Slack

Mention the bot in Slack, and an Archestra agent answers in the thread. Each channel and direct message has its own agent. People can ask a different agent for one message.

Connect Slack

You need a Slack workspace where you can install apps.

1. Go to Settings → Messaging Channels → Slack and click Setup Slack.
2. Follow the wizard. It creates the Slack app, installs it, and saves its credentials.
3. Pick a connection mode:

To configure Slack with environment variables instead, see the Configuration reference.

Pick the Agent for a Channel

1. Invite the bot to the channel: /invite @BotName.
2. Mention it: @BotName what is the status of service X?
3. Pick an agent from the list. It answers this message and every later one in the channel.

To change the agent, run /archestra-select-agent, or add the channel to another agent. A direct message works the same way: each person picks the agent for their own DMs.

When the Bot Answers

• In a channel, the bot answers only when you mention it.
• In a thread, one mention is enough. It then answers every message in that thread.
• In a direct message, it answers every message.
• To answer every message in a channel, turn on Answer all messages in the channel's Settings.

To quiet a thread, send mute, or react with 🔇 or 🤫. The bot stops, and cancels any reply in progress. Mention it again to wake it.

Ask Another Agent Once

Put the agent's name and > before your message:

@BotName Sales > what is our Q4 pipeline?

The channel keeps its agent. Names match without regard to case or spaces, so salesteam > finds "Sales Team". An unknown name goes to the channel's agent, with a notice.

Channel Instructions

Tell the agent how to behave in one channel. Open the channel's Settings and write them as you would talk to the agent. For example: "Every message here is a task. Create it at once, and do not ask first."

They come first, before the agent's own instructions. They add to what the agent does, and never remove an ability.

Commands

Type these in the message box. You do not need to mention the bot.

The prefix comes from the Slack app name you choose in the wizard.

What to Know

• New people: someone who messages the bot without an Archestra account gets one. It has the organization's default role for new users, set in Settings → Auth. Find these accounts in Settings → Users.
• Welcome message: the bot DMs a new person a sign-up link, or a sign-in link when you use SSO. To turn it off, set ARCHESTRA_CHATOPS_SIGNUP_WELCOME_ENABLED=false.
• Files: the agent reads images, PDFs, and text files such as CSV, JSON, and Markdown. Files posted earlier in the same thread count too. With a code sandbox, it can open other files, such as ZIP archives.
• File access: downloads need the files:read scope, which the app manifest includes. Reinstall an app created before that scope was added.
• File limits: 20 files per message, 10 MB per file, 25 MB in total. Archestra skips larger files and tells the agent which files it did not get.

Troubleshooting