bot: sending out messages works, images have problems still

src/teams_bot/bot.py

@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@ import pickledb
 import deltachat
 from deltachat import account_hookimpl
 from deltachat.capi import lib as dclib
+from deltachat.message import _view_type_mapping
 
-from .commands import help_message, set_display_name, set_avatar
+from .commands import help_message, set_display_name, set_avatar, start_chat
 
 
 class SetupPlugin:
@@ -73,6 +74,24 @@ class RelayPlugin:
                 if arguments[0] == "/set_avatar":
                     result = set_avatar(self.account, message, self.crew)
                     self.reply(message.chat, result, quote=message)
+                if arguments[0] == "/start_chat":
+                    recipients = arguments[1].split(",")
+                    title = arguments[2].replace('_', ' ')
+                    words = []
+                    for i in range(3, len(arguments)):
+                        words.append(arguments[i])
+                    outside_chat, result = start_chat(
+                        self.account,
+                        recipients,
+                        title,
+                        " ".join(words),
+                        message.filename if message.filename else "",
+                        self.get_message_view_type(message),
+                    )
+                    if "success" in result:
+                        for msg in outside_chat.get_messages():
+                            self.forward_to_relay_group(msg)
+                    self.reply(message.chat, result, quote=message)
             else:
                 logging.debug("Ignoring message, just the crew chatting")
 
@@ -181,3 +200,9 @@ class RelayPlugin:
             if mapping[0] == outside_id:
                 return self.account.get_chat_by_id(mapping[1])
         return None
+
+    def get_message_view_type(self, message: deltachat.Message) -> str:
+        """Get the view_type of a Message."""
+        for view_name, view_code in _view_type_mapping.items():
+            if view_code == message._view_type:
+                return view_name

src/teams_bot/commands.py

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import logging
 
 import deltachat
+from deltachat.capi import lib as dclib
 
 
 def help_message() -> str:
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@ def help_message() -> str:
     :return: the help message
     """
     help_text = """
+Start a chat:\t/start_chat alice@example.org,bob@example.org Chat_Title Hello friends!
 Change the bot's name:\t/set_name <name>
 Change the bot's avatar:\t/set_avatar (attach image)
 Show this help text:\t\t/help
@@ -38,3 +40,41 @@ def set_avatar(
     account.set_avatar(message.filename)
     crew.set_profile_image(message.filename)
     return "Avatar changed to this image."
+
+
+def start_chat(
+    ac: deltachat.Account,
+    recipients: [],
+    title: str,
+    text: str,
+    attachment: str,
+    view_type: str,
+) -> (deltachat.Chat, str):
+    """Start a chat with one or more outsiders.
+
+    :param ac: the account object of the bot
+    :param recipients: A list with email addresses to be added to the group
+    :param title: The title of the group
+    :param text: The test of the first message
+    :param attachment: (optional) an attachment, can be empty string
+    :param view_type: the view_type of the message
+    :return: the outside chat and a success/failure message
+    """
+    logging.info(
+        "Sending message to %s with subject '%s': %s",
+        ", ".join(recipients),
+        title,
+        text,
+    )
+    chat = ac.create_group_chat(title, recipients)
+    msg = deltachat.Message.new_empty(ac, view_type=view_type)
+    msg.set_text(text)
+    if attachment:
+        logging.info("Message has a %s attachment with path %s", view_type, attachment)
+        msg.set_file(attachment, view_type)
+    sent_id = dclib.dc_send_msg(ac._dc_context, chat.id, msg._dc_msg)
+    if sent_id == msg.id:
+        return chat, "Chat successfully created."
+    else:
+        logging.error("Can't send message. sent_id: %s, msg.id: %s", sent_id, msg.id)
+        return chat, "Something went wrong...\n\n" + help_message()