1# Common Slack Tasks & Patterns
2 
3Reference guide for common automations and data extraction patterns when interacting with Slack.
4 
5## Task: Check All Unread Messages
6 
7### Goal
8Determine which channels and DMs have unread messages.
9 
10### Steps
11 
121. **Connect to Slack**
13   ```bash
14   agent-browser connect 9222
15   ```
16 
172. **Check Activity Tab**
18   - Take snapshot: `agent-browser snapshot -i`
19   - Look for Activity tab ref (usually `@e14`)
20   - Click: `agent-browser click @e14`
21   - Wait: `agent-browser wait 1000`
22   - If you see "You've read all the unreads", you have no unread messages
23   - Screenshot: `agent-browser screenshot activity.png`
24 
253. **Check DMs**
26   - Click DMs tab ref (usually `@e13`)
27   - Look for "Unreads" toggle/badge
28   - Count visible conversations with indicators
29 
304. **Check Channels**
31   - Look for "More unreads" button (usually in sidebar)
32   - Click it to expand list of channels with unreads
33   - Screenshot the expanded view
34   - Parse channel names from snapshot
35 
365. **Summary**
37   - Activity + DMs + Channels = complete unread picture
38 
39### Evidence Capture
40- Screenshot of Activity tab
41- Screenshot of DMs
42- Screenshot of expanded unreads sidebar
43 
44---
45 
46## Task: Find All Channels in Workspace
47 
48### Goal
49Get a complete list of all channels you have access to.
50 
51### Steps
52 
531. **Navigate to Channels section**
54   ```bash
55   agent-browser connect 9222
56   agent-browser snapshot -i
57   ```
58 
592. **Look for "Channels" treeitem**
60   - This is usually a collapsed section header
61   - Click to expand if collapsed
62   - Screenshot: `agent-browser screenshot all-channels.png`
63 
643. **Scroll through sidebar**
65   ```bash
66   # If the list is long, scroll within the sidebar
67   agent-browser scroll down 500 --selector ".p-sidebar"
68   agent-browser screenshot channels-page-2.png
69   ```
70 
714. **Parse snapshot for channel list**
72   ```bash
73   agent-browser snapshot --json > channels.json
74   # Search JSON for treeitem elements with level=2 under "Channels" section
75   ```
76 
77### Evidence
78- JSON snapshot with all channel refs
79- Screenshots of channel list
80- Count of total channels
81 
82---
83 
84## Task: Search for Messages Containing Keywords
85 
86### Goal
87Find all messages/threads mentioning specific terms.
88 
89### Steps
90 
911. **Open search**
92   ```bash
93   agent-browser snapshot -i
94   # Find Search button ref (usually @e5)
95   agent-browser click @e5
96   agent-browser wait 500
97   ```
98 
992. **Enter search term**
100   ```bash
101   # Identify search input ref from snapshot
102   agent-browser fill @e_search_input "your keyword"
103   agent-browser press Enter
104   agent-browser wait --load networkidle
105   ```
106 
1073. **Capture results**
108   ```bash
109   agent-browser screenshot search-results.png
110   agent-browser snapshot -i > search-snapshot.txt
111   ```
112 
1134. **Parse results**
114   - Look for result items in snapshot
115   - Extract message content, sender, channel, timestamp
116   - Follow links to view full context
117 
118### Filters
119Slack search supports filters:
120- `in:channel-name` - Search in specific channel
121- `from:@user` - Messages from specific user
122- `before:2026-02-25` - Messages before date
123- `after:2026-02-20` - Messages after date
124- `has:file` - Messages with files
125- `has:emoji` - Messages with reactions
126 
127Example search: `"bug report" in:engineering from:@alice after:2026-02-20`
128 
129---
130 
131## Task: Monitor a Specific Channel for Activity
132 
133### Goal
134Watch a channel and capture new messages/engagement.
135 
136### Steps
137 
1381. **Navigate to channel**
139   ```bash
140   agent-browser connect 9222
141   agent-browser snapshot -i
142   # Find channel ref from sidebar
143   agent-browser click @e_channel_ref
144   agent-browser wait --load networkidle
145   ```
146 
1472. **Check channel info**
148   - Screenshot channel details: `agent-browser screenshot channel-header.png`
149   - Look for member count, description, topic
150 
1513. **View messages**
152   ```bash
153   # Jump to recent/unread
154   agent-browser press j  # Jump to unread in Slack
155   agent-browser wait 500
156   agent-browser screenshot recent-messages.png
157   ```
158 
1594. **Scroll to see more**
160   ```bash
161   agent-browser scroll down 500
162   agent-browser screenshot more-messages.png
163   ```
164 
1655. **Check threads**
166   - Click on messages with thread indicators
167   - View replies in thread view
168   - Screenshot: `agent-browser screenshot thread.png`
169 
170### Evidence
171- Channel info screenshot
172- Message history screenshots
173- Thread examples
174 
175---
176 
177## Task: Extract User Information from a Conversation
178 
179### Goal
180Find who said what, when, and in what context.
