Automatically create a Slack channel for matching Google Docs
Projects scatter across Google Drive and your team never knows which channel to use for discussion. This automation watches for documents matching your search, then creates a dedicated Slack channel to keep work coordinated.
Trigger
Document Search Update
Triggers when a Google Doc matching a user-defined search query is newly created or updated since the last poll. This trigger uses timestamp filtering to efficiently monitor documents.
Action
Create a channel-based conversation
Creates a new public or private slack channel with a unique name; the channel can be org-wide, or team-specific if `team id` is given (required if `org wide` is false or not provided).
Why this helps
New project docs, RFPs, or client work lands in Google Drive but sits orphaned. Your team doesn't know there's a new document, and discussions about it spread across random Slack channels. Coordination breaks down.
- Automatically organize around new documents
- Stop searching for the 'right' Slack channel to discuss a doc
- Centralizes discussion where the work lives
- Scales to handle multiple projects without manual intervention
Setup
Build it in a few focused steps.
- 1Connect Google Docs and Slack in your Notis portal.
- 2Create a new Automation and describe: 'When a Google Doc is created or updated with [keyword/criteria], create a Slack channel named [channel naming pattern] for discussing it.'
- 3Choose 'integration_event' and select 'Document Search Update.'
- 4Specify your search criteria—e.g., 'docs with "client" in the title' or 'docs in the Proposals folder.'
- 5Test by creating a Google Doc that matches your criteria and verify the Slack channel appears.
Questions about this workflow
Can I control the channel name that's created?
Yes. Describe your naming pattern to Notis—e.g., 'name it project-[doc title]' or 'use the client name plus today's date.' Notis will generate appropriate channel names.
What if a matching document already exists?
This trigger watches for newly created or updated documents. If you want to process existing documents, let Notis know and it can batch-process them for you.
Can I add specific people to the new channel automatically?
Absolutely. Tell Notis which users or teams should be invited to the channel when it's created.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
Supported Triggers and Actions
Notis builds workflows that link Google Docs to Slack. A trigger fires from one place; an action lands in another.
Google Docs triggers
Slack actions
New Document Created
Triggers when a new Google Doc is created. This trigger monitors Google Docs and fires when new documents are detected. Uses timestamp filtering to efficiently poll for new documents.
Set snooze duration
Deprecated: turns on do not disturb mode for the current user, or changes its duration. use `set dnd duration` instead.
Document Deleted
Triggers when an existing Google Doc is deleted (moved to trash). This trigger monitors Google Docs and fires when documents are trashed.
Add a custom emoji to a Slack team
Deprecated: adds a custom emoji to a slack workspace given a unique name and an image url. use `add emoji` instead.
Document Placeholder Filled
Triggers when a Google Doc's plain text changes such that a configured placeholder token/pattern is no longer present (i.e., the document has been filled in). This trigger monitors a specific Google Doc and fires when a placeholder pattern that was previously present is no longer found in the document's plain text.
Add an emoji alias
Adds an alias for an existing custom emoji in a slack enterprise grid organization.
Document Search Update
Triggers when a Google Doc matching a user-defined search query is newly created or updated since the last poll. This trigger uses timestamp filtering to efficiently monitor documents.
Add a remote file
Adds a reference to an external file (e.g., google drive, dropbox) to slack for discovery and sharing, requiring a unique `external id` and an `external url` accessible by slack.
Document Structure Changed
Triggers when a Google Doc's structure changes (headers/footers added/removed, tables/images count changes). This trigger monitors a specific document for structural changes like: - Headers added or removed - Footers added or removed - Tables added or removed - Images (inline objects) added or removed - Positioned objects added or removed - Footnotes added or removed
Add a star to an item
Stars a channel, file, file comment, or a specific message in slack.
Document Updated
Triggers when an existing Google Doc is updated or modified. This trigger monitors Google Docs and fires when documents are updated.
Add call participants
Registers new participants added to a slack call.
Document Word Count Threshold
Triggers when a Google Doc's word/character count crosses a user-defined threshold. This trigger monitors a specific Google Doc and fires when its word or character count becomes greater than or equal to the configured threshold value.
Add emoji
Adds a custom emoji to a slack workspace given a unique name and an image url; subject to workspace emoji limits.
New Folder Created in Root
Triggers when a new folder is created in the root folder of Google Drive. This trigger monitors Google Drive and fires when new folders are detected in the root directory.
Add reaction to message
Adds a specified emoji reaction to an existing message in a slack channel, identified by its timestamp; does not remove or retrieve reactions.
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When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
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