Files
openclaw/docs/concepts/channel-docking.md
2026-04-27 22:37:58 +01:00

146 lines
4.4 KiB
Markdown

---
summary: "Move one OpenClaw session's reply route between linked chat channels"
title: "Channel docking"
read_when:
- You want replies for one active session to move from Telegram to Discord, Slack, Mattermost, or another linked channel
- You are configuring session.identityLinks for cross-channel direct messages
- A /dock command says the sender is not linked or no active session exists
---
Channel docking is call forwarding for one OpenClaw session.
It keeps the same conversation context, but changes where future replies for
that session are delivered.
## Example
Alice can message OpenClaw on Telegram and Discord:
```json5
{
session: {
identityLinks: {
alice: ["telegram:123", "discord:456"],
},
},
}
```
If Alice sends this from Telegram:
```text
/dock_discord
```
OpenClaw keeps the current session context and changes the reply route:
| Before docking | After `/dock_discord` |
| ---------------------------- | --------------------------- |
| Replies go to Telegram `123` | Replies go to Discord `456` |
The session is not recreated. The transcript history stays attached to the
same session.
## Why use it
Use docking when a task starts in one chat app but the next replies should land
somewhere else.
Common flow:
1. Start an agent task from Telegram.
2. Move to Discord where you are coordinating work.
3. Send `/dock_discord` from the Telegram session.
4. Keep the same OpenClaw session, but receive future replies in Discord.
## Required config
Docking requires `session.identityLinks`. The source sender and target peer
must be in the same identity group:
```json5
{
session: {
identityLinks: {
alice: ["telegram:123", "discord:456", "slack:U123"],
},
},
}
```
The values are channel-prefixed peer ids:
| Value | Meaning |
| -------------- | ---------------------------- |
| `telegram:123` | Telegram sender id `123` |
| `discord:456` | Discord direct peer id `456` |
| `slack:U123` | Slack user id `U123` |
The canonical key (`alice` above) is only the shared identity group name. Dock
commands use the channel-prefixed values to prove that the source sender and
target peer are the same person.
## Commands
Dock commands are generated from loaded channel plugins that support native
commands. Current bundled commands:
| Target channel | Command | Alias |
| -------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ |
| Discord | `/dock-discord` | `/dock_discord` |
| Mattermost | `/dock-mattermost` | `/dock_mattermost` |
| Slack | `/dock-slack` | `/dock_slack` |
| Telegram | `/dock-telegram` | `/dock_telegram` |
The underscore aliases are useful on native command surfaces such as Telegram.
## What changes
Docking updates the active session delivery fields:
| Session field | Example after `/dock_discord` |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| `lastChannel` | `discord` |
| `lastTo` | `456` |
| `lastAccountId` | the target channel account, or `default` |
Those fields are persisted in the session store and used by later reply
delivery for that session.
## What does not change
Docking does not:
- create channel accounts
- connect a new Discord, Telegram, Slack, or Mattermost bot
- grant access to a user
- bypass channel allowlists or DM policies
- move transcript history to another session
- make unrelated users share a session
It only changes the delivery route for the current session.
## Troubleshooting
**The command says the sender is not linked.**
Add both the current sender and the target peer to the same
`session.identityLinks` group. For example, if Telegram sender `123` should dock
to Discord peer `456`, include both `telegram:123` and `discord:456`.
**The command says no active session exists.**
Dock from an existing direct-chat session. The command needs an active session
entry so it can persist the new route.
**Replies still go to the old channel.**
Check that the command replied with a success message, and confirm the target
peer id matches the id used by that channel. Docking only changes the active
session route; another session may still route elsewhere.
**I need to switch back.**
Send the matching command for the original channel, such as `/dock_telegram` or
`/dock-telegram`, from a linked sender.