Set up Workbot for Slack

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This page guides you through setting up Workbot in your Slack organization so you can build Workbot recipes and user interactions.

Step 1: If you will use an NLU provider for the Workbot conversational interface, connect to the NLU provider. Otherwise, skip this step.
Step 2: If you are building an Enterprise Workbot, configure a custom OAuth profile. Otherwise, skip this step.
Step 3: Create a Workbot for Slack connection
Step 4: Invite Workbot to channels

Before you start

• Ensure you have permission to connect. This depends on your organization's Slack workspace setting; some organizations allow any member of a Slack workspace to install a third-party app, others limit this permission to admins only.
• We recommend using an integration user account to configure the connection, rather than an account that is used by a human.

Permissions

Token type	Scope	Reason
User	users:read	View information about the user's identity.
	users:read.email	Get user info by email.
Bot	app_mentions:read	Listen for bot mentions in conversations which the bot is involved in.
	channels:read	Retrieves list of public conversations.
	chat:write	Create/update public conversations.
	files:read	Retrieves list of private conversations.
	files:write	Create/update private conversations.
	groups:read	Retrieves list of direct message conversations.
	im:history	Create/update direct message conversations.
	im:write	Create/update multi-party group conversations.
	mpim:read	Retrieves list of multi-party group conversations.
	users:read	Get user info.
	users:read.email	Get user info by email.

1. Connect to the NLU provider

Workbot for Slack supports Google DialogFlow and Amazon Lex. If you would like to use one of these NLU providers, you must connect the NLU provider to Workato before you connect with Workbot for Slack.

To connect to your NLU provider, go to App Connections and select Create a new connection. Search for your NLU provider.

2. Configure a custom OAuth profile

With a custom OAuth profile, you can customize the Workbot for Slack identity, including the branding (bot name, bot logo, and background color) and permissions. To configure a new custom OAuth profile, go to Tools > Custom OAuth profiles and click Create custom profile.

1

In the Application field, select Workbot for Slack. Click Create new app.

This will open your Slack apps (opens new window) in a new tab.

2

Select Create new app from the Slack window.

3

Select From scratch. This allows you to define the scope and permission according to your use case.

4

Enter a descriptive name for your app and choose which Slack workspace this app belongs to. Click Create App.

5

You will be redirected to your newly created Slack app's Basic Information page.

6

Scroll to the App credentials section and save the following information.

• Client ID
• Client secret
• Verification token

7

Return to Workato setup. Provide the app credentials information from your Slack app. Click Save when done.

Application token field

Leave this field empty. The Application Token is a configuration for Org-level Apps.

8

Return to your Slack settings. Select OAuth & Permission on the left-side navigation.

9

Select Add a new Redirect URL. Copy the callback URL into your Slack settings. Click Save URLs. https://www.workato.com/oauth/callback

This doesn’t seem like a proper link

If you get an error saying 'This doesn’t seem like a proper link' please check to make sure there are no extra spaces at the start/end of the link.

10

Still on OAuth & Permissions*. Navigate to Scopes, select the following Bot Token Scopes:

• app_mentions:read
• chat:write
• channels:read
• commands
• files:read
• files:write
• groups:read
• im:history
• im:write
• mpim:read
• users:read
• users:read.email

11

Still on OAuth & Permissions. Navigate to Scopes, select the following User Token Scopes:

• users:read
• users:read.email

12

Select App home from the left-side navigation.

• Provide the Display name and Default username.
• Select ON to Always Show My Bot as Online

13

Still on App home. Navigate to Show tabs > Messages Tab.

Ensure that the option to allow users to send message is selected. This allows users to send messages to the Slackbot.

14

Select Event Subscriptions from the left-side navigation.

• Select ON
• Provide the Request URL provided in your Workato configuration. A sample URl is provided below https://app.workato.com/slack_webhooks/event?coak_id=9690

15

Still on Event Subscriptions. Navigate to the Subscribe to Bot Events subsection. Add the following Bot User Events:

• app_mention
• file_shared
• message.im
• app_home_opened

Select Save Changes at the bottom on the page.

16

Select Interactivity & Shortcuts from the left-side navigation.

• Select ON
• Provide the Request URL and Options Load URL provided in your Workato configuration. A sample URl is provided below https://app.workato.com/slack_webhooks/event?coak_id=9690

Select Save Changes at the bottom on the page.

17

Lastly, it is time to install your Slack app into your workspace!

Select Install App from the left-side navigation.

• Select Install to Workspace.
• Click Allow when prompted.

3. Create a Workbot for Slack connection

Connecting a Workbot for Slack connection will add Workbot to your Slack team. To create a new Workbot for Slack connection, go to App Connections and click Create a new connection. Search for Workbot for Slack to begin.

Workbot for Slack connection fields
Application		Workbot for Slack
Connection name		Choose an appropriate name for this connection
NLU provider		You can optionally select the DialogFlow or Amazon Lex NLU. You must connect to the NLU provider for it to appear in the dropdown list.
Advanced	Slash commands verification tokens	Used for invoking legacy Custom Integration slash commands. Each slash command has a token. Separate tokens with commas to support multiple slash commands. Learn more.
	Custom help	Provide simple text help OR rich help using a JSON document corresponding to Slack message. You can build a rich help message using the Slack message builder.
	Is this a Classic Slack app?	Select Yes if you have not migrated your app yet.
Custom OAuth profile		Custom OAuth profiles allow your Slack apps to leverage the Workato Slack connector under the hood. When selected, all requests to the app will use the profile specified. Learn more.

After you install Workbot into your Slack team, Workbot detects the latest app connections in your Workato account and automatically connects to them.

You can interact with Workbot via direct messages after adding Workbot to your Slack organization. Direct messages with Workbot are not visible to anyone but you.

To enable other users to interact with Workbot or to allow Workbot to post notifications, you must invite it to specific channels. Proceed to the next section.

4. Invite Workbot to channels

Conversations with Workbot in a channel are visible to all team members in that channel.

To invite Workbot to a channel, do one of the following:

• Mention Workbot via @workbot
• Use the Invite new members to join menu option in the channel details

After you add Workbot to a channel, use @workbot to begin an interaction.

When you talk to Workbot via direct message, you do not need to use @workbot.

Next

Now that you have set up Workbot in Slack, proceed to build your first Workbot.