Send message programmatically

Overview

The openChat API allows you to programmatically open the chat window and send a message on behalf of the user. This is useful for:

Sending automated support requests based on user actions
Creating contextual help buttons that send specific inquiries
Triggering chat conversations from forms, errors, or page events
Automating customer service workflows

For controlling widget visibility, see Show/Hide Widget.

No code required? You can also open the chat via URL parameters without any JavaScript. See Open chat via URL for a simple way to create links for marketing campaigns, emails, and QR codes.

Method

The widget exposes this method for opening the chat:

Open chat with optional message, auto-send, and fullscreen control

window.Molin.openChat({ message, autoSend, fullscreen });

Alternative method (web component)

You can also use the web component selector:

Open chat using web component selector

document.querySelector('molin-shop-ai').openChat({ message, autoSend, fullscreen });

Parameters

object

Optional configuration object. Can be omitted entirely to simply open the chat without any message. When provided, can contain the following optional properties:

string

The message to send when opening the chat. If omitted, the chat opens without any pre-filled message.

boolean

default:"false"

Whether to automatically send the message. When false (default), the message will only be prefilled in the input field for the user to review and send manually. When true, the message is sent immediately.

boolean

default:"false"

Whether to open the chat window filling the whole screen on desktop. When false (default), the chat opens in the normal floating window. On mobile the chat is always fullscreen regardless of this setting.

Valid function calls:

openChat() - Opens chat without any message
openChat({ message: "Hello" }) - Opens chat with pre-filled message (not sent)
openChat({ message: "Hello", autoSend: true }) - Opens chat and sends message immediately
openChat({ fullscreen: true }) - Opens chat fullscreen on desktop

Open the launcher in fullscreen by default

The fullscreen option above controls a single openChat call. To make the launcher (the floating bubble) and every other affordance open the chat fullscreen on desktop by default, set it once at the widget level. Set it before the widget loads via window.molinSettings:

<script>
  window.molinSettings = {
    fullscreen: true,
  };
</script>

Or add the fullscreen attribute to the embed tag:

<molin-shop-ai widget="your-widget-id" fullscreen></molin-shop-ai>

A per-call openChat({ fullscreen }) always wins over this default, so a specific button can still open the normal floating window. On mobile the chat is always fullscreen regardless of this setting.

Examples

Basic Usage - Open Chat Button

Basic Usage

// Method 1:
window.Molin.openChat();

// Method 2:
document.querySelector('molin-shop-ai').openChat();

Pre-filled Message - Product Inquiry

Pre-filled Message

// Method 1:
window.Molin.openChat({
  message: 'I have questions about the product pricing, availability, and features. Can you help me with that?',
  autoSend: false,
});

// Method 2:
document.querySelector('molin-shop-ai').openChat({
  message: 'I have questions about the product pricing, availability, and features. Can you help me with that?',
  autoSend: false,
});

Auto-send Messages - Support Scenarios

// Method 1:
window.Molin.openChat({
  message:
    "I need help with my order status. Can you please check what's happening with my recent purchase?",
  autoSend: false,
})

// Method 2:
document.querySelector("molin-shop-ai").openChat({
message:
"I need help with my order status. Can you please check what's happening with my recent purchase?",
autoSend: false,
})

// Method 1:
window.Molin.openChat({
  message:
    "I would like to return an item I purchased. Can you help me with the return process?",
  autoSend: false,
})

// Method 2:
document.querySelector("molin-shop-ai").openChat({
  message:
    "I would like to return an item I purchased. Can you help me with the return process?",
  autoSend: false,
})

// Method 1:
window.Molin.openChat({
  message: 'I have a question about my billing. There seems to be an issue with my last payment.',
  autoSend: false,
});

// Method 2:
document.querySelector('molin-shop-ai').openChat({
  message: 'I have a question about my billing. There seems to be an issue with my last payment.',
  autoSend: false,
});

Smart Search with AI Integration

AI Search Integration

// When user searches, open chat with search context
const searchQuery = 'wireless headphones';
window.Molin.openChat({
  message: `I'm looking for: ${searchQuery}. Can you help me find what I need?`,
  autoSend: false,
});

The search component integrates AI assistance with product search, allowing users to get personalized recommendations through the chat widget.

Product Grid with AI Expert

// When user clicks on AI expert card
window.Molin.openChat({
  message: 'I need help finding the right product. Can you assist me with personalized recommendations?',
  autoSend: false,
});

The product grid includes an AI expert consultation option that opens the chat widget with a pre-filled message for personalized assistance.

Interactive Playground

Try the openChat API with this interactive example:

This playground will only work if the Molin widget is installed on this documentation page. If you’re viewing this in the documentation, it may show a warning that the widget is not loaded.

Technical note

The openChat method is only available after the widget script has loaded. The recommended approach is to listen for the molin:ready event:

window.addEventListener('molin:ready', () => {
  window.Molin.openChat({ message: 'Your message here' });
});

Alternatively, you can check if window.Molin already exists:

if (window.Molin && window.Molin.openChat) {
  window.Molin.openChat({ message: 'Your message here' });
}

Get Started

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Migrating to Molin

Mobile

General

Send message programmatically

Overview

Method

Alternative method (web component)

Parameters

Open the launcher in fullscreen by default

Examples

Basic Usage - Open Chat Button

Pre-filled Message - Product Inquiry

Auto-send Messages - Support Scenarios

Smart Search with AI Integration

Product Grid with AI Expert

Interactive Playground

Technical note

​Overview

​Method

​Alternative method (web component)

​Parameters

​Open the launcher in fullscreen by default

​Examples

​Basic Usage - Open Chat Button

​Pre-filled Message - Product Inquiry

​Auto-send Messages - Support Scenarios

​Smart Search with AI Integration

​Product Grid with AI Expert

​Interactive Playground

​Technical note

Overview

Method

Alternative method (web component)

Parameters

Open the launcher in fullscreen by default

Examples

Basic Usage - Open Chat Button

Pre-filled Message - Product Inquiry

Auto-send Messages - Support Scenarios

Smart Search with AI Integration

Product Grid with AI Expert

Interactive Playground

Technical note