Slack Connect puts your unread channels and DMs, the messages that mention you, your status and quick messages on the XENEON EDGE. The widget gets its data through Qaem Hub, a free app for Windows, which also holds your Slack sign-in. You install Qaem Hub, import the widget, then allow Slack Connect on Slack's own page in your browser.
Before you start
Setup
Install Qaem Hub and add Slack Connect
- Download Qaem Hub Setup.exe and run it. It installs for your Windows account and starts with Windows. The Qaem Hub setup guide covers the installer and the SmartScreen warning.
- In Qaem Hub, open Add modules, select Slack Connect and click Install selected.
If you don't see Slack Connect in the list, skip ahead: when the widget is on your EDGE, tap Open in Qaem Hub on it, and Qaem Hub opens with the module already picked. More about the app is on the Qaem Hub page.
Get and import the widget
- Get the
.icuewidgetfile from the Elgato Marketplace. If you bought Slack Connect here on qaemdev.com, it's under Account → Downloads. The product page links to both. - Double-click the file, and iCUE imports it.
- If nothing happens, open iCUE, go to the Widgets section for your EDGE, use the + button and choose the file.
Place it and pick its Widget type
Drag Slack Connect onto a screen area of your EDGE. It lays itself out for any size, horizontal or vertical.
Its settings appear beside the layout in iCUE. Pick a Widget type: Unreads, Mentions, Status, Quick send or Pinned channels. Then pick a Design: Inbox, Counter, Tiles or Rail. Add the widget more than once to give each copy its own job.
Allow the widget in Qaem Hub
The first time the widget reaches Qaem Hub, it shows Allow this widget in Qaem Hub and a 4-digit code. Qaem Hub shows the widget's name and a code too.
- Check that the two codes match.
- Click Allow in Qaem Hub.
You do this once: every copy of Slack Connect shares the approval.
Connect Slack
On the EDGE, tap Connect Slack. You can also start it from the Slack Connect module in Qaem Hub.
- Slack opens in your PC's browser.
- Pick your workspace, sign in if it asks, and allow Slack Connect.
- The tab says you're connected, and you can close it. The widget shows Connected as your name and loads your unreads.
If the browser tab didn't open, or you closed it, tap Open on this PC. The sign-in finishes on the same PC that runs Qaem Hub.
Make each copy yours
Tap the gear in the widget's header to open its Settings. The Show tab sets where unreads come from (channels and DMs, DMs only, channels only, or DMs and mentions only), your status presets, how long to pause notifications for, the person or channel for Quick send with a few quick messages, and up to eight Pinned channels or people.
Behaviour sets what a tap and a hold do, and whether a quick message asks before it goes. The Slack tab shows who you're signed in as, the channels you hid from the widget with Show again, and Disconnect.
What it can access
Slack Connect asks only for user permissions, so it acts as you, never as a bot. It can:
- Read the channels, private channels, DMs and group DMs you're in, and their messages.
- Search your messages, to find what's new and what mentions you.
- Read people's names and profiles.
- Change your status, set you away or active, and pause your notifications.
- Send a message as you, when you send one from the widget.
The sign-in stays in Qaem Hub, encrypted on your PC. The widget never sees it, and only widgets you allow can use it. The sign-in itself passes through qaemdev.com once, because Slack's sign-in needs a secret that can't ship inside an app. After that, Qaem Hub talks to Slack directly from your PC.
Good to know
- About once a minute. Slack limits apps outside its own Marketplace, so Slack Connect checks Slack about once a minute. Counts can lag Slack by that much. The widget shows when it last checked, for example Updated 20 s ago.
- Muted channels. Slack doesn't tell apps which channels you muted. Hold a row and pick Hide from this widget to leave a noisy channel out. Hidden channels are listed in the Slack tab, with Show again.
- Tap and hold. A tap opens Slack at that conversation, in the Slack app or your browser. A hold lets you write a message or hide the channel.
- Quick messages ask first. A quick message asks before it goes, unless you turn that off in Behaviour.
- Disconnect in the widget's Slack tab or in Qaem Hub forgets the sign-in on your PC.
Troubleshooting
The widget says Qaem Hub isn't running
Tap Start Qaem Hub, or open it from the tray or the Start menu. If it isn't installed, Get Qaem Hub takes you to the download. If the widget says Turn on Slack Connect in Qaem Hub, tap Open in Qaem Hub, then add the module or switch it on in Library. If it says Update Qaem Hub, install the newest version.
It says Not allowed
You clicked Deny in Qaem Hub, or nobody answered in time. If nobody answered, tap Ask again. If you denied it, open Slack Connect's details in Qaem Hub and click Reset under Widgets, then allow it.
The sign-in was declined, or timed out
Tap Connect Slack again and finish on Slack's page. If your workspace needs an admin's approval, the sign-in can't finish until they approve the app.
It says Sign in to Slack again
Slack no longer accepts the sign-in, for example because the app was removed from your workspace. Tap Connect again.
It says Slack didn't allow this sign-in to read everything
Your sign-in is missing a permission the widget needs. Connect Slack again and allow it.
It says Slack asked to slow down
Slack's limits were reached. The widget says when it will try again and carries on by itself.
It says Can't reach Slack
Your PC can't reach Slack right now. Check your connection, then tap Try again.
A count doesn't match Slack
Counts can lag Slack by about a minute. Check the Updated time on the widget. A channel you muted in Slack still counts here: hide it from the widget instead.