181 
182### Steps
183 
1841. **Navigate to relevant channel or DM**
185   ```bash
186   agent-browser click @e_conversation_ref
187   agent-browser wait 1000
188   ```
189 
1902. **Take snapshot with context**
191   ```bash
192   agent-browser snapshot --json > conversation.json
193   ```
194 
1953. **Find message blocks**
196   - In JSON, look for document/listitem elements
197   - These contain: user name (button), timestamp (link), message text, reactions
198 
1994. **Extract structured data**
200   - User: Found in button element with username
201   - Time: Found in link with timestamp
202   - Content: Text content of message
203   - Reactions: Buttons showing emoji counts
204 
2055. **Screenshot key messages**
206   ```bash
207   agent-browser screenshot important-message.png
208   agent-browser screenshot --annotate annotated-message.png
209   ```
210 
211---
212 
213## Task: Track Reactions to a Message
214 
215### Goal
216See who reacted to a message and with what emoji.
217 
218### Steps
219 
2201. **Find message with reactions**
221   ```bash
222   agent-browser snapshot -i
223   # Look for "N reaction(s)" buttons in messages
224   ```
225 
2262. **Click reaction button to expand**
227   ```bash
228   agent-browser click @e_reaction_button
229   agent-browser wait 500
230   ```
231 
2323. **Capture reaction details**
233   ```bash
234   agent-browser screenshot reactions.png
235   # You'll see emoji, count, and list of users who reacted
236   ```
237 
2384. **Extract data**
239   - Emoji used
240   - Number of people who reacted
241   - User names (if visible in popup)
242 
243---
244 
245## Task: Find and Review Pinned Messages
246 
247### Goal
248See messages that have been pinned in a channel.
249 
250### Steps
251 
2521. **Open a channel**
253   ```bash
254   agent-browser click @e_channel_ref
255   agent-browser wait 1000
256   agent-browser snapshot -i
257   ```
258 
2592. **Click Pins tab**
260   - In channel view, look for "Pins" tab ref (usually near Messages, Files tabs)
261   - Click it: `agent-browser click @e_pins_tab`
262   - Wait: `agent-browser wait 500`
263 
2643. **View pinned messages**
265   ```bash
266   agent-browser screenshot pins.png
267   agent-browser snapshot -i > pins-snapshot.txt
268   ```
269 
2704. **Review each pin**
271   - Click pin to see context
272   - Note who pinned it, when, and why
273   - Screenshot: `agent-browser screenshot pin-detail.png`
274 
275---
276 
277## Pattern: Extract Timestamp from Link
278 
279In Slack snapshot, message timestamps appear as links. Example:
280```
281- link "Feb 25th at 10:26:22 AM" [ref=e151]
282  - /url: https://vercel.slack.com/archives/C0A5RTN0856/p1772036782543189
283```
284 
285The URL contains the timestamp in the fragment (`p1772036782543189`). This is a Slack message ID that uniquely identifies the message.
286 
287---
288 
289## Pattern: Understanding Channel/Thread Structure
290 
291```
292- treeitem "channel-name" [ref=e94] [level=2]
293  - group: (contains channel metadata or sub-items)
294```
295 
296- **level=1**: Section headers (External connections, Starred, Channels, etc.)
297- **level=2**: Individual channels/items within sections
298- **level=3+**: Nested sub-items (rare in sidebar)
299 
300---
301 
302## Common Ref Patterns (Session-Dependent)
303 
304These refs vary per session, but follow patterns:
305 
306| Element | Typical Ref Range | How to Find |
307|---------|------------------|------------|
308| Home tab | e10-e20 | `snapshot -i \| grep "Home"` |
309| DMs tab | e10-e20 | `snapshot -i \| grep "DMs"` |
310| Activity tab | e10-e20 | `snapshot -i \| grep "Activity"` |
311| Search | e5-e10 | `snapshot -i \| grep "Search"` |
312| More unreads | e20-e30 | `snapshot -i \| grep "More unreads"` |
313| Channel refs | e30+ | `snapshot -i \| grep "treeitem"` |
314 
315**Always take a fresh snapshot** to find current refs for the current session.
316 
317---
318 
319## Debugging: Element Not Found
320 
321If you can't find an element:
322 
3231. **Check it's visible**
324   ```bash
325   # Is the element on screen or off-screen?
326   agent-browser screenshot current-state.png
327   # Compare screenshot to what you expected
328   ```
329 
3302. **Try expanding/scrolling**
331   ```bash
332   # Sidebar might need scrolling
333   agent-browser scroll down 300 --selector ".p-sidebar"
334   agent-browser snapshot -i
335   ```
336 
3373. **Check current URL**
338   ```bash
339   agent-browser get url
340   # Verify you're in the right section
341   ```
342 
3434. **Wait for page to load**
344   ```bash
345   agent-browser wait --load networkidle
346   agent-browser wait 1000
347   agent-browser snapshot -i
348   ```
349