Saving message drafts

Much as with email, Slack lets you save drafts of DMs. Simply enter some text into the message pane. Move to a different pane, and Slack saves your text as a draft.

To access all your drafts, click the Drafts view at the top of your workspace (see Figure 6-5). Return to your drafts whenever you like.

Slack bolds the word Drafts when you’ve created one or more drafts. If you haven’t saved any drafts, Slack won’t do this.

Marking messages as read or unread

At some point you’ve probably used your email program’s Mark as Read feature. Slack offers the same ability in both channels and conversations. To mark a read message as unread, follow these steps:

1. Hover over the message.

   Three dots appear next to the message along with the words More Actions.

2. Click Mark Unread.

   When you mark a previously read message as unread, Slack bolds the name of the person or channel name in the sidebar. The visual indicator reminds you that the ball is in your court.

Understanding Slack conversations

Broadly speaking, conversations refer to a series of either individual or group DMs. Put differently, a conversation is an exchange of DMs with other workspace members that takes place outside of a channel. That last part is critical.

By default, Slack automatically creates a conversation when you exchange a DM with one or more workspace members. You can view all your conversations in the bottom half of the sidebar under the Direct Messages view.

Referencing public channels in direct messages

Although it’s not a requirement, referencing public channel names in your DMs is a good idea. You can do this by including the hashtag before the channel name. Slack automatically creates a blue hyperlink to a public channel, but not a private one. Table 6-1 displays what happens when you use hashtags in Slack.

For example, Figure 6-6 references the #tips_technology channel. Following this practice makes it easy for the recipient(s) to navigate to the referenced public channel.

Using Slack’s WYSIWYG editor

Prettying up your text is remarkably intuitive. In this vein, Slack resembles word-processing programs such as Microsoft Word. For instance, to bold a block of text, simply select the words and press the B icon underneath the text section and — voilà! — the text is bold. Ditto for italicizing text. Table 6-2 presents all Slack’s visual formatting options from left to right.

Saving time with keyboard shortcuts

If you’re more of a shortcut person, you’re in luck as well. Slack lets you disable the rich-text formatting options by clicking the letter icon. Table 6-3 shows you how to format DMs using keyboard shortcuts.

You don’t need to memorize these shortcuts if you prefer using the WYSIWYG editor.

Regardless of whether you’re a mouse or keyboard person, you can mix and match your styles in Slack messages. If you want to use bulleted lists, bold text, and a snippet of code in the same message, knock yourself out.

Creating rich-text messages with posts

Slack posts are similar to simple messages, but they allow users to apply richer formatting. The post functionality lets users create, edit, and share fully formatted documents directly in Slack. Posts represent a great way to collaborate on relatively simple long-form content. To be fair, though, you won’t be saying goodbye to Google Docs and Microsoft Word anytime soon. Examples of posts include project plans, meeting notes, articles, and drafts of blog posts. Slack posts show a green document icon to their immediate left after a user publishes one.

To create a proper post in a Slack channel, follow these steps:

1. Click a channel in the sidebar.

2. In the message window in the lower-left corner, click the lightning bolt icon.

   Slack displays a new menu.

3. Click Create a Post.

   Slack launches a new window that you’ll use to create your post.

4. Add a title and any other formatting.

   You can also add simple and formatted text, headers, bullet points, URLs, code, and more goodies.

   After you type text in the main window, highlight it and mouse over it to see all your formatting options.

5. When you’re finished creating your post, click the white Share button at the top of the screen.

   Slack displays self-explanatory options around sharing the post, letting others edit it, creating a link, and adding comments. Figure 6-10 displays those options.

6. When you’re finished, click the green Share button.

   Your post looks something like the one in Figure 6-11.

You can view existing posts on your Slack mobile app, but you’ll need to use Slack on a proper computer to create and edit them. You can view, create, edit, and delete regular channel messages, though, on any device you like.

Adding code and text snippets

In Slack, snippets represent a quick and simple way to share bits of code, configuration files, or log files with channel members. Slack’s native ability to easily share code represents one of the major reasons that software engineers are so fond of Slack.

Creating both types of snippets is nearly identical to creating a rich-text message. To create a proper post in a Slack channel, follow these steps:

1. Click a channel in the sidebar.

2. In the message window in the lower-left corner, click the lightning bolt icon.

   Slack displays a new menu.

3. Click Create a Code or Text Snippet.

   Slack launches a new window.

4. Use the new window to create your snippet.

5. (Optional) At the top of the page, add a title for your snippet and the type of snippet.

   If you create a code snippet, Slack attempts to determine the programming language that you’re using. If Slack doesn’t get it right, just specify the language yourself from the drop-down menu.

6. Enter your text or code in the main window under the Content heading.

   Highlight text and mouse over it to see all your formatting options.

7. (Optional) Enter a message that introduces your snippet to your intended audience.

8. When you’re finished creating your snippet, enter your snippet’s audience.

   It may be a channel, an individual, or several folks.

   Slack displays self-explanatory options around sharing the snippet.

9. When you’re finished, click the green Create Snippet.

   Slack automatically places line numbers to the left of each line in a snippet. Figure 6-12 shows an example of a code snippet.

You can download a text snippet, view raw versions, and/or leave comments. After creating one, Slack places a white icon with a capital T to its immediate left. When you click it, you can view the snippet’s content.

Mouse over a current snippet in a channel. Slack displays these options:

• Collapse or expand (depending on the length of your snippet)
• Download
• Edit
• Share

Click the ellipsis icon, and Slack displays these options as well:

• View Details
• Copy Link to File
• Save
• View Raw
• Create External Link
• Delete File

You can use posts and snippets as the basis for individual and group DMs. You don’t need to confine snippets to channels.

Reviewing examples of threads

The types of threads run the gamut. Here a few:

• Tech-support teams may use the #hardware_issues channel to discuss a problem with a server or router. Rather than lump everything into that single channel, they thread the discussion within that channel about problems with a particular piece of equipment.
• HR folks often talk about company policies and the discussion sometimes gets into the nitty-gritty. A thread on the implications of offering paid family leave makes a lot of sense.
• Gus and Walt are having an animated discussion (outside of a channel) about a key business strategy. Each of them creates a thread in his Slack workspace to receive alerts about the other's latest response.
• Four partners in a consulting firm are providing specific feedback on a deck of PowerPoint slides. By creating a thread, you keep all comments organized.

• A college professor creates an #ask_the_professor channel for her classes every semester. That’s a big bucket, to be sure. Students will usually ask her questions about the textbook that they’re using, such as

  • What version of the textbook do I have to buy?
  • Can I share the textbook with my roommate?
  • Can I buy the electronic version?

  The professor turns each of these queries into a channel thread. For simple yes-or-no questions, a thread rarely makes sense. Still, there’s really no downside to using them.

Creating, following, and viewing threads

To start a thread in Slack, follow these directions:

1. Hover over a message.

   Slack presents a floating menu with icons with the words More Actions.

2. Mouse over the second icon from the left and click Start a Thread.

Slack makes it easy to view threads in the full context of their channels:

1. Hover over a message in the thread.

   Slack presents a floating menu with icons and the words More Actions.

2. Mouse over the second icon from the left and click the Open in Channel icon that appears.
3. To view all threads, click the Threads view in the top half of your sidebar underneath the workspace name.

As you use Slack, you’ll soon realize that not all discussions and content are created equal; you’ll invariably view some discussions as more important than others. For example, a software engineer, VP of human resources, and finance manager will all keep their eyes on different discussions. Threads are invaluable in this regard.

Unfollowing threads

If you want to disengage from an individual thread, simply unfollow it:

1. Hover over a message in a thread that you currently follow.

2. Click the three vertical dots on the far right.

   Slack presents the words More Actions.

3. At the top of the new menu, select Unfollow Thread.

Note that you can’t mute threads, nor can you delete them. After you unfollow a thread, Slack no longer shows you those red badges for that thread under the Threads header in the sidebar. Of course, you still may see badges from threads that you’re following if someone calls you out.

Many people only use threads on a case-by-case basis. If the majority of your interactions are discrete, threads may not make sense for you. If, however, you find yourself routinely going back and forth with people about a specific topic, a thread is the perfect vehicle for tracking updates to a particular discussion.

