# Ask Questions in Slack

- URL: https://betteranalyst.com/docs/slack/ask-questions
- Updated: 2026-11-12
- Author: Better Analyst

Mention Better Analyst in a channel or DM it, attach files, change data sources and agents, and follow up in the thread.

Ask Better Analyst the same kinds of questions you'd ask in the web app. It answers in the thread with a summary, tables, charts, and files.

![A question with an attached sales CSV, and Better Analyst's answer with a monthly revenue chart in the thread](https://betteranalyst.com/screenshots/product/slack-agent/channel-answer.webp)

The answer, a chart, and Manage data, Customize, and Open in Better Analyst buttons in the thread.

## Where to Ask

- **In a channel:** mention **@Better Analyst** in your message. Better Analyst only reads messages that mention it, so it never sees the rest of the channel. It must be a member of the channel; see [Install and set up](https://betteranalyst.com/docs/slack/install-and-set-up#5-invite-better-analyst-to-channels).
- **In a direct message:** send the app a DM. No mention is needed.
- **Follow-ups:** reply in the same thread (mentioning @Better Analyst in channels). The thread continues the same chat, so Better Analyst remembers the data and the earlier answers.

Only the person who started a thread can ask follow-ups in it. Others can start their own thread.

## What Comes Back

- A written answer, with tables when they help
- Charts as images in the thread
- Files such as CSV or Excel exports
- **Open in Better Analyst** to see the full chat, code, and outputs

While Better Analyst works, a **Working on it** message with a **Stop** button appears. If a run fails or is interrupted, the reply includes a **Retry** button.

## Continue in Better Analyst

Every Slack thread is a Better Analyst chat, saved in your team's workspace with its files, agents, and charts. Select **Open in Better Analyst** to keep going in the web app. The chat shows a **Slack thread** badge with a link back to the thread.

![The #sales Slack conversation open in Better Analyst with a Slack thread badge, the revenue chart and answer, and the uploaded CSV in the workspace panel](https://betteranalyst.com/docs/slack/ask-questions/web-chat-light.png)

## Add Data

**Attach files.** Attach a CSV or spreadsheet to the message that mentions Better Analyst. Files are saved to your team library and used for that question.

**Manage data.** Select **Manage data** under any answer to change what the thread uses:

- Pick files from your team library
- Add or remove data sources your admin allowed for Slack
- Upload new files

![The Manage data form in Slack with a library file selected, data sources, and Upload File](https://betteranalyst.com/screenshots/product/slack-agent/manage-data.webp)

Changes apply to your next question in the thread.

In DMs you can also use your own personal data sources. In channels, only team data sources that your admin allowed are available.

## Choose Agents and a Brand Kit

Select **Customize** under an answer to pick the agents, brand kit, and chart experience for the thread. **Editable** charts have built-in editing controls in Better Analyst; with **Classic**, you ask for chart changes in chat. **Use default** follows the lead agent or your personal default. The chart experience applies to new charts only. Admins set the default agents and brand kit every new Slack question starts with.

## Answer Clarifying Questions

When a question could mean more than one thing, Better Analyst may ask you to choose. Select an option in the thread and it continues.

## What Slack Doesn't Do

Slack uses Better Analyst's **Ask** mode. To build dashboards, run Data Flows, or enrich data, select **Open in Better Analyst** and continue in the web app.