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Scoop for Slack · Legacy self-service product

FAQ & Troubleshooting

You're viewing documentation for the legacy Scoop self-service product. For the current product, see What Is Scoop.

FAQ & Troubleshooting Guide

Quick answers to common questions and solutions for any issues you might encounter.

🚀 Getting Started

Installation & Setup

Q: How do I install Scoop for Slack?

A: Installation is simple:

  1. Admin visits go.scoopanalytics.com
  2. Navigate to Settings → Integrations
  3. Click "Add to Slack" button
  4. Authorize permissions
  5. Scoop appears in your workspace!

Individual users don't need to install anything.

Q: Why can't I see Scoop in my workspace?

A: Try these steps in order:

  1. Refresh Slack: Press Cmd+R (Mac) or Ctrl+R (Windows)
  2. Check Apps section: Look in the left sidebar under Apps
  3. Search for Scoop: Use Slack's search (Cmd/Ctrl + K)
  4. Verify installation: Ask your Slack admin to confirm
  5. Permission check: Ensure you have access to use Scoop

Q: Do I need a separate Scoop account?

A: No! If Scoop is installed in your Slack workspace, you're ready to go. Your Slack identity is all you need.

Q: Which Slack permissions does Scoop need?

A: Scoop requests minimal permissions:

  • Read messages that mention @Scoop
  • Post messages as Scoop bot
  • Access basic workspace info
  • View public channel info
  • Access files you share

💬 Using Scoop

Basic Interactions

Q: How do I start using Scoop?

A: Four ways to begin:

  1. Direct Message: Click Scoop in Apps → Type your question
  2. In Channels: Type @Scoop your question here
  3. Slash Commands: Type /scoop your question here
  4. From App Home: Visit Scoop's Home tab for guided start

Q: Why does Scoop say "No dataset selected"?

A: You need to select a dataset first:

In channels:

@Scoop show datasets
@Scoop use sales data

In DMs:

datasets
use customer analytics

Q: What's the difference between DM and channel usage?

A: Key differences:

Feature Direct Messages Channels
@ mention Not needed Required
Privacy Always private Private until shared
Context Full history Thread-based
Best for Deep analysis Team collaboration

Slash Commands

Q: What are slash commands and how do I use them?

A: Slash commands provide quick access to Scoop functionality:

Available Commands:

  • /scoop query [question] - Ask any question about your data
  • /scoop dataset - Select or change dataset
  • /scoop save [name] - Save the last query with a name
  • /scoop run [name] - Run a saved query by name
  • /scoop deck - Run your personal deck
  • /scoop list - List saved queries
  • /scoop list decks - List saved decks
  • /scoop status - Check current dataset and session
  • /scoop help - Get command reference

Shortcut: Just type /scoop [question] to quickly query data!

Q: What's the difference between /scoop and @Scoop?

A: Both work, but have different use cases:

Feature /scoop Commands @Scoop Mentions
Speed Faster Standard
Privacy Always private initially Private until shared
Context New conversation Maintains thread context
Best for Quick queries Collaborative discussion

Q: Can I use slash commands in channels?

A: Yes! Slash commands work everywhere:

  • In channels: Results are private (ephemeral) initially
  • In DMs: Results appear in the conversation
  • In threads: Creates a new context

Privacy & Sharing

Q: Can others see my queries in channels?

A: No! Channel responses are private by default (ephemeral messages). Only you see them until you explicitly share.

![Screenshot: Share button on Scoop response]

Q: How do I share results with my team?

A: Simple one-click sharing:

  1. Get your result privately
  2. Review for accuracy
  3. Click "📢 Share with Channel"
  4. Add context if needed
  5. Team sees the insight!

Q: Can I control what gets shared?

A: Yes! When you share:

  • ✅ Shared: The specific result/visualization
  • ✅ Shared: Your name as discoverer
  • ✅ Shared: Original query for context
  • ❌ Not shared: Your exploration history
  • ❌ Not shared: Failed attempts
  • ❌ Not shared: Other private queries

📊 Data & Datasets

File Uploads

Q: What file types can I upload?

A: Supported formats:

Format Extensions Max Size Notes
Excel .xlsx, .xls 100MB Multi-sheet support
CSV .csv 100MB Auto-delimiter detection
JSON .json 50MB Coming soon
PDF .pdf 25MB Table extraction coming

Q: My file won't upload - why?

