python telegram bot ForceReply callback

Question

I'm currently developing a telegram bot with python-telegram-bot. I want to be able to get the message, that was replied to ForceReply. The expected flow is this:

1. User sends /start command
   
2. Bot sends a message with some information. The message is linked with ForceReply
   
3. User replies to the message
4. Handle and operate the message.

How could I achieve the expected result? Thanks

initial_message = "Hi... Please reply to this message to proceed to the next step..."
def start (update: Update, context: CallbackContext):
 chat_id = update.message.chat_id
 print(update.message.from_user.username)
 context.bot.send_message(chat_id=chat_id, text=initial_message, reply_markup=ForceReply())

Answer 1

To be able to handle the ForceReply() you must implement a ConversationHandler. Once the user reply to ForceReply, with the ConversationHandler, you'll be able to deal with his/her reply. That's how it's done:

END = ConversationHandler.END
NEXTSTEP = range (1)
initial_message = "Hi... Please reply to this message to proceed to the next step..."
def start (update, context):
 chat_id = update.message.chat_id
 print(update.message.from_user.username)
 context.bot.send_message(chat_id=chat_id,
 text=initial_message,
 reply_markup=ForceReply())
 return NEXTSTEP
def nextstep (update, context):
 chat_id = update.message.chat_id
 ##user reply will be assigned to replied variable below
 replied = update.message.text
 print(replied)
 return END
def main():
 ##handler start
 start_handler = ConversationHandler(
 entry_points = [CommandHandler('start', start)],
 states = {
 NEXTSTEP: [MessageHandler(Filters.text & ~Filters.command, nextstep)]},
 fallbacks = [CommandHandler('cancel', callback = functions.cancel)])
 dp.add_handler(start_handler)

• Francois: Good example, works well