Data model

This page documents how SlackVault stores your backup in Firestore and the shape of the objects it captures. Everything lives in your Firebase project.

Firestore collections

slackvault/
└── {workspaceId}/
    ├── meta/        # workspace metadata + sync status (doc: info)
    ├── channels/    # one doc per channel ({channelId})
    ├── users/       # one doc per user ({userId})
    ├── messages/    # one doc per message ({message ts})
    └── files/       # one doc per file ({fileId})
slackvault_users/    # per-user preferences/settings ({userId})

Collection	Document ID	Purpose
slackvault/{workspaceId}/meta	info	Workspace metadata and sync status
slackvault/{workspaceId}/channels	channel ID	Channel information and settings
slackvault/{workspaceId}/users	user ID	User profiles and contact info
slackvault/{workspaceId}/messages	message ts	All messages with full metadata
slackvault/{workspaceId}/files	file ID	File metadata and storage URLs
slackvault_users	user ID	User preferences and settings

Each connected workspace gets its own {workspaceId} subtree, so multiple workspaces never mix.

Object shapes

Message

{
  "type": "message",
  "user": "U1234567890",
  "text": "Hello, world!",
  "ts": "1234567890.123456",
  "thread_ts": "1234567890.123456",
  "reply_count": 5,
  "reactions": [
    { "name": "thumbsup", "users": ["U1234", "U5678"], "count": 2 }
  ],
  "attachments": [],
  "files": [],
  "blocks": []
}

note

Slack uses the unique timestamp (ts) as the message ID — a Unix timestamp with microseconds, e.g. 1234567890.123456.

Channel

{
  "id": "C1234567890",
  "name": "general",
  "is_channel": true,
  "is_private": false,
  "is_archived": false,
  "created": 1234567890,
  "creator": "U1234567890",
  "topic": { "value": "Company announcements", "creator": "U1234567890", "last_set": 1234567890 },
  "purpose": { "value": "General discussions", "creator": "U1234567890", "last_set": 1234567890 },
  "num_members": 150
}

User

{
  "id": "U1234567890",
  "team_id": "T1234567890",
  "name": "john.doe",
  "real_name": "John Doe",
  "profile": {
    "display_name": "John",
    "email": "john@example.com",
    "image_192": "https://...",
    "title": "Software Engineer",
    "status_text": "In a meeting",
    "status_emoji": ":calendar:"
  },
  "is_admin": false,
  "is_owner": false,
  "is_bot": false,
  "deleted": false
}

File

{
  "id": "F1234567890",
  "name": "document.pdf",
  "title": "Project Proposal",
  "mimetype": "application/pdf",
  "filetype": "pdf",
  "size": 1234567,
  "url_private": "https://files.slack.com/...",
  "user": "U1234567890",
  "created": 1234567890,
  "channels": ["C1234567890"],
  "thumb_360": "https://..."
}

warning

url_private / url_private_download require Slack authentication. SlackVault stores file metadata in Firestore but downloads the actual file to FilesHub for permanent storage, so it stays available after the Slack URL expires.

Common error codes

Code	Meaning	Resolution
token_expired	Slack OAuth token expired	Disconnect and reconnect to Slack in the extension
missing_scope	App lacks a required permission	Reinstall the app with the manifest
channel_not_found	Channel deleted or access lost	Skip and continue
rate_limited	Too many API requests	Handled automatically — sync pauses and resumes
firebase_permission_denied	Firestore rules blocking writes	Update your security rules