Smart Channels are special channels wherein team members can be automatically added to the channel based on their user groups. User group is a collection of team members who have the same values for a particular custom field. To know more about user groups kindly refer this detailed article:
https://support.flock.com/hc/en-us/articles/360009862294-Create-user-groups-in-your-team
Smart channels can be of three types:
- Autojoin channels for a specified set of users. e.g. Users with the designation "Product Manager" are automatically added to the "Product Ideas" channel.
- Announcement channels for a specified set of users. e.g. All users located in New York are added to the "New York Announcements" channel.
- Restricted Channels. e.g. Only users who specify their function as "Design" can see and join the "Design discussions" channel.
Creating Smart Channels( for team admin)
Creating Auto-Join Channels
- Go to the Admin Panel( https://admin.flock.com)
- Select the Manage Channels option present in the sidebar
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- Click on Auto-join channels
- Press the Create Auto-Join Channel button
- Select Create a new auto-join channel option
- Enter a desired name for this channel
- Write down a description of the channel
- Now choose who can view and join this channel from the existing user groups.
- Make this an auto-join channel by marking the option of Make this channel auto-join
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- Select the user groups you would want automatically added to this channel if you wish to do so else select the option of For everyone in the team
If you would have mentioned in the previous field of ‘who can view and join this channel’ some particular user groups then only those user groups would be automatically added to this channel even if you select the option of For everyone in the team in Make this channel auto-join.
- You can mark the option of Do not allow members to leave this channel if you wish that no one can leave this auto-join channel
- Finally, click on Create Channel to generate this channel
Creating Announcement channels
- Go to the Admin Panel( https://admin.flock.com)
- Select the Manage Channels option present in the sidebar
- Click on Announcement channels
- Press the Create Announcement Channel button
- Enter a desired name for this channel
- Write down a description of the channel
- Now choose who can view and join this channel from the existing user groups
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- Make this an auto-join channel by marking the option of Make this channel auto-join
- Select the user groups who would be automatically added to this channel if you wish only specific user groups to be added to this channel else select the option of For everyone in the team
If you would have mentioned in the previous field of ‘who can view and join this channel’ some particular user groups then only those user groups would be automatically added to this channel even if you select the option of For everyone in the team in Make this channel auto-join.
- You can mark the option of Do not allow members to leave this channel if you wish that no one leave this announcement channel without permission
- Finally, click on Create Channel to generate this channel
Creating Smart channels(for all team members)
- Click the + icon in the Contacts Search bar and click on Create a new channel
- Alternately, launch the Directory from the sidebar and click on New Channel
- Specify whether your channel is for a project, department or shared interest.'
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- Set the channel type to public if you wish to make this channel a smart channel
- Specify who can view and join your public/private channel by selecting user groups
- Write down the desired name for this channel
- Type in any other user’s email address or Flock username if these users are not present in the selected user group and you want them to be part of this channel
- Click on Create Channel
Upgrading an existing Public channel to Auto-join channel
- Go to the Admin Panel( https://admin.flock.com)
- Select the Manage Channels option present in the sidebar
- Click on Auto-join channels
- Select Create Auto-Join Channel
- Click the Upgrade an existing public channel option
- Choose the public channel you wish to upgrade to auto-join channel from the available list of public channels in your team
image-shadow - If you wish to change the channel name and description then you can edit the corresponding fields
- Select the user groups you wish are able to view and join this channel from the available drop-down list
- Make this an auto-join channel by marking the option of Make this channel auto-join
- Select the user groups who would be automatically added to this channel if you wish only specific user groups to be added to this channel else select the option of For everyone in the team
If you would have mentioned in the previous field of ‘who can view and join this channel’ some particular user groups then only those user groups would be automatically added to this channel even if you select the option of For everyone in the team in Make this channel auto-join.
- You can mark the option of Do not allow members to leave this channel if you wish that no one can leave this auto-join channel
- Finally, click on Upgrade to an Auto-join Channel
alert-warning | Creation of Smart Channels by a team member is possible only on the Pro and Enterprise plans |