Uploading files to share

To upload a file that you intend to share, follow these steps:

1. Click Files in the sidebar.

2. Click the white Upload a File button in the upper-right corner.

   Slack prompts you to locate the file on the computer.

3. Find the file and upload it.

   You can do this in the same way as you do with email attachments. It’s probably the Open button, but the exact name will hinge upon your computer’s operating system.

4. (Optional) From the prompt, enter a message about the file.

5. (Optional) Click the blue Add File link to add another file.

   Slack allows you to upload multiple files at a time.

6. (Optional) From the drop-down menu, choose the channel, group of users, or app with which you want to share the file(s).

   Again, you can share file(s) with yourself — and no one else.

7. Click the green Upload button.

Play around with Slack’s powerful search options here. Specifically, you can

• Use the Files search bar to find specific documents.
• Sort existing shared files by name and date.
• Filter files by type, date range, and/or member who shared the file with you.

As Figure 6-13 displays, Slack’s Files view allows you to easily access the files that you’ve shared — and that others have shared with you.

Note that you can also use Slack’s main search bar at the very top of the workspace to find workspace files.

Copying links to existing Slack files

As another option, Slack allows users to create links to individual files that you’ve posted in public channels. Slack intends for you to share these links with existing workspace members. Follow these steps:

1. Hover your mouse over the file.

   Three horizontal dots and the More Actions icon appear.

2. Click Copy Link to File.
3. Share the file link in a channel or direct message.

Note that this process creates a private link. Even outsiders who obtain access to that URL can’t view the page. Only members of the Slack workspace can view the link.

Creating external links to files posted in channels

Say that you upload a file to a channel. Now you want to share a link to that file within Slack with someone who does not belong to the workspace. You can do so by following these steps:

1. Hover your mouse over the file or message.

   Three horizontal dots and the More Actions icon appear.

2. Click Create External Link.
3. Share that link with another person via email, text, or another method you like.

Only you can create external URLs for files that you’ve shared. Other users cannot.

If you change your mind about letting others view this link, you can easily revoke it:

1. Hover your mouse over the file.
2. Click View External Link.

3. Click the Revoke button.

   Slack warns you that others are now unable to access the link.

4. Click the Revoke It button.

People who visit the now-disabled link will see a white page that reads, “The requested file could not be found.”

Does an outsider’s ability to view files in Slack scare you in general? Slack has you covered. Workspace Owners and Admins can disable members’ ability to generate external links.

Sharing messages from one public channel to another

For example, what if you spend half your time working in marketing and the other half in IT? In effect, you work as a liaison between the two departments. Not surprisingly, you belong to both the #marketing and #IT public Slack channels. This distinction is critical.

In this example, you want to let people from one department know about a decision that people in the other department have made. The following steps show you how to share messages from one public channel to another:

1. Mouse over the message that you want to share.
2. Click the right-pointing arrow that appears.

3. Under Share With, search for the channel with which you want to share the message.

   Optionally, you can add a few words about this DM à la forwarding an email with introductory comments.

4. Click the green Share button.

   You've now shared your message with members of the other channel.

You can share messages from public channels to private ones, but not vice versa.

Sharing files from existing messages

Along with messages, Slack allows you to easily reshare files — that is, to share a document that you’ve already shared with someone else. (Presumably, this document is yours.) Think of it as the equivalent of forwarding an attachment that you sent.

To share a file from an existing message that you’ve sent, follow these steps:

1. Mouse over the file that someone has sent you in Slack.
2. Click the right-pointing arrow that appears.

3. Under Share With, click the destination for the shared file.

   The destination can be a person or a channel. You see a familiar prompt.

4. (Optional) Add a message to provide some context around the file.
5. Click the green Share button.

Slack does not allow you to quickly share an attachment that someone has shared with you. Of course, you can always download the file and share it as your own.

Keep in mind basic workplace etiquette. Don’t share messages or files with others unless your reason is legitimate.

Sharing private DMs

For obvious reasons, Slack doesn’t allow you to share others’ private messages. If you try, Slack displays a message like the one shown in Figure 6-14.

The same holds true for a message posted in a private channel. You can’t share that message with other channels. You can only “share” it with the sender.