Inkbox from Machine Desktop
Everything Machine Desktop shows and does with Inkbox, the Channels row, /call, text-me check-ins on goals, and seeing Inkbox steps in a thread.
The Channels row
Open a bot's settings and go to Channels. The Inkbox row shows one of:
| Status | Second line | Buttons |
|---|---|---|
| Not connected | "Text it on iMessage or SMS, email it, or call it — from any phone." | Connect ↗ opens setup on the Machine web app. |
| Connected | The bot's @handle · phone number · email address | Manage ↗ opens the web app's Inkbox settings. Disconnect turns Inkbox off for this bot. |
Click the refresh icon at the top of Channels after you connect or change something on the web.
At the bottom, "Channel bindings and per-channel models live on the web dashboard" links to the same web page.
/call
Type /call in any message box to have the bot phone a business for you.
See Phone calls.
Text-me check-ins on goals
In Tools → Responsibilities (at the bottom of the sidebar), when you give a bot a goal and choose Check in daily or Weekly, a small dropdown appears next to it, starting at In the app. Its choices:
| Choice | The bot |
|---|---|
| In the app | Reports in Machine only. |
| + text me | Also texts you the report through Inkbox, by iMessage or SMS, but only when something needs you. |
| + Slack me | Also sends you the report as a Slack direct message, but only when something needs you. |
+ text me needs Inkbox connected for that bot. Every check-in also reports in Machine, in the bot's main thread unless you change where it posts. See Responsibilities.
Inkbox steps in a thread
When the bot uses Inkbox in a thread (sending a text, placing a call, reading an email), you see a step such as Used a connector · inkbox · … in the thread's step list. In the Live view, it shows in the Apps window.
Threads from texts, emails and calls
Every Inkbox conversation is a thread in the bot. Open it to see the whole exchange and everything the bot did, or carry on in the app.
On your phone
The Machine phone app shows the same Channels row in the bot's profile (Edit Profile from the bot's long-press menu, or tap the bot's name above its threads). Setup still happens on the web.