FAQ

Which Slack token type should I use — User or Bot?

Use a User OAuth Token (starts with xoxp-). The Messages entity relies on Slack's search API, which requires the search:read scope — and that scope is only available to user tokens, not bot tokens. For Channels and Users, a bot token with the right scopes would technically work, but using a user token keeps things consistent across all three entities.

Can I export messages from private channels?

Yes, but only if the user whose token you're using is a member of that private channel. If your token belongs to someone outside the channel, Slack won't return those messages. Ask a channel member to generate the token or have an admin add the token owner to the channel first.

Why are bot-posted messages missing from my export?

Slack's search API doesn't reliably index messages posted by bots, particularly those sent via webhooks or automated integrations. This is a Slack platform limitation, not a Coupler.io issue. Currently, there's no workaround within the search-based Messages entity — bot messages may simply not appear in search results.

Can I export files and images shared in Slack?

Coupler.io exports attachment metadata — the file name, type, and Slack-hosted URL — but does not download or transfer the actual files or images. If you need the files themselves, you'd need to access them directly via the URLs provided in the export using Slack's file download API.

How do I export thread replies?

Thread replies are separate messages in Slack's data model and may not surface in standard channel search results. Try using a targeted search query with keywords from the thread combined with the in:#channel modifier. Full thread-level export is not directly supported by Slack's search API at this time.

Can I count messages per day or per channel automatically?

Yes — export your messages to Google Sheets or BigQuery, then use the Aggregate transformation in Coupler.io to group by channel or date and count message rows. You can also use Looker Studio or a pivot table in Sheets to visualize message volume over time.

Can I combine messages from multiple Slack workspaces?

Yes. Create a separate data source for each workspace (each with its own API token), then use the Append transformation in your data flow to merge them into a single output. Add a workspace label to each source so you can distinguish records in your destination.

Can I transfer Slack messages to another chat tool like Google Chat?

Coupler.io exports Slack data to destinations like Google Sheets, BigQuery, or AI tools — it doesn't write data back into chat platforms. If you need to migrate messages to Google Chat or another tool, you'd need a dedicated migration service for that purpose.

How do I filter out deactivated users from the Users export?

The Users entity includes deactivated accounts with a deleted field set to true. In your destination (e.g., Google Sheets), filter the deleted column to show only false values. You can also use the Aggregate transformation to separate active and inactive users before sending data to your destination.

For details on what fields are available in each entity, see the Data Overview article. If your export is returning unexpected results or missing data, check Common Issues for solutions.