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Messages tips

Reply in threads, mention people, share files, pin messages and turn any message into a task.

Once you know your way around Messages, these features help you keep conversations tidy and turn talk into action.

Write a message

Type in the box at the bottom and press Enter to send. Press Shift+Enter for a new line.

You can format text as you type:

Type To get
*bold* bold
_italic_ italic
`code` inline code
three backticks before and after a code block

Web links become clickable. Paste a link to a Bitrack task, project, client, ticket, proposal, contract or invoice, and it shows as a card with its current status.

Mention someone

Type @ and start a name. Pick a person from the list (or use the arrow keys and Enter). They get a notification, and the message is highlighted for them.

You can only pick people who are in the conversation. If you type the name of someone who isn’t, Bitrack asks if you want to add them. Once added, they can read the whole conversation, including earlier messages. If you can’t add people, you’re told they weren’t notified.

Share files

  • Choose the paperclip (Attach files) to pick files, or drag them onto the message box, or paste them.
  • You can send up to 10 files in one message.
  • Which file types and sizes are allowed is set by your workspace in Settings under Files.

Images show as previews. Choose any file to preview it.

Reply in a thread

Threads keep side conversations out of the main channel.

  1. Hover over a message and choose Reply in thread.
  2. The thread opens on the right. Write your reply and press Enter.

The original message shows how many replies it has. Choose that count to open the thread again.

Hover over a message to see its toolbar:

  • Add a reaction: pick an emoji. Hover a reaction to see who added it, and choose it to add or remove your own.
  • More actions (⋯): Pin to conversation, Copy link, Make it a task, Edit message and Delete message.

Pinned messages are listed under the flag button at the top of the conversation. Choose one to jump to it.

Turn a message into a task

  1. Hover over the message, choose ⋯, then Make it a task.
  2. Check the Title. It starts with the first line of the message.
  3. If the chat isn’t a project channel, pick the Project.
  4. Choose an Assignee (if you can assign tasks) and a Due date, if you like.
  5. Choose Create task.

The full message goes in the task description, with a link back to the chat. The message then shows a link to its task.

In a project channel, you may also see Open a ticket. It opens an internal ticket with a Subject and Priority in the same way.

Edit and delete messages

Choose ⋯, then Edit message. Press Enter to save or Escape to cancel. Edited messages show (edited).

Choose ⋯, then Delete message to remove it for everyone, with its files and reactions. Replies in its thread stay.

How long you can do this is set for the whole workspace in Settings under Chat:

Setting Choices Default
Edit your own messages Not allowed, within 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours, or Any time Within 15 minutes
Delete your own messages The same choices Within 1 hour

After the time is up, the option disappears. Owners and Admins can delete other people’s messages at any time, and that’s recorded in the activity log.