Not all Packs require authentication, but those that are accessing private data in another application or service will first need to be connected to your account.

A Pack account represents your account in another app or service that the Pack will connect to. For example, the Slack Pack needs to connect to your Slack account. You can add multiple accounts for the same Pack, for instance if you are a part of multiple Slack workspaces.

After you’ve installed a Pack and are starting to put it to use (adding a sync table, creating a Pack button, etc.), you will be automatically prompted to connect to your account.

You can always come back later and connect additional accounts by clicking Insert > Packs > {Pack Name} > Settings. You can either add a private account by clicking into the drop-down under Private account. Or add a shared account by clicking the + Add a shared account button. You can read about the difference between private and shared accounts here.

The authentication process is different for every Pack, and can include approval dialogs, copying and pasting tokens, or entering a username and password. Consult the Pack listing page for more information about the type of authentication the Pack uses.

If you have previously installed the Pack in a different doc you can alternatively choose to connect to your existing account. Pack accounts can be used across multiple docs, so you don’t need to sign in each time you want to use the Pack.

Most Packs allow you to set up both private accounts and shared accounts. A private account is one that only you - the person setting up that account - can use to take actions from the Coda doc. A shared account is one that can be used by anyone who has access to the doc. Unless the shared account is restricted (see below), other doc users can use this shared account to set up sync tables, take actions, calculate formulas, etc. Check out the video below for more info on this distinction.

ℹ️ Note that sync tables always require shared accounts. You cannot set up a sync table using a private account.

For any shared account you’ve added to a Pack, you have the option to restrict this shared account. When a shared account is restricted, only the account owner can reference this account (i.e. to set up sync tables, calculate formulas, etc.). The account owner can use this restricted account to set up sync tables, therefore using the account to pull in data for others to view. But other doc users will not be able to use the account for anything else.

To adjust whether a shared account is restricted or not, simply find the account under the Shared accounts section of the Pack settings. A lock icon will indicate that the account is currently restricted. Click on the shared account to expand the options, then toggle on or off the Allow non-owners to select this account option.

Note that when you add a new shared account, it is set to restricted by default. You will need to adjust the settings if you wish to make the account unrestricted.

If you want to disconnect a shared account so that other folks in your doc will no longer have access, you can do that via the Pack settings.

If instead you want to fully disconnect an account from Coda, so that Coda no longer has access to this account, you can do this via your Coda account settings.