> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.voiceflow.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Start

> Start an interactive conversation session with your agent.

The `start` command initiates an interactive conversation with your Voiceflow project. This allows you to test your project's dialog flow by sending text inputs and receiving responses.

## Usage

```bash theme={null}
voiceflow dialog start [options]
```

## Options

| Option          | Shorthand | Description                                        |
| --------------- | --------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| `--environment` | `-e`      | Alias of the environment to use (default: "main")  |
| `--user-id`     | `-u`      | User ID for the conversation (optional)            |
| `--record-file` | `-f`      | File to save the conversation recording (optional) |
| `--save-test`   | `-t`      | Save the conversation as a test file (optional)    |

## Examples

### Start a basic conversation

```bash theme={null}
voiceflow dialog start
```

This starts a conversation with your Voiceflow project in the default environment (Main). You can type messages and see the responses from your project.

### Start with a specific user ID

```bash theme={null}
voiceflow dialog start --user-id user123
```

Using a consistent user ID allows the conversation to maintain state across multiple sessions.

### Record a conversation

```bash theme={null}
voiceflow dialog start --record-file my-conversation.json
```

This will save the entire conversation to a file that can be replayed later using the `replay` command.

### Start a conversation and save it as a test

```bash theme={null}
voiceflow dialog start --save-test
```

This records the conversation and automatically saves it as a YAML test file that can be used with the `voiceflow test` commands.

### Conversation in a specific environment

```bash theme={null}
voiceflow dialog start -e my-feature
```

Starts the conversation using the environment whose alias is `my-feature`. You can find each environment's alias in **Settings** → **Environments**.

## Interactive Commands

During an active conversation session, you can use these special commands:

| Command          | Action                                                       |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `exit` or `quit` | End the conversation and exit                                |
| `Ctrl+C`         | Interrupt the conversation (will save recordings if enabled) |

## Recording Format

When you use the `--record-file` option, the conversation is saved in JSON format with the following structure:

```json theme={null}
{
  "name": "Recording_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS",
  "interactions": [
    {
      "id": "launch",
      "user": {
        "type": "launch"
      },
      "agent": [
        {
          "type": "text",
          "value": "Hello! How can I help you today?"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "interaction_1",
      "user": {
        "type": "text",
        "text": "What's the weather like?"
      },
      "agent": [
        {
          "type": "text",
          "value": "I don't have access to weather information."
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

This recording can be used with the `voiceflow dialog replay` command to repeat the conversation.