Creating a chat

You can create a direct, one-on-one chat by searching for the name of a user, a group or a circle and clicking it. For a single user, a conversation is immediately created and you can start your chat. For a group or circle you get to pick a name and settings before you create the conversation and add the participants.

If you want to create a custom group conversation, click the button next to the search field and filters button and then on Create a new conversation.

You can then pick a name for the conversation, put a description, and set up an avatar for it (with uploaded photo or emoji), and select if the conversation should be open to external users and if other users on the server can see and join the conversation.

In the second step, you get to add participants and finalize the creation of the conversation.

You can cancel the creation of a conversation by clicking outside the white menu area at any time.

View all open conversations

You can view all the conversations that you can join by clicking the button next to the search field and filters button and then on Join open conversations.

Filter your conversations

You can filter your conversations using the filter button located next to the search field. There are two options for filtering: 1. Filter unread mentions: This option allows you to view group conversations with unread mentions or unread one-on-one conversations. 2. Filter unread messages: This option allows you to view all unread messages in all joined conversations.

You can then clear the filter from the filters menu.

Sharing files in a chat

You can share files in a chat in 3 ways.

First, you can simply drag’n’drop them on the chat.

Second, you can select a file from your Hub Files or a file manager by choosing the little paperclip and selecting where you’d like to pick the file from.

You can add more files until you are done and decide to share the files. You can also add a text caption to your shared files, providing a brief description or context.

All users will be able to click the files to view, edit or download them, irrespective of them having a user account. Users with an account will have the file automatically shared with them while external guest users will get them shared as a public link.

Inserting emoji

You can add emoji using the picker on the left of the text input field.

Using Markdown

You can enhance your messages with markdown syntax support. See the list for usage:

Headings and dividers

# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3
#### Heading 4
##### Heading 5
###### Heading 6

Heading
===
Normal text
***
Normal text

Inline decorations

**bold text** __bold text__
*italicized text* _italicized text_
`inline code` ``inline code``
```
.code-block {
  display: pre;
}
```

Lists

1. Ordered list
2. Ordered list

* Unordered list
- Unordered list
+ Unordered list

Quotes

> blockquote
second line of blockquote

Setting reminders on messages

You can set reminders on specific messages. If there’s an important message you want to be notified about later, simply hover over it and click on the reminder icon.

In the submenu, you can select an appropriate time to receive a notification later.

Replying to messages and more

You can reply to a message using the arrow that appears when you hover a message.

In the ... menu you can also choose to reply privately. This will open a one-on-one chat.

Here you can also create a direct link to the message or mark it unread so you will scroll back there next time you enter the chat. When it is a file, you can view the file in Files.

Managing a conversation

You are always the moderator in your new conversation. In the participant list you can promote other participants to moderators using the ... menu to the right of their user name, assign them custom permissions or remove them from the conversation.

Changing the permissions of a user who joined a public conversation will also permanently add them to the conversation.

Moderators can configure the conversation. Select Conversation settings from the ... menu of the conversation on the top to access the settings.

Here you can configure the description, guest access, if the conversation is visible to others on the server and more.

Messages expiration

A moderator can configure message expiration under the Conversation settings within the Moderation section. Once a message reaches its expiration time, it is automatically removed from the conversation. The available expiration durations are 1 hour, 8 hours, 1 day, 1 week, 4 weeks, or never (which is the default setting).