLeft",
"paddingRight": "#marginHorizontal",
"alignItems": "center",
"items": [
{
"when": "${primaryText && primaryText != ''}",
"type": "Text",
"style": "${theme == 'light' ? 'primaryTextLight' : 'textStyleDisplay4'}",
"text": "${primaryText}",
"opacity": 1,
"textAlign": "#textComponentAlign",
"maxWidth": "#primaryTextMaxWidth",
"maxLines": "#headlinePrimaryTextMaxLines"
},
{
"when": "${secondaryText && secondaryText != ''}",
"type": "Text",
"style": "${theme == 'light' ? 'secondaryTextLight' : 'textStyleCallout'}",
"text": "${secondaryText}",
"maxLines": 1,
"opacity": "#opacitySecondary",
"textAlign": "#textComponentAlign",
"maxWidth": "#secondaryTextMaxWidth",
"paddingTop": "#secondaryTextTopPadding"
}
]
},
{
"type": "AlexaHeader",
"theme": "${theme}",
"headerTitle": "${headerTitle}",
"layoutDirection": "${layoutDirection}",
"headerSubtitle": "${#viewportProfile != #tvLandscapeOverlay ? headerSubtitle : ''}",
"headerAttributionText": "${headerAttributionText}",
"headerAttributionImage": "${headerAttributionImage}",
"headerAttributionPrimacy": "${headerAttributionPrimacy}",
"headerDivider": "${headerDivider}",
"headerBackButton": "${headerBackButton}",
"headerBackButtonAccessibilityLabel": "${headerBackButtonAccessibilityLabel}",
"headerBackButtonCommand": "${headerBackButtonCommand}",
"headerBackgroundColor": "${headerBackgroundColor}",
"headerAttributionOpacity": "${headerAttributionOpacity}",
"position": "absolute",
"width": "100%",
"top": "0"
},
{
"when": "${#viewportProfileCategory != #hubRound && #viewportProfile != #tvLandscapeOverlay && footerHintText}",
"type": "AlexaFooter",
"hintText": "${footerHintText}",
"theme": "${theme}",
"lang": "${lang}",
"position": "absolute",
"width": "100%",
"bottom": "0"
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
},
"mainTemplate": {
"parameters": ["payload"],
"item": [
{
"type": "AlexaHeadline",
"id": "PlantHeadline",
"primaryText": "${payload.headlineTemplateData.properties.textContent.primaryText.text}",
"headerBackButton": false,
"headerAttributionImage": "${payload.headlineTemplateData.properties.logoUrl}",
"headerAttributionPrimacy": true,
"footerHintText": "${payload.headlineTemplateData.properties.hintText}",
"backgroundImageSource": "${payload.headlineTemplateData.properties.backgroundImage.sources[0].url}",
"backgroundColorOverlay": false,
"speech": "${payload.headlineTemplateData.properties.welcomeSpeech}",
"theme": "light"
}
]
},
"onMount": [
{
"type": "SpeakItem",
"componentId": "PlantHeadline"
}
]
},
"datasources": {
"headlineTemplateData": {
"type": "object",
"objectId": "headlineSample",
"properties": {
"backgroundImage": {
"sources": [
{
"url": "https://d2o906d8ln7ui1.cloudfront.net/images/templates_v3/headline/HeadlineBackground_Light.png",
"size": "large"
}
]
},
"textContent": {
"primaryText": {
"type": "PlainText",
"text": "Welcome to Template Typescript"
}
},
"logoUrl": "",
"hintText": ""
}
}
},
"timeoutType": "SHORT"
}
],
"reprompt": {
"outputSpeech": {
"type": "SSML",
"ssml": "<speak>Hello world, change me</speak>"
}
},
"shouldEndSession": false,
"type": "_DEFAULT_RESPONSE"
},
"sessionAttributes": {},
"userAgent": "ask-node/2.11.0 Node/v12.22.4"
}
}
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