U-M Slack Updates

Set an out-of-office status and auto-reply in U-M Slack

1/30/2024

Slack has introduced a new feature that allows you to set an out-of-office status with a customizable auto-reply message. When you set an out-of-office status and auto-reply:

  • Members who mention (@) you in a channel will receive a private channel message with your auto-reply.
    • This message is only visible to the person who mentioned you.
    • If someone mentions you multiple times, they will only receive the auto-reply message once.
  • Your out-of-office status will appear above the message field when someone direct messages you.
  • Members can view your full out-of-office status from your profile or when they hover over your status emoji in the desktop app.
  • Your status and auto-reply message are only visible to other U-M Slack members.

Slack "Set a status" settings showing new out of office status and auto-reply message option

This feature is now available in U-M Slack, though you may need to update your desktop app first. Learn more about setting an out-of-office status and auto-reply in Slack. (Please note that these out-of-office and auto-reply features apply only to Slack. Google Calendar out-of-office events and MCommunity away messages are separate from Slack.)

Reminder: New Slack user interface arriving November 14

11/7/2023

As a reminder, a redesign to the organization and layout of workspaces in U-M Slack is rolling out to the university on November 14, 2023. This change will affect all versions of Slack across every desktop, mobile, and browser application.

Note: You may need to refresh Slack twice on November 14 for your desktop and mobile apps to update. To refresh your apps:
- Mac: Cmd + Shift + R
- Windows: Ctrl + Shift + R
- Mobile: Close and reopen the app

Screenshot of the new Slack UI in the University of Michigan instance of Slack

Some of the most notable updates include:

  • New unified Home view: All channels, direct messages, and apps from every workspace you're a member of are now viewable from one location. However, you can filter Home to view specific U-M workspaces and their content as needed.
  • Your profile and status have moved to the bottom left corner.
  • New Create button for starting DMs, channels, huddles, and canvases.
  • Notifications are organized into DMs, Activity, and Later in the far left pane.
  • An updated experience for themes.

All of the features and functionality currently available to you will otherwise remain unchanged.

You can learn more about everything that’s changing in U-M Slack and check out both the U-M Slack FAQ page and Slack's Help Center FAQ to get answers to common questions. It may also be a good time to review Slack’s updated Quick Start Guide, which details each section of the Slack interface.

New Slack user interface arriving November 14

10/16/2023

Slack has announced a significant redesign to the organization and layout of workspaces, which will roll out to U-M Slack on November 14, 2023. This change will affect all versions of Slack across every desktop, mobile, and browser application. (You may have already noticed the change in your other workspaces outside the University of Michigan!)

Screenshot of the new Slack UI in the University of Michigan instance of Slack

Some of the most notable updates include:

  • New unified Home view: All channels, direct messages, and apps from every workspace you're a member of are now viewable from one location. However, you can filter Home to view specific U-M workspaces and their content as needed.
  • Your profile and status have moved to the bottom left corner.
  • New Create button for starting DMs, channels, huddles, and canvases.
  • Notifications are organized into DMs, Activity, and Later in the far left pane.
  • An updated experience for themes.

All of the features and functionality currently available to you will otherwise remain unchanged.

You can learn more about everything that’s changing in U-M Slack and check out both the U-M Slack FAQ page and Slack's Help Center FAQ to get answers to common questions. It may also be a good time to review Slack’s updated Quick Start Guide, which details each section of the Slack interface.

Walkthrough of the major updates to the Slack user experience like new Home view, Create button, and more

Introducing canvases, a new way to collaborate in U-M Slack

6/15/2023

Slack has announced a new tool to help you collaborate and share information within channels and direct messages called “canvases.” Slack canvases can act as a persistent hub for all the important information and links members need for a specific channel or direct message (as compared to using bookmarks or pinned messages). They can also be used for jotting down quick notes or personal reminders to just yourself.

Important: Slack canvases are NOT related to U-M Canvas or the Canvas LMS. Slack canvases are an unrelated feature in U-M Slack only.

Example of a user clicking to create a new canvas in Slack, then proceeds to scroll down and add content like headers, checklists, videos, and workflows.

Use canvases for:

  • Channel-specific information (e.g., collecting links, FYIs, etc.)
  • Brainstorming (e.g., during Huddles)
  • Replacing the Slack Posts feature

If you currently use the Slack Posts feature, all existing posts will eventually be converted to canvases, and all of your content will be saved. (Note that this is not the same as a Slack message. It is an additional feature found under the plus sign (+) icon in your message field, and it will be going away soon.)

Do not use canvases for:

  • Long-term documentation
  • Sensitive data
  • Information that you need to export from Slack

Important: Slack does not allow individuals to export canvases. If the information may need to leave Slack in the future, we recommend using a Google Doc instead.

Refer to What is a Slack Canvas? to learn more about using canvases in U-M Slack. The article includes information on sharing/permissions and ownership, current limitations, accessibility, and links to other useful resources.

According to Slack, this feature should begin rolling out to U-M Slack on June 20, 2023, and could take several days or longer to become fully visible.

U-M Slack March Summary of New Features

3/23/2023

In an effort to bring you the latest on new features and functionalities, we will be introducing service-specific summaries for Slack, similar to what we currently offer for U-M Google. These summaries, however, will not be posted on a monthly basis like Google’s, as Slack updates less frequently.

Updates:

Slack announced they will be making adjustments to and combining your “saved items” and “reminders” into a new sidebar view called “Later.” The changes include: 

  • New name: In your sidebar, “Saved items” is now called “Later.”
  • New ways to organize your to-do list: Your saved items are now broken up into three tabs: In progress, Archived, and Completed to help you differentiate your work. (Note that any previously saved items will appear in the Archived tab but can be re-sorted to other tabs.)
  • New location for personal reminders: Any reminders you’ve set for yourself now appear alongside other items in the new In progress tab, where you can mark them as complete or change the reminder’s timeframe. (Note that channel reminders and recurring reminders will only be visible using /remind list and will not appear in Later.)

These changes are rolling out gradually starting in March and may take a while before they’re fully visible to everyone in U-M Slack.

  • Once you’ve joined 30 channels in a workspace, your sidebar settings will switch to Unreads only. You can change this via the Sidebar section in your Preferences. This change is rolling out gradually starting in March and may take a while before it’s fully visible to everyone in U-M Slack.
  • When adding an emoji with multiple people, you can right-click to customize the skin tone of each person. (Note that this does not apply to custom emojis.)

Handshake emoji in Slack with options to set the skin tone of each hand

Last October, Slack added a bunch of new features to huddles. These additions include the ability to:

  • Turn on video
  • Open a huddle in a new pop-out window
  • Start a dedicated message thread for notes that automatically saves to the channel or direct message conversation
  • Have multiple people share their screens at once
  • Set a topic and pick a custom background
  • Use emojis, reactions, and stickers

Learn more about using these features and others in Slack huddles.

User selects the toggle switch to start a Slack huddle and proceeds to turn on their video and open it in a new window.

  • Add additional people to direct messages

You can include conversation history when adding people to an existing direct message or group conversation. Previously, conversation history wasn’t preserved.

Previously Communicated: