What is a Slack Canvas?

Environment

U-M Slack

Issue

What is a Slack canvas, and how can I use it?

Resolution

Slack Canvas is a new feature released by Slack that allows for an additional space (i.e., "canvas") to create messaging or collaborate either connected to or separate from channels within a workspace. Anyone eligible for U-M Slack can utilize the Slack Canvas feature. (This feature is available in the U-M Slack Enterprise Grid as of June 20, 2023.)

Limitations

Please note the following limitations before using and creating a canvas:

Note: This is not an exhaustive list and contains notable limitations at the time of feature launch.

Sharing / Permissions / Ownership

• You cannot transfer ownership of a canvas
  • If the canvas creator/owner leaves U-M Slack and no one else has edit access, the canvas will forever be view-only. Since the request to change access goes to the creator/owner, and the creator/owner is no longer in U-M Slack, ownership cannot be changed. Additionally, this means that the canvas cannot be deleted. If edits need to be made, the workaround is to copy/paste the contents into a new canvas.
• Permissions for channel canvases match posting permissions for the channel
  • This means that if someone can post to the channel, they can edit the canvas. If someone can view the channel but not post, they can only view the canvas
• Anyone can add additional users to the canvas
  • However, the additional users can only have (at least) the same level of permissions that the individual inviting them has
  • This means users with view access can add other users as viewers, and users with edit access can add other users as either viewers or editors
• Anyone with edit access on a canvas can lock/unlock it for editing
  • This means that one user with edit access can lock the canvas for everyone else with edit access to prevent them from editing the canvas further
    • However, another user with edit access can unlock it at any time
  • This is also true for canvases in channels. (Remember, anyone with posting permissions in the channel will inherit edit access to the channel's canvas.)

Content

• There is no ability to recover deleted canvases
  • Only a canvas creator/owner can delete it
  • Canvases in channels cannot be deleted
    • The workaround is to simply delete all the content within the canvas
• You cannot export a canvas for use/retention outside of Slack
  • You also cannot move a canvas to a different workspace, channel, or direct message

Use Case Recommendations

Slack Canvas can be used 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 be converted to canvases beginning September 18, 2023, 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.)

Slack Canvas is not recommended 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.

Learn More

• Creating a Canvas in Slack
• Sharing, Security and Access for Slack Canvas
• Accessibility
  • Accessibility in canvases (keyboard navigation and screen reader support)
  • How to boost accessibility in Slack

Additional Information

Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.