Connect Slack Into n8n In 5 Minutes

Key Concepts:

• Slack integration with NADN (n8n)
• Trigger nodes and action nodes in NADN
• Slack API, apps, and OAuth & Permissions
• Bot token scopes
• Slack channels and bot user tagging
• Webhooks and event subscriptions
• Development vs. Production URLs

1. Introduction and Overview

The video explains how to integrate Slack with NADN (n8n), an automation platform. The presenter notes that Slack integration can be challenging, hence the need for a detailed guide. The video covers sending messages from Slack to NADN and vice versa. A 15-step guide is provided (linked below the video) for detailed instructions.

2. Setting up Trigger and Action Nodes

The process begins with creating a trigger node (to receive events from Slack) and an action node (to send messages to Slack) within NADN. The presenter has pre-created these nodes, using "Send a Message" as the action and a generic Slack trigger.

3. Creating a Slack App via API

• Navigate to api.slack.com/apps. This can be done by directly entering the URL or by clicking through the NADN interface (opening the trigger node, going to credentials, creating a credential, and opening the docs to find the "create API apps" link).
• Create a new app from scratch, giving it a name (e.g., "Super Slackbot") and selecting the appropriate Slack workspace. The user must be logged into Slack to access their workspace.

4. Configuring OAuth & Permissions

• In the Slack app's settings, go to "OAuth & Permissions" in the left sidebar.
• Scroll down to "Bot Token Scopes" and add the necessary scopes. Examples include:
  • chat:write: Allows NADN to create messages in Slack.
  • channels:join: Allows NADN to join channels.
  • channels:read: Allows NADN to read public channels.
  • groups:read: Allows NADN to read private channels.
  • files:read: Allows NADN to read files.
• Install the app to the Slack workspace (e.g., "nad test") and authorize the requested permissions.
• Copy the generated OAuth token.

5. Connecting the Slack App to NADN

• In NADN, within both the trigger and action nodes, create a credential to connect to Slack.
• Paste the copied OAuth token into the access token field and save the credential.

6. Creating and Configuring a Slack Channel

• In Slack, create a new channel (e.g., "test Slackbot test").
• Tag the newly created Slackbot within the channel using the @ symbol. This prompts Slack to recognize the bot as a user and allows you to add it to the channel.
• Verify the bot's presence in the channel by checking the channel details under "Integrations."

7. Updating NADN Nodes with the New Channel

• In the NADN trigger node, select the newly created channel ("test Slackbot test") from the list of available channels. This configures NADN to listen for messages from that specific channel.
• Repeat this process for the action node, ensuring that NADN sends messages to the correct channel.
• Enter a test message (e.g., "test") in the action node to trigger a response from Slack when the workflow is executed.

8. Configuring Event Subscriptions and Webhooks

• Copy the webhook URL from the NADN trigger node.
• In the Slack app settings, go to "Event Subscriptions."
• Enable event subscriptions and paste the webhook URL into the "Request URL" field. Slack will verify the URL.

9. Defining Event Triggers

• Determine how messages from Slack should trigger the NADN workflow. Options include:
  • app_mention: Trigger only when the bot is mentioned (e.g., "@Super Slackbot do something").
  • message.channels: Trigger for any message in a public channel.
  • message.groups: Trigger for any message in a private channel.
• Add the appropriate bot user event (e.g., app_mention).
• Update the Slack trigger node in NADN to match the chosen event type (e.g., "Bot App Mention" or "New Message Posted to a Channel").
• Save the changes in the Slack app settings.

10. Testing and Deployment

• Test the workflow by sending a message to the configured Slack channel that matches the defined trigger (e.g., tagging the bot with a message).
• If the test is successful, set the NADN workflow to "active."
• Update the webhook URL in the Slack app settings to the production URL from the NADN trigger node. This ensures that the workflow continues to function correctly after deployment.
• Repeat steps 14 and 15 with the production URL.

11. Conclusion

The video provides a detailed, step-by-step guide to integrating Slack with NADN. By following the instructions, users can send messages between the two platforms and automate various tasks. The presenter emphasizes the importance of configuring OAuth permissions, setting up event subscriptions, and using the correct webhook URLs for both development and production environments. The key takeaway is that while the integration can be complex, following the outlined steps will lead to a successful connection.