How to Code Copilot Connectors

Introduction

Copilot connectors are powerful tools that extend the capabilities of Microsoft Copilot by integrating it with various data sources and services. This guide will walk you through the process of coding Copilot connectors, providing detailed code examples and use cases to help you get started.

What are Copilot Connectors?

Copilot connectors allow you to connect Microsoft Copilot to external data sources, APIs, and services. This enables Copilot to access and utilize data from these sources to provide more accurate and contextually relevant responses.

Setting Up Your Development Environment

Before you start coding, ensure you have the following tools installed:

• Visual Studio Code or any other IDE
• Node.js and npm
• Microsoft Copilot SDK

Creating a Basic Copilot Connector

Step 1: Initialize Your Project

First, create a new directory for your project and initialize it with npm:

mkdir copilot-connector
cd copilot-connector
npm init -y

Step 2: Install Required Packages

Install the necessary packages for developing a Copilot connector:

npm install @microsoft/copilot-sdk axios

Step 3: Create the Connector

Create a new file named connector.js and add the following code:

const { CopilotConnector } = require('@microsoft/copilot-sdk');
const axios = require('axios');

class MyConnector extends CopilotConnector {
    async fetchData(query) {
        try {
            const response = await axios.get('https://api.example.com/data', {
                params: { query }
            });
            return response.data;
        } catch (error) {
            console.error('Error fetching data:', error);
            throw new Error('Failed to fetch data');
        }
    }
}

module.exports = MyConnector;

Step 4: Register the Connector

In your main application file, register the connector with Copilot:

const { Copilot } = require('@microsoft/copilot-sdk');
const MyConnector = require('./connector');

const copilot = new Copilot();
copilot.registerConnector('myConnector', new MyConnector());

copilot.start();

Detailed Examples and Use Cases

Example 1: Weather Data Connector

Use Case: Integrate weather data into Copilot to provide weather updates and forecasts.

Code Example:

const { CopilotConnector } = require('@microsoft/copilot-sdk');
const axios = require('axios');

class WeatherConnector extends CopilotConnector {
    async fetchData(location) {
        try {
            const response = await axios.get('https://api.weatherapi.com/v1/current.json', {
                params: { key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', q: location }
            });
            return response.data;
        } catch (error) {
            console.error('Error fetching weather data:', error);
            throw new Error('Failed to fetch weather data');
        }
    }
}

module.exports = WeatherConnector;

Usage:

const WeatherConnector = require('./weatherConnector');

copilot.registerConnector('weather', new WeatherConnector());

copilot.on('query', async (query) => {
    if (query.intent === 'getWeather') {
        const data = await copilot.connectors.weather.fetchData(query.location);
        return `The current weather in ${query.location} is ${data.current.condition.text} with a temperature of ${data.current.temp_c}°C.`;
    }
});

Example 2: Stock Market Data Connector

Use Case: Provide real-time stock market updates and financial data.

Code Example:

const { CopilotConnector } = require('@microsoft/copilot-sdk');
const axios = require('axios');

class StockConnector extends CopilotConnector {
    async fetchData(symbol) {
        try {
            const response = await axios.get('https://api.example.com/stock', {
                params: { symbol }
            });
            return response.data;
        } catch (error) {
            console.error('Error fetching stock data:', error);
            throw new Error('Failed to fetch stock data');
        }
    }
}

module.exports = StockConnector;

Usage:

const StockConnector = require('./stockConnector');

copilot.registerConnector('stock', new StockConnector());

copilot.on('query', async (query) => {
    if (query.intent === 'getStockPrice') {
        const data = await copilot.connectors.stock.fetchData(query.symbol);
        return `The current price of ${query.symbol} is $${data.price}.`;
    }
});

Example 3: Social Media Data Connector

Use Case: Fetch and analyze social media data to provide insights and trends.

Code Example:

const { CopilotConnector } = require('@microsoft/copilot-sdk');
const axios = require('axios');

class SocialMediaConnector extends CopilotConnector {
    async fetchData(hashtag) {
        try {
            const response = await axios.get('https://api.socialmedia.com/v1/tweets', {
                params: { hashtag }
            });
            return response.data;
        } catch (error) {
            console.error('Error fetching social media data:', error);
            throw new Error('Failed to fetch social media data');
        }
    }
}

module.exports = SocialMediaConnector;

Usage:

const SocialMediaConnector = require('./socialMediaConnector');

copilot.registerConnector('socialMedia', new SocialMediaConnector());

copilot.on('query', async (query) => {
    if (query.intent === 'getSocialMediaTrends') {
        const data = await copilot.connectors.socialMedia.fetchData(query.hashtag);
        return `The latest trends for #${query.hashtag} are: ${data.trends.join(', ')}.`;
    }
});

Use Case for a Dummy Company: “Tech Innovators Inc.”

