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Messages - Beta
Messages - Beta

Centralized messaging in a global inbox - threads and replies all organized in a project channels.

Stacey Hatch avatar
Written by Stacey Hatch
Updated over a week ago

Overview

Messages helps centralize your communication efforts in a global inbox. Channels for each project make it easy to see recent activity and new messages posted. Messages also introduces new functionality with "Threads" - create organized discussions around specific messages, and "Save for Later" - flag important messages to review at a later time. A brand new text editor gives you more flexibility than ever with replies and reactions to messages.


User Access

All GUIDEcx users can access and send messages.

By default, messages sent in a channel will be visible to all team members (internal and external), unless privacy is set to "Message Internal Only".

Admins and Managers will be able to see all channels. Customers, Contributors, Task Owners, and Guides will only see channel messages for the projects they have been invited to.


Messages - Features

Global Inbox

Users can navigate to Messages via the navigation rail. A badge containing a # indicates how many new messages are available to view.

Once a user clicks into Messages, they will see all channels they have access to. Channels with unread messages bubble up to the top of the list. Leverage the Search functionality to quickly find channels.


Threaded Messages

Threaded messages help you create organized discussions around specific messages. They enable discussion around a topic in more detail without adding clutter to a channel. Hover over a message, then click the chat bubble icon to reply in a thread.

Depending on the size of your monitor or screen, you may be able to accommodate a view that displays your channel navigation, the project channel, and the threaded conversation at once.

If your screen is smaller, the threaded conversation will display when clicked on from the main project channel. To give more space to Messages, collapse your navigation rail.


Save for Later

We understand that running projects and assisting team members can be a demanding task, so you may be in the middle of something when an important message comes in.

Hover over a message and click the flag icon to "Save For Later". Circle back to review + reply at a time that is convenient for you. Messages that are saved for later will appear with a blue background.

All saved messages can be found in the "Save For Later" tab so you can quickly find messages you're looking for and take action.

Mark a "Save for Later" message as completed to remove it from the Save For Later list.


Q&A

Why do I only see Project level channels?

The initial beta of Messages will only allow for project level channels. We have future enhancements planned out, including Task level channels. Task channels will be nested below the project channel so that you can easily navigate to the task channel within the proper project.

Can I have custom channels?

Not yet, but we plan to build them.

Can I still send internal or private messages?

Yes. Use the drop menu when sending a message to set privacy level.

Once a conversation is established as an “Internal” conversation, the replies can only be “Internal.” We do this as a precautionary measure to make sure we don’t expose a private conversation. However, if a conversation starts as a public or external conversation, you still have the ability to have “Internal” replies in the thread that only your internal team members will have access to view.

What options are available with the new rich text editor?

There are many formatting options available including the ability to nest lists and have better arrangement of paragraphs. Hyperlinks, emojis, and gifs can be added in messages.

Can I react to messages rather than writing a reply?

Yes, hover over a message and select "Add reaction". you can use the “Add reaction” option when you hover over a message. This is the same menu you use to start a threaded reply or “Save For Later.”

Are there email alerts or email notifications tied to Messages?

No, there are no email notifications tied to Messages at present. While this will be added in the future, there will be no email notifications tied to Messages during the beta. We are determining the best approach for email notifications. We welcome any feedback users have about how you might expect notifications to work. If your business is highly reliant on the email functionality currently associated with Notes that allow users to engage with projects directly from their inbox, then we suggest waiting until Messages is out of beta to enable.

Who gets the in-app notifications in the Messaging tab?

Any user that is part of the project, or has visibility into the project, will get an in-app notification that there is a new message in the channel. Users must navigate to the inbox and view the channel to clear the notifications.

What determines which channels I see?

The channel list visible to a user is going to match the projects visible to them in the Projects page. Users see projects by either being a part of the project or by having an Admin or Manager license type that provides visibility across all projects. If a user has been invited to five projects and sees those five projects on the Project page, they should expect to see those same five project channels in the Messages feature.

Are there “Mentions” within Messages?

You can still @mention users in a message. During beta, users who are @mentioned will not receive a specific notification in-app or via email, but we are planning to build this functionality in later.

Can I use the Global Inbox to navigate to projects?

Yes, within the Global Inbox you can navigate to a specific project channel. Within the channel page, click the channel header - this takes you directly to the project.

Can I access Messages after I navigate into a project?

Yes, there is a Messages tab within the project. However, this only contains messages for the project you've selected. To view your global inbox, click on the Messages button in the navigation rail.

Is Messages available in the Compass View?

Yes, Messages can be accessed in Compass by clicking on "Messages" in the top navigation.

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