SERENESTUDIO

Chat: Channels and Direct Messages

Chat provides real-time communication between team members. It is separate from the mail module — mail handles external correspondence; chat handles internal team conversations.

Accessing chat

  1. Open Serene Studio.
  2. Select Chat in the sidebar.

The conversation list is on the left and the open conversation is on the right. The list has sections for Channels and Direct messages, plus Favorites once you star a conversation. Use the Filter box at the top of the list to narrow it down.

Channels

Channels are topic-based group conversations. Public channels are open to anyone in your workspace. Private channels are invite-only.

Browsing channels

Channels are listed under Channels in the conversation list. A channel you have not joined shows Join beside its name. Channels that have been archived are under Archived.

Unread messages in a channel are shown with a count badge.

Joining a channel

  1. In the Channels list, select the channel name.
  2. Select Join channel in the channel header. The channel is added to your channels.

Creating a channel

  1. Select the + button in the Channels header (New channel).
  2. Enter a Channel name. Lowercase, hyphenated names work well (for example client-reviews).
  3. Under Visibility, choose Public (anyone in this workspace can join) or Private (invite-only).
  4. Select Create channel.

Owners of a channel and workspace admins can add people through Channel settings in the channel header, then Manage members and Add member.

Posting a message

  1. Open a channel.
  2. Type your message in the box at the bottom of the conversation.
  3. Press Enter to send. Press Shift+Enter for a new line.

If you would rather send with Ctrl+Enter, choose Send with on the View tab of the ribbon. Enter then starts a new line.

Reading message history

Scroll up in any channel to read older messages.

Direct messages

Direct messages (DMs) are private conversations between you and another team member.

Starting a DM

  1. Select the + button in the Direct header (New DM).
  2. In the New direct message panel, select the person you want to message.
  3. The DM conversation opens.

Messaging in a DM

Type in the box at the bottom and press Enter to send. DMs use the same message box as channels.

Next steps