READY

Using Slack with ProcessMaker I/O

Video Walk Through of This Tutorial

If you would like to see the "Leave Absence Request Use Case in Slack" in action, click this video below.

General Description

This use case demonstrates how to use ProcessMaker I/O in combination with Slack. Both software programs provide the tools to build effective processes while satisfying a variety of business needs. One of the added benefits of using ProcessMaker I/O with Slack is the ability to work directly from the Slack bot interface. The user only needs to work in one window rather than switching between windows.

Get Started with the Use Case

Run a ProcessMaker I/O Environment*

*ProcessMaker I/O is an "always on" cloud service. In this document an Environment refers to an installation of ProcessMaker I/O in a virtual machine or a container. This environment is created, run, and managed directly through the ProcessMaker I/O web management console.

If you don't have a ProcessMaker I/O Environment yet, do the following:

1. Log on to your ProcessMaker I/O account. If you do not have a free ProcessMaker I/O account, please create one.
2. Click the Environment page on the top menu.
3. Click the Create Environment button, and then follow the instructions provided.

If you already have a ProcessMaker I/O Environment, do the following:

1. Log on to your ProcessMaker I/O account.
2. Click the Environment page on the top menu, and then run a ProcessMaker I/O Environment.
3. Copy the Environment URL link to remember it for later. This URL is required as your-environment-url. Example: "your-environment-url" is "MYENVIRONMENT.api.processmaker.io", where "MYENVIRONMENT" is your "Processmaker I/O Environment name".
4. Click the Environment name to display information about it.
5. From the Info tab, click the Example: Click to open link to display the ProcessMaker I/O Examples Portal.
6. From the left menu, click the User Subscription with Mailchimp service tab.
7. Click the Slack BPMN file link to download the BPMN file to your computer. You will use this BPMN file for this use case.
8. From your Environment, click the Import tab, and then click the Choose File button to upload the BPMN file from your computer.

Configure a Slack Bot

Configure a Slack bot to do the following:

• enable interactive messages
• create and test a Slash command
• activate the Slack bot

Follow these steps to configure your Slack bot:

1. Create a Slack app:
   1. Go to https://api.slack.com/apps, and then click the Create New App button.
   2. Enter the name of the app in the App Name field.
   3. Choose from the Development Slack Workspace drop-down menu the workspace in which Slack app is to function.
   4. Click the Create App button.
2. Enable interactive messages:
   1. After creating an app, click Interactive Messages. Juliya Zagoruyko (Unlicensed): Should this read "Interactive Components"? It is labeled so on Slack's API site. Am I incorrect?
   2. Click the Enable Interactive Messages button. Juliya Zagoruyko (Unlicensed): Should this read "Enable Interactive Components"? It is labeled so on Slack's API site.
   3. On the next screen in the Request URL field, paste your environment link and then add the process name and event action name. Example: https://your-environment-url/api/v1/processes/Slack%20Action%20Receiver/events/Slack%20Response%20Received/webhook.
   4. Click the Enable Interactive Components button.
3. Create a Slash command. These steps are important to create interactive buttons in Slack messages:
   1. Under Settings, click the Basic Information page of your app, and then go to Add features and functionality > Slash Commands.
   2. Click the Create New Command button.
   3. In the Command field, enter any name for the Slack command. In our example it's "absence_request".
   4. In the Request URL field, enter the direct API URL link for your ProcessMaker I/O Environment. This value can be copied from the API URL: field in your Environment, as shown below. Example: https://your-environment-url/api/v1/processes/Requester/events/Time%20Off%20Request/webhook.
   5. In the Usage Hint field, define usage parameters for your slash command. Example:
      • [fromDate m/d/Y] to represent the beginning of the requested absence.
      • [toDate m/d/Y] to represent the end of the requested absence.
   6. Click the Save button.
4. Test the new Slash command:
   1. Under Settings, click Install App.
   2. Go to Slack and then run the command you have created.
5. Activate the Slack bot:
   1. Under Settings, click the Basic Information page of your application, and then go to Add features and functionality > Bots.
   2. Click the Add a Bot User button.
   3. In the Default username field, enter the default user name. For example: @Absence Request.
   4. Click the Add Bot User button.
6. Install the application to your team.
7. Get a Slack bot token by following these guidelines:
   1. From the left menu, go to Features > Oauth & Permissions tab.
   2. In the Oauth Tokens & Redirect URLs section, click the Copy in the Bot User OAuth Access Token field to copy the Slack bot token to your Clipboard. The token starts with 'xoxb' string.
   3. In ProcessMaker I/O, go to the "Initiate SlackBot" service task and then paste the bot token into the DataModel 'bot_token' variable. For example: $aData['bot_token']='xoxb-161650023927-8rz0xMGgrwsgbGUJj5lMaWiH';

The steps described above are not required, but are useful to modify communication between Slack and your ProcessMaker I/O Environment. To follow along with our example, it is necessary to do these steps as instructed.

Set Up a Channel Name for Approvers

In the "Initiate SlackBot" service task, define the channel name in the DataModel 'channel_name' variable. For example: $aData['channel_name']='#testprocess';

Your channel can be private. Create the appropriate permissions in Slack in advance.

Slack Connectors

The following connectors integrate with Slack services.

Slack\SendMessageConnector

This connector sets up and configures communication between Slack Interactive Messages and your process. Juliya Zagoruyko (Unlicensed): Is there no more information about this connector–parameter descriptions and such?

Slack\SlackAPI

This connector implements integration between your process and the Slack Web API. Juliya Zagoruyko (Unlicensed): Is there no more information about this connector–parameter descriptions and such?

Leave Absence Request: Process Description and Scheme 

This use case provides absence requests and approval actions via Slack bot.

Workflow for this use case is as follows:

1. A user sends an absence request via a Slack slash command and sets the "from date" and "to date" parameters for this request.
2. The user gets a message notifying them that their request is pending approval.
3. The approver gets the request in the Approval channel, makes a decision, and then clicks the corresponding button.
4. The user receives a message from the Slack bot about the approver's decision.

The graphic below shows the BPMN process scheme.

Process Lane Descriptions

Each process lane in this process is briefly described below.

Process Task Descriptions

Tasks in this process are described below in the order they appear in the process scheme from left to right, top to bottom.

Forms

Since there are no forms because everything is accessed through Slack, we only need to define the fields that will house the data for each case.

Messages

All messages will take place in Slack. There will be NO email messages, as that defeats the purpose of Slack. Therefore, all messages will be in the form of formatted webhook messages in either a channel or a private message between the ProcessMaker Bot and the user.