Answer retention questions in Slack
Make retention checks easier to start by asking in the channel where the team is already talking.
Trigger
Channel Message Received
Triggered when a message is posted in a Slack channel (public, private, or multi-party IM). Does NOT match direct messages.
Action
Execute ClickHouse Query
Execute a sql query in clickhouse and return the results. this is the primary action for querying data from clickhouse databases.
Why this helps
Retention questions often need careful time windows, and chasing those details can delay a useful answer.
- Brings retention checks into the team's existing discussion.
- Encourages answers to include a clearly stated period.
- Makes follow-up questions easier to frame.
Setup
Build it in a few focused steps.
- 1Connect Slack and ClickHouse to Notis once through the portal.
- 2Create the automation in the portal, or tell Notis the desired behavior in a conversational channel.
- 3Write one instruction asking Notis to query ClickHouse for a clearly stated retention question and report the metric, cohort or period used, and caveats.
- 4Select Channel Message Received as the trigger and choose a channel for run reports.
- 5Test with a real retention question and verify the cohort and date window in the response.
Questions about this workflow
Does it choose the retention definition?
Ask Notis to use a definition stated in the message or available context and request clarification when it is ambiguous.
Can it compare two cohorts?
Yes, when the message specifies the cohorts and the connected data supports the comparison.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
Supported Triggers and Actions
Notis builds workflows that link Slack to ClickHouse. A trigger fires from one place; an action lands in another.
Slack triggers
ClickHouse actions
Recurring trigger
Notis starts this workflow on a schedule, such as daily, weekly, or during business hours.
Execute ClickHouse Query
Execute a sql query in clickhouse and return the results. this is the primary action for querying data from clickhouse databases.
Webhook trigger
Notis starts this workflow when an external tool or custom backend sends an HTTP request.
Get Database Schema
Get comprehensive schema overview of an entire database including all tables and optionally their column definitions. essential for ai agents to understand the complete database structure in a single call.
New Channel Created Trigger
Triggered when a new channel is created in Slack.
Get Table Schema
Get detailed schema information for a specific table including column definitions, types, keys, and optionally sample data. this is essential for ai agents to understand table structure before constructing queries.
Channel Message Received
Triggered when a message is posted in a Slack channel (public, private, or multi-party IM). Does NOT match direct messages.
List ClickHouse Databases
List all databases in the clickhouse instance. useful for discovering available databases before querying tables.
Direct Message Received
Triggered when a new direct message (DM) is sent to a user in Slack. Catches all DMs across all DM channels.
List ClickHouse Tables
List tables in clickhouse databases. returns information about tables including their engine, size, and row count.
Message Reaction Added
Triggered when a reaction is added to a message in Slack. Supports optional filtering by channel and emoji name.
Message Reaction Removed
Triggered when a reaction is removed from a message in Slack. Supports optional filtering by channel and emoji name.
Reaction Added Trigger
DEPRECATED: use `SLACK_MESSAGE_REACTION_ADDED` instead. Triggered when a reaction is added to a message in Slack.
Connect any two apps with Notis in the middle.
Slack and ClickHouse, or any other combination from 1,000+ integrations.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
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