Send private message to a slackbot without other users of the workspace seeing it

Question

How can i send a private message to a bot other without users seeing it on the channel?

Im using node js and the module slackbots. And each time i communicate with the bot it goes something like this: "@robot hello" but everybody on the chat sees it.

Erik Kalkoken · Answer 1 · 2018-10-31T19:42:24.363

0

Your example is not a direct message, but a so called "mention" in a channel, which is always visible by everyone else in the same channel.

But you can also send a real direct message to a bot user. It works the same like sending a direct message to any user. e.g. click on the plus next to "Direct Messages", select the bot user from the list and click on go. Now you got a direct messaging channel with that user which is 100% private.

Your bot obviously needs to be ready to receive messages via DM in order to respond correctly. e.g if your are using Slack's Events API you need to subscribe to message.im to receive posts in the direct message channel to your bot.

Check out this help desk page on how to send direct messages.

Another approach to communicate "secretly" with your bot user in a channel is slash commands, e.g. by posting /mybot hi in a channel. Both the slash command and respond from your app will not be visible to anyone else in the channel (that is default - but can be changed).

edited Oct 31 '18 at 19:42

answered Oct 30 '18 at 20:19

Erik Kalkoken

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thanks for the fast reply. so there is no way in a public channel i can address a bot and that bot reply to me privately? without appearing on the general chat – John Doe Oct 30 '18 at 21:05
Not with a mention. But you could of course use a slash command to address the bot . That would be invisible to the channel – Erik Kalkoken Oct 31 '18 at 04:29
could you exemplify please? – John Doe Oct 31 '18 at 12:00
I added some examples and explanations to my answer – Erik Kalkoken Oct 31 '18 at 19:42

Send private message to a slackbot without other users of the workspace seeing it

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