IMPORTANT: No additional bug fixes or documentation updates will be released for this version. For the latest information, see the current release documentation.
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Connecting Slack

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Connecting Slack

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Slack is the new digital office space. Teams of all shapes and sizes use Slack to stay in touch. People share videos, pictures, GIFs and lots of emojis.

You can now connect Slack to Workplace Search, and search through all your public channels, private channels, and direct messages.

Remote sources like Slack are private sources. Once you have configured the connector, each individual member must add it as a unique private source via their personal settings. The connecting person can access their own private channels and direct messages, and only they have access. Each member may connect only one Slack private content source.

The Slack connector searches the following data from Slack:

Fetched Slack Documents

Including ID, File Metadata, Excerpt, Attachments, Sender, Recipient and Timestamps

The connector will also index the following data from Slack for speedier retrieval:

Stored Slack Documents

Users, Channels, Emojis

Check the Elastic discussion forums for the latest information about your content source

Workplace Search allows you to index third-party content sources. Sometimes these apps will make unanticipated API changes that impact your content syncing and require an action. We can’t always keep up in real time in this documentation!

Visit the Elastic discussion forum to read the latest information and check for known issues.

Configuring the Slack Connector

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Configuring the Slack connector is the first step prior to connecting the Slack service to Workplace Search, and requires that you create an OAuth App from the Slack platform.

Step 1. Login to the Slack Apps Portal.

Make sure that you create the app through a trusted and stable Slack account. We recommend using a team-owned account.

Step 2. Create an app, and then configure appropriate access levels. Click Create New App when prompted. In the modal, provide a name — like Workplace Search — and choose the right Workspace. After that, click Create App.

Figure 105. Connecting Slack

Step 3. A set of choices appears. Under Add features and functionality, click Permissions.

Figure 106. Connecting Slack

Step 4. Provide a redirect URL. Use the Workplace Search OAuth redirect URL for your deployment.

After you have added it, click Save URLs.

Figure 107. Connecting Slack

Step 5. Next, we must define scope. You will need to add five under User Token Scopes.

  • channels:read
  • users:read
  • emoji:read
  • files:read
  • search:read
Figure 108. Connecting Slack

Step 5. Next, on the left-hand side of the application menu, click Basic Information. Under the section Install your app to your workspace, select Install or Request to Install your application. Which you will see depends on your permissions. An admin must approve the application if you lack the permissions to do so.

Figure 109. Connecting Slack

Step 6. Once approved, you will have the option to view your App Credentials. Retrieve your Client ID and Client Secret. Workplace Search will need them!

Figure 110. Connecting Slack

Step 7. Return to Workplace Search. From the Workplace Search administrative dashboard, click Sources, locate Slack, click Configure and provide both your Client ID and Client Secret. Proceed forward.

Voilà! The Slack connector is now configured, and ready to be used to synchronize content. To enable Slack, visit the Security menu and enable the Slack connector for your team.

Reminder: Slack must be added as a private content source.

Connecting Slack to Workplace Search

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Once the Slack connector has been configured, you may connect a Slack instance to your private search experience.

Step 1. Access your own Workplace Search search dashboard, and click the Manage button.

Figure 111. Connecting Slack

Step 2. Click Add a private content source.

Figure 112. Connecting Slack

Step 3. Click Connect Slack. You will see Slack’s OAuth screen.

Accept the permissions to connect your Slack account.

Figure 113. Connecting Slack

Step 4. Success! Your personal Slack is now available to your search experience.

Figure 114. Connecting Slack

You will have the freshest content available each time you query.

Synchronized fields

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The following table lists the fields synchronized from the connected source to Workplace Search. The attributes in the table apply to the default search application, as follows:

  • Display name - The label used when displayed in the UI
  • Field name - The name of the underlying field attribute
  • Faceted filter - whether the field is a faceted filter by default, or can be enabled (see also: Customizing filters)
  • Automatic query refinement preceding phrases - The default list of phrases that must precede a value of this field in a search query in order to automatically trigger query refinement. If "None," a value from this field may trigger refinement regardless of where it is found in the query string. If '', a value from this field must be the first token(s) in the query string. If N.A., automatic query refinement is not available for this field by default. All fields that have a faceted filter (default or configurable) can also be configured for automatic query refinement; see also Update a content source, Get a content source’s automatic query refinement details and Customizing filters.
Display name Field name Faceted filter Automatic query refinement preceding phrases

Id

id

No

N.A.

Title

title

No

N.A.

Type

type

Configurable

None

Slack Id

slack_id

Configurable

N.A.

Username

username

Configurable

N.A.

Real name

real_name

Configurable

N.A.

Avatar

avatar

No

N.A.

Is deleted

is_deleted

Configurable

N.A.

Is bot

is_bot

Configurable

N.A.

URL

url

No

N.A.
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