A: Common issues and fixes:

  1. File too large: Keep under 100MB
  2. Wrong format: Save as .xlsx or .csv
  3. Complex layout: Remove merged cells, multiple headers
  4. Special characters: Use UTF-8 encoding
  5. Hidden data: Remove hidden sheets/columns

Q: Where is uploaded data stored?

A: Your data is secure:

  • 🔒 Personal workspace (private to you)
  • 🔐 Encrypted storage
  • 🛡️ Isolated from other users
  • 🗑️ Deletable on demand
  • ⏰ Auto-cleanup per retention policy

Dataset Management

Q: How do I switch between datasets?

A: Quick switching:

@Scoop datasets                    # List all
@Scoop use "Q4 Sales"             # Switch
@Scoop current dataset            # Verify

Q: Can I combine multiple datasets?

A: Yes! Two approaches:

  1. Upload pre-joined data: Combine in Excel first
  2. Cross-dataset analysis: Ask questions that span datasets:
    @Scoop correlate support tickets with revenue by customer

Q: How often is data refreshed?

A: Depends on dataset type:

Type Refresh Frequency How to Check
Organization Admin-configured (usually daily) @Scoop dataset info
Personal Manual (re-upload) Upload new version
Connected Real-time or scheduled Check integration settings

🤖 Queries & Analysis

Query Capabilities

Q: What kinds of questions can I ask?

A: Scoop understands everything from simple to complex:

Basic Queries

Show me all customers
What's our total revenue?
List top 10 products

Analytical Questions

Why did sales drop last month?
What drives customer churn?
Find anomalies in the data

Predictive Queries

Forecast next quarter
Predict which deals will close
What's our churn risk?

Comparative Analysis

Compare this year to last year
How do we compare to industry?
What changed between Q1 and Q2?

Q: Why did Scoop misunderstand my query?

A: Try these fixes:

  1. Be more specific

    • ❌ "Show data"
    • ✅ "Show revenue by month"

  2. Use consistent terms

    • Check column names: @Scoop describe dataset
    • Match terminology

  3. Break complex queries

    • Step 1: "Show all deals"
    • Step 2: "Filter to closed won"
    • Step 3: "Add close date"

  4. Verify dataset

    • Right dataset? @Scoop current dataset
    • Has needed data? @Scoop columns

Q: Can I reference previous results?

A: Yes! Scoop maintains context:

You: Show me top customers
Scoop: [displays list]
You: Add their revenue          # Scoop knows "their" = top customers
Scoop: [enhanced list]
You: Now show just enterprise   # Builds on previous

Advanced Features

Q: How do I use machine learning features?

A: Natural language ML:

Find patterns in customer behavior
Segment our user base
What predicts success?
Classify these transactions
Detect anomalies

Q: Can I save queries for reuse?

A: Several options:

  1. Scroll history: Past queries remain in chat
  2. Copy favorites: Keep a note of useful queries
  3. Ask for templates: @Scoop show me query examples
  4. Natural patterns: Scoop learns your style

📈 Visualizations & Exports

Chart Management

Q: How do I customize visualizations?

A: Interactive controls:

  • Theme: Click 🌙/☀️/🎨 selector
  • Type: Request specific charts: "show as pie chart"
  • Details: Hover for values, click to drill down
  • Legend: Click items to show/hide

Q: Can I export visualizations?

A: Multiple export options:

Need Solution
Quick share Screenshot (Cmd+Shift+4)
Data + chart Export to Excel
Presentation Copy/paste image
Interactive Share to channel

Q: Why don't my brand colors appear?

A: To enable brand colors:

  1. Select "Auto" theme (🎨)
  2. Scoop extracts colors from your uploads
  3. Or: @Scoop use brand colors #1E40AF #10B981

Export Issues

Q: Excel export is taking forever - help?

A: Normal export times:

Rows Expected Time If Slower
Less than 10K Instant Check connection
10-100K 5-10 sec Normal
100K-1M 30-60 sec Consider filtering
More than 1M 2-5 min Use sampling

Speed up options:

@Scoop export summary only
@Scoop export filtered view
@Scoop sample and export

🔒 Security & Privacy

Data Security

Q: Is my data secure with Scoop?

A: Enterprise-grade security:

  • ✅ End-to-end encryption
  • ✅ SOC2 Type II certified
  • ✅ Workspace isolation
  • ✅ No data mixing
  • ✅ Regular security audits

Q: Who can see my analyses?