Company Overview: Tech Innovators Inc. is a fictional company specializing in developing cutting-edge technology solutions. They want to integrate Copilot connectors to enhance their customer support and data analysis capabilities.

Example 4: Customer Support Connector

Use Case: Integrate customer support data to provide instant responses to common queries.

Code Example:

const { CopilotConnector } = require('@microsoft/copilot-sdk');
const axios = require('axios');

class SupportConnector extends CopilotConnector {
    async fetchData(query) {
        try {
            const response = await axios.get('https://api.techinnovators.com/support', {
                params: { query }
            });
            return response.data;
        } catch (error) {
            console.error('Error fetching support data:', error);
            throw new Error('Failed to fetch support data');
        }
    }
}

module.exports = SupportConnector;

Usage:

const SupportConnector = require('./supportConnector');

copilot.registerConnector('support', new SupportConnector());

copilot.on('query', async (query) => {
    if (query.intent === 'getSupport') {
        const data = await copilot.connectors.support.fetchData(query.issue);
        return `Here is the information you need: ${data.solution}`;
    }
});

Example 5: Sales Data Connector

Use Case: Provide real-time sales data and analytics to the sales team.

Code Example:

const { CopilotConnector } = require('@microsoft/copilot-sdk');
const axios = require('axios');

class SalesConnector extends CopilotConnector {
    async fetchData(productId) {
        try {
            const response = await axios.get('https://api.techinnovators.com/sales', {
                params: { productId }
            });
            return response.data;
        } catch (error) {
            console.error('Error fetching sales data:', error);
            throw new Error('Failed to fetch sales data');
        }
    }
}

module.exports = SalesConnector;

Usage:

const SalesConnector = require('./salesConnector');

copilot.registerConnector('sales', new SalesConnector());

copilot.on('query', async (query) => {
    if (query.intent === 'getSalesData') {
        const data = await copilot.connectors.sales.fetchData(query.productId);
        return `The current sales data for product ${query.productId} is: ${data.salesFigures}.`;
    }
});

Configuring Connectors in Copilot Studio

1. Open Copilot Studio:
   • Launch Copilot Studio from your Microsoft 365 environment.
2. Add a New Node:
   • On the Copilot authoring canvas, select the Add node (+) button.
3. Select Connector Action:
   • In the node selection window, choose Call an action.
   • Select Connectors (preview) from the list.
4. Search and Add Your Connector:
   • Search for the connector you want to add (e.g., “WeatherConnector”, “StockConnector”).
   • Select the connector and add it to your project.
5. Configure Inputs and Outputs:
   • Configure the required inputs and outputs for your connector. This includes setting up parameters that your connector will use to fetch data.
   • You can also configure optional inputs and outputs as needed for your specific use case.
6. Set Up Authentication:
   • By default, the connection is configured to use end-user credentials. Ensure that the necessary authentication details are provided so that the connector can access the external data source.
7. Save and Test:
   • Save your configuration.
   • Test the connector to ensure it is fetching and processing data correctly.
8. Integrate with Copilot:
   • Once your connector is configured and tested, integrate it into your Copilot workflows.
   • Use the connector in your Copilot queries to fetch and display data as needed.

Example Configuration for “WeatherConnector”

1. Add Node:
   • Click Add node (+) and select Call an action.
   • Choose Connectors (preview) and search for “WeatherConnector”.
2. Configure Inputs:
   • Input: location (e.g., “New York”)
   • Output: weatherData (e.g., { "temperature": "20°C", "condition": "Sunny" })
3. Set Up Authentication:
   • Ensure the API key for the weather service is provided and authenticated.
4. Save and Test:
   • Save the configuration and test by querying the weather for a specific location.

Example Configuration for “StockConnector”

1. Add Node:
   • Click Add node (+) and select Call an action.
   • Choose Connectors (preview) and search for “StockConnector”.
2. Configure Inputs:
   • Input: symbol (e.g., “AAPL”)
   • Output: stockData (e.g., { "price": "150.00", "change": "+1.25" })
3. Set Up Authentication:
   • Ensure the API key for the stock market service is provided and authenticated.
4. Save and Test:
   • Save the configuration and test by querying the stock price for a specific symbol.

Conclusion

By following this comprehensive guide, you now have a solid foundation for creating Copilot connectors. These connectors can significantly enhance the capabilities of Microsoft Copilot by integrating it with various data sources and services, allowing for more accurate and contextually relevant responses.

Whether you’re fetching weather data, providing real-time stock market updates, analyzing social media trends, or integrating customer support and sales data for a company like “Tech Innovators Inc.,” the possibilities are vast. Experiment with different APIs and use cases to see how you can leverage Copilot connectors to meet your specific needs.

Remember, the key to successful integration lies in understanding the data sources and crafting connectors that can seamlessly fetch and process this data. With the examples provided, you should be well-equipped to start building your own connectors and unlocking new potential for Microsoft Copilot.