Guides
Use names and saved answers in Guide speech
Add session names to spoken text and understand answer references, Preview, recordings, and offline limits.
Dynamic speech uses the current run's names or saved answers when generating spoken words. It does not automatically replace placeholders in visible Guide text.
You need Guide editing access to change the wording. Test with a connected, saved Play session and an available cloud voice; Preview alone does not establish that session values will resolve.
Add a name to spoken wording
- Edit a block and open Speech.
- In Spoken text override, enter wording such as
Hello, {{person.name}}. Let's begin. - Select Save block and save the Guide.
- Start Play while connected. Check the run's About person.
- Use Speak block and confirm which name is spoken.
| Placeholder | Value used in session speech |
|---|---|
{{person.name}} | The run's About name, falling back to the signed-in account's name when no About name is set |
{{account.name}} | The signed-in account's name |
These names can differ when someone supports another person. They do not select an About person, grant access, or look up an arbitrary profile.
You can also use name wording in Page settings > Speech > Speech on page visit. A page override changes which source is read; review page and block speech interactions.
Understand saved-answer references
Some authored speech refers to a Field block's answer. These references identify a specific block, not its displayed name. The Speech editor has no answer-reference picker; typing a Field's name does not create a working reference.
Session speech uses the latest saved answer for that block in the same run. It does not search other sessions or a person's Reports. An unanswered reference contributes no answer text. Unsynced device answers may not yet be available to connected speech.
Keep referenced answers short. The ordinary dynamic-speech path rejects an answer summary longer than 500 characters instead of reading an unlimited response.
Test the actual speech source
A ready recording takes priority and remains the same recording for everyone. Changing an override does not replace recorded words.
Cloud preparation cannot pre-generate every future name or answer. Dynamic speech is resolved during a session and is not packaged as ready audio for all possible values.
Preview, missing cloud voices, device fallback, and offline playback can leave literal placeholder text in ordinary speech. Communication-adapted playback has separate handling; do not assume its behavior applies to every Guide. Test on the intended device and connection.
If the wrong words are spoken
Confirm the About name, signed-in account, saved answer, and selected speech source. Save changed Guide wording, stop speech, and try Speak block again while connected. If the Guide changed during the run, reopen it before testing.
For instructions that must work reliably offline, use complete wording without session placeholders and test the downloaded Guide.