Overview
This article will detail the "Chat" button, found towards the center of the Playback Room's Bottom Panel. This button can be selected to toggle loading of the Playback Room's chat into the Right Panel. The chat feature allows participants within the same Playback Room instance to send messages to one another. Below is a screenshot highlighting this button's location and how its contents appear in the Right Panel:
As you can imagine, this feature is only relevant if you have other participants in your Playback Room instance.
As the chat panel contains numerous features, we'll group them into separate sections.
Chat Messages
Most of the panel is dedicated to displaying the list of chat messages. As with typical chat applications, new messages appear at the bottom, and the panel automatically scrolls down to keep the latest messages in view. Let's go over the details of each individual chat message entry:
- User Avatar - The profile picture of the sender will appear alongside each chat message. You can click this image to send a message directly to the user.
- Sender Name > Destination - At the top of each chat message will be the name of the sender and the message's destination (i.e. the person or channel it was sent to).
- Sent As a Reply to - When a message is sent as a response to another, this label and the original message contents are included.
- Message - The content of the message.
- Add Reaction - If you hover your cursor over a message, you can click the smiley face icon to expand a dropdown of emojis. Selecting one of these emojis adds it as a badge to the message, allowing you to "react" to it. Below is an example of a message that several users have reacted to:
The following emojis are available for chat message reactions: Thumb Up, Thumbs Down, Question Mark, Fire, Smiley Face. - Reply to Message - If you hover your cursor over a message, you can click the "reply" icon to send a response to the message. When replying to a message, your response will be sent to the same channel that the original message was sent to. For example, if the original message was sent to the Playback Group, your response will also be sent to the Playback Group.
- Edit Message - If you hover over your own messages, you can click the "edit" icon to revise your message.
- Delete Message - To remove one of your own messages, hover over it and click the trashcan icon. Once deleted, the message is replaced with placeholder text indicating its removal, while the entry itself remains visible as part of the chat record. Instructors and TAs are able to delete any messages in the chat, allowing them to moderate the discussion effectively.
Chat Controls
Below the listing of chat messages are the chat controls. These controls allow you to select your message destination, download chat messages, etc. We'll now go over each of these fields:
- Destination - Use this field to choose where your chat message will be sent. When selected, a dropdown menu appears, allowing you to pick either a channel or an individual participant. You can also type into the field to quickly filter options. We'll elaborate on the meaning of each of the channels that appears:
- Playback Group - Sends the message to everyone in the current Playback Room instance.
- Toggle to Only Messages from (Participant Name) - This option appears when a participant is chosen as the message destination. Enabling it filters the chat so that only messages sent by that participant are displayed.
- 3-Dots Menu - Selecting the 3-dots icon will expand a menu with a few tools you can use to manage chats. We'll describe the options within the menu below:
- Search for a Message - Selecting this option will allow you to filter chat messages by a word or phrase.
- Select Messages - Activating this tool allows you to delete messages in bulk. Simply mark the box next to each message you'd like to delete, then click the trashcan icon that appears near the bottom of the chat panel. Permissions for this are the same as they are for deleting individual messages: Learners can only delete their own messages, while staff members can delete any messages.
- Download Messages and Files - Use this option to save all chat messages currently visible in your chat panel as a Microsoft Word document (.docx). If the chat contains uploaded files, the download will instead be provided as a .zip archive that includes both the messages and the associated files. Note: Only the messages shown in your chat panel will be saved. Messages from prior Playback Room sessions will not be included.
- Upload File - Use this button when you want to share a file instead of sending a chat message. Clicking it will open a prompt to browse your computer and select the file you'd like to upload.
- Emoji Menu - To insert an emoji into your chat message, select this icon to expand a menu containing a wide selection of emojis.
- Write a Message - Type your chat message into this field. Once ready, you can select the corresponding "Send" button or just hit Enter on your keyboard.
Notes
Below are some important notes regarding the Playback Room's Chat feature:
- You may notice a red circle with a number inside it on the corner of the Chat button. This badge shows the count of unread chat messages. It's a convenient way for participants to keep track of new activity without needing to keep the Chat panel open at all times, freeing up the Right Panel for other tasks.
- All chat messages sent in the Playback Room are logged and available for review by Super Admins via the Admin Portal.