Adjusting the Lookback Window

What Is the Lookback Window?

When you generate a newsletter, Shipletter fetches recent messages from your selected Slack channels. The lookback window determines how far back it goes — 7 days by default.

If your team posts frequently, a shorter window keeps newsletters focused. If activity is sparse or you publish less often, a longer window captures more content.

Setting Your Default

You can change the default lookback window in your dashboard:

1. Go to your Instructions page
2. Scroll down to the Lookback Window section
3. Choose a timespan from the dropdown (1 to 30 days)
4. Click Save

This default applies to both manual generation (when you say "generate" in Slack) and scheduled newsletters.

Overriding Per Request

You can override the default for a single generation by including a time range in your Slack message. This doesn't change your saved default — it only applies to that one run.

Examples:

Supported phrases:

• last N days or past N days
• last N weeks or past N weeks
• this week (7 days)
• today (1 day)
• yesterday (2 days)

Available Options

The lookback window can be set anywhere from 1 to 30 days. The dashboard dropdown offers these presets:

Tips

• Match your schedule — If you publish weekly, a 7-day window avoids duplicate content. If biweekly, try 14 days.
• Longer isn't always better — Very long windows can produce drafts with too many topics. The AI will prioritize the most engaging content, but a focused window helps.
• Use overrides for special issues — Publishing a "month in review"? Say generate for last 30 days without changing your default.