A: Visibility control:

Your Activity Who Sees It
DM queries Only you
Channel queries (private) Only you
Shared results Channel members
Personal datasets Only you
Failed queries Only you

Q: Can I delete my data?

A: Yes, multiple options:

  1. Personal datasets: @Scoop delete dataset "name"
  2. All personal data: Contact admin
  3. Shared insights: Follow Slack's deletion
  4. Account removal: Admin can revoke access

Compliance

Q: Does Scoop comply with our security policies?

A: Scoop provides:

  • Detailed security documentation
  • Compliance certificates
  • Audit logs
  • Data processing agreements
  • Custom enterprise agreements

Contact security@scoopanalytics.com for details.

🔧 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"Scoop is not responding"

Try these steps:

  1. Check Slack status: status.slack.com
  2. Refresh Slack: Cmd/Ctrl + R
  3. Check dataset: @Scoop status
  4. Try simple query: @Scoop help
  5. Contact support if persists

"No data returned"

Debugging steps:

@Scoop describe dataset     # Verify data exists
@Scoop show sample         # Check data format
@Scoop count records       # Ensure not empty

"Unexpected results"

Troubleshooting:

  1. Verify query interpretation: @Scoop explain last query
  2. Check filters: @Scoop show active filters
  3. Validate data: @Scoop data quality check
  4. Try step-by-step approach

Performance Issues

"Queries are slow"

Speed optimization:

  1. Add time bounds: "last 30 days" vs "all time"
  2. Be specific: Name exact columns needed
  3. Use sampling: "sample 1000 records"
  4. Pre-filter: Start with filtered dataset

"Visualizations won't load"

Quick fixes:

  1. Reduce data points: "top 20" instead of all
  2. Simplify chart: Fewer series/dimensions
  3. Check connectivity: Other Slack features working?
  4. Try different chart type

Error Messages

"Dataset not found"

Solutions:

  • List available: @Scoop datasets
  • Check spelling/case
  • Verify permissions
  • Refresh dataset list

"Query too complex"

Simplification strategies:

  1. Break into multiple queries
  2. Reduce conditions
  3. Use simpler aggregations
  4. Ask for help: @Scoop help me write this query

"Access denied"

Access issues:

  • Verify dataset permissions with admin
  • Check workspace membership
  • Ensure Scoop has channel access
  • Confirm data classification allows access

💡 Pro Tips

Power User Shortcuts

Quick Commands

"qa" → Quick analysis with charts
"stats" → Summary statistics
"viz" → Auto-visualization
"export all" → Complete export package

Context Commands

"again" → Repeat last query
"undo" → Remove last filter
"reset" → Clear all filters
"explain" → Show query interpretation

Best Practices

For Fastest Results

  1. Start specific: Include dataset context
  2. Use time bounds: "last month" vs all data
  3. Name exact metrics: "revenue" not "sales"
  4. Build incrementally: Add complexity gradually

For Best Insights

  1. Ask "why" questions for deep analysis
  2. Request confidence levels on predictions
  3. Compare time periods for trends
  4. Use ML for pattern discovery

🆘 Getting More Help

Self-Service Resources

  1. In-Slack Help: @Scoop help [topic]
  2. Interactive Guide: Visit Scoop App Home
  3. Documentation: docs.scoopanalytics.com
  4. Video Tutorials: youtube.com/scoopanalytics

Contact Support

For technical issues:

  • Email: support@scoopanalytics.com
  • Slack: #scoop-support channel
  • Response time: Less than 2 hours (business hours)

For account/billing:

  • Email: accounts@scoopanalytics.com
  • Phone: 1-800-SCOOP-DATA

For security concerns:

  • Email: security@scoopanalytics.com
  • Urgent: security-urgent@scoopanalytics.com

🎓 Learning Resources

Scoop Academy

Free courses available:

  1. Scoop Basics (30 min): First queries to insights
  2. Advanced Analytics (1 hr): ML and predictions
  3. Power User (2 hr): Automation and workflows
  4. Admin Guide (1 hr): Setup and management

Community

Join the Scoop community:

  • User Slack: scoopusers.slack.com
  • Office Hours: Thursdays 2 PM ET
  • Webinars: Monthly feature deep-dives
  • User Conference: Annual ScoopCon

Still stuck? Remember, Scoop learns and improves. If something isn't working as expected, let us know - your feedback makes Scoop better for everyone! 🚀

Updated November 24, 2025