Inline chats

Summary This module shows how to use inline chats, which are replies to one message in a thread of their own. You swipe left on a message, click reply, choose who joins the new thread, and can view the replies on that message later. It also shows how to send an inline reply to just some of the people in a group chat, and how to add an outside person to it. It has two parts: “Replying to one message in its own inline thread”, then “Sending an inline reply to some people in a group chat”.

Replying to one message in its own inline thread

Summary This part covers replying to one message in its own inline thread: swipe the message left, click reply, choose who joins the new thread and send your reply. It also covers how to tell that a message has inline replies, and how to view them.

Introduction. Inline chats give you better control over complex conversations, with several people and many points of discussion. Each inline chat is a reply to one message, in a thread of its own.

Step 1

To reply to a message in a separate thread, for example to continue the conversation privately or to split it off into a different topic, press and hold the message, then swipe it to the left.

Step 2

Buttons appear at the right of the message, such as task and reply. Click reply.

Step 3

A new chat thread opens, created from that message. The chat type at the top of the thread now reads Inline Chat, and Source Chat under it names the chat the message came from. PaT makes it clear where the conversation started: the first message in the thread reads click here to view the original comment.

Step 4

Click that message to see the full context. The original comment opens in the thread, with its Parent SD, Source SD and Source Note.

Step 5

Everyone in the original chat is listed at the top of the editor on the left, with a tick box beside each name. To keep someone out of your reply, untick them as a member, so they don't receive the message.

Step 6

Type your message in the box under the formatting buttons. When it's ready, click post comment to send it.

Step 7

To tell whether a message has an inline chat, look under it. A message with an inline chat attached shows a line saying who replied to the message and who they were replying to, in the form "(name) replied to: (name)".

Step 8

To view the replies on a message, press and hold it, swipe it to the left, then click View Replies.

Step 9

A list opens under Select a reply to view, with one row for each reply so far: how it starts, who sent it and when. Select a reply to view it.

Tip. Use inline replies to keep conversations focused, organised and direct, by splitting topics off when needed.

Sending an inline reply to some people in a group chat

Summary This part covers sending an inline reply to only some of the people in a group chat: swipe the message left, click reply, then choose one person or several, and add someone from outside the chat if you need to, before writing your reply.

Step 10

In the group chat, press and hold the message you want to reply to, then swipe it from right to left.

Step 11

Click reply in the buttons that appear at the right of the message.

Step 12

Everyone in the chat thread is listed on the right of the screen. To start a new thread with one person about this message, click the Reply to button beside their name.

Step 13

To send your reply to several people at once, click the circle to the right of each person's Reply to button instead. A tick appears in the circle, and a Reply Selected button appears at the top right of the list.

Step 14

To add someone from outside the chat (an external user), click the + beside add another user to this reply, at the top of the list.

Step 15

A panel opens. Choose a name from the Recent Assignee's list, or type in the start typing to search box at the top to find a specific person.

Step 16

Click the person's name. They are added to the top of the list, already selected, with a Fwd to button beside their name instead of Reply to.

Step 17

When everyone you want is selected, click Reply Selected at the top right of the list.

Step 18

A new inline chat thread opens, based on the message you swiped left on, with the people you selected ticked as members. Type your message in the box to start the thread, then click send comment.

Note. In a group chat, an inline reply goes straight to the people you choose rather than to the entire group, which keeps conversations focused and relevant. You can also start a separate thread about one message with several people. Discussions stay in context and organised, and important conversations don't get lost in a busy group chat.