Channels
Let people reach a bot from outside Machine, on Slack, by text, email or phone with Inkbox, and by live voice with Glyph. Connect, manage, and disconnect a channel.
Channels let people reach a bot from somewhere other than the Machine app. Each bot has its own channels.
| Channel | Lets people… | Set up |
|---|---|---|
| Slack | Mention or DM the bot in your Slack workspace. | Connects on the web. |
| Inkbox | Text it on iMessage, email it, or call it, from the phone numbers and email addresses you allow. SMS needs a phone number of the bot's own. | Connects on the web. See Inkbox. |
| Glyph | Talk to the bot live by voice from any thread. | Connects right here, with a key. See Live. |
Open a bot's channels
Open the bot's settings (click the bot's name at the top of the chat) and go to Channels.
Click the refresh icon at the top right after you change something on the web.
Status
| Status | Means |
|---|---|
| Connected | The channel works. The second line shows its details: the Slack workspace, the bot's Inkbox handle, number and email, or the Glyph account. |
| Not connected | Set it up: Connect ↗ for Slack and Inkbox, or paste a key for Glyph. |
| Unavailable | This channel can't be used for your account right now. The second line says why. |
Connect Slack
Click Connect
Next to Slack, click Connect ↗. Your browser opens the Slack install page.
Approve in Slack
Choose your Slack workspace and approve. You may need a Slack admin to approve it for your workspace.
Check it's connected
Back in Machine Desktop, click refresh. Slack shows Connected and your workspace name.
Once connected, people message the bot in Slack, and it answers there. See Slack & channels for how channel conversations work.
Connect Inkbox
Click Connect ↗ next to Inkbox. Your browser opens the bot's channel settings on the Machine web app, where you add your Inkbox key and choose who may reach the bot. The whole walk-through is in Set up Inkbox.
Connect Glyph
Paste your Glyph API key into the box under Glyph and click Connect. Once connected, the Live calls settings appear below it. See Set up Glyph.
Manage a channel
Click Manage ↗ to open the channel's settings on the Machine web app. There you choose things like which Slack channels the bot answers in, who may reach it by Inkbox, and which model it uses there.
Disconnect
Click Disconnect next to the channel and confirm: "Disconnect Slack from Scout? People there will stop reaching this bot." The bot stops answering there. Past conversations stay as threads in the bot.