> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bridgepointhq.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Messages: Chat With Your Team

> Message your colleagues directly or in channels from anywhere in BridgePoint. Send text, @mentions, images, and GIFs, tag client profiles, react with emoji, with read receipts, unread badges, and configurable notification sounds.

Messages is BridgePoint's built-in team chat. Use it to reach a colleague one-on-one or hold a group conversation in a channel — without leaving the CRM. You can send text, tag teammates with **@mentions**, attach images, and drop in a GIF. Conversations stay live everywhere in the app: unread counts, new-message sounds, and message lists all update in real time.

<Note>
  Messages is for internal staff communication only. It is not a way to contact clients.
</Note>

## Two ways to open Messages

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Messages page" icon="message">
    Select **Messages** in the main navigation for the full-size view — a conversation list on the left and the open conversation on the right.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Floating widget" icon="comment-dots">
    A round chat button sits in the bottom-right corner of every other page. Click it to pop open a compact panel and keep chatting while you work. A badge on the button shows your total unread count.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

Both surfaces show the same conversations and the same messages — anything you send or read in one is reflected in the other. The floating widget is hidden while you are on the Messages page so the two never overlap.

***

## Conversations

Your conversation list holds two kinds of conversation, grouped under **Channels** and **Direct messages** headings:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Direct messages" icon="user">
    A private, one-on-one conversation with a single colleague. Shown with the other person's avatar and name.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Channels" icon="hashtag">
    A group conversation with multiple members. Shown with a **#** icon and the channel name. A channel can be **public** (other staff in your office can find and join it) or **private** (invite-only).
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

Each conversation in the list shows a preview of the latest message, how long ago it arrived, and — when you have unread messages — a count badge. In a channel, the preview is prefixed with the sender's first name so you can see who spoke last. Conversations are ordered with the most recent activity on top. Opening a conversation marks it as read and clears its badge.

### Finding a conversation

Use the **Search** box at the top of the conversation list to filter it by name. Type any part of a channel name or colleague's name and the list narrows to the matches; clear the box to show everything again.

***

## Starting a new conversation

Click the **+** (New conversation) button at the top of the conversation list.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Direct message">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open the New conversation dialog">
        Click **+**, then stay on the **Direct message** tab.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Pick a colleague">
        Search for and select a staff member. If you already have a direct message with that person, it opens instead of creating a duplicate.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="New channel">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open the New conversation dialog">
        Click **+**, then switch to the **New channel** tab.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Name the channel">
        Enter a channel name, for example `front-desk`.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Choose public or private">
        Leave **Private channel** off for a channel other staff in your office can discover and join, or turn it on for an invite-only channel.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Add members">
        Search staff and select the people to include. You are added automatically as the creator.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Create the channel">
        Click **Create channel**. It opens right away and appears in your conversation list.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

<Note>
  Creating channels requires the appropriate permission. If you don't see the option to create a channel, ask your administrator. See [Roles & Permissions](/roles-permissions).
</Note>

***

## Sending messages

Type in the message box at the bottom of a conversation and press **Enter** to send. Use **Shift + Enter** to add a new line without sending. A message can be up to 4,000 characters.

### Mentioning a teammate

<Steps>
  <Step title="Type @ in the message box">
    Type **@** followed by the start of a person's name. A suggestion list appears with matching staff.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick the person">
    Select a name to insert their **@Name** into your message. You can mention more than one person.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send">
    When you send, each mentioned teammate is notified. In the thread, every **@Name** that matches a real staff member is highlighted so mentions stand out.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Attaching an image

Click the image button, then choose a **JPEG, PNG, WebP, or GIF** file (up to 10 MB). It uploads and shows as a preview above the message box. Remove a pending attachment with its **×** before sending, and add more than one if you like. You can send an attachment with or without text.

### Adding a GIF

Click the GIF button to open the picker. It shows trending GIFs by default, or type to search. Click a GIF to add it to your message. GIF search is **Powered by GIPHY**.

### Tagging a client

Reference a client profile directly in a message so your teammates can jump straight to it.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the client picker">
    Click the **client** button in the message box toolbar (the person icon).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Search for the client">
    Type at least two characters to search by name or **BP ID**. Select a client from the results.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review your tags">
    Each tagged client appears as a chip above the message box. Remove one with its **×**, or add more — up to **10 clients** per message.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send">
    When you send, the tagged clients appear as chips on the message. Anyone in the conversation can click a chip to open that client's profile.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  You can only tag clients that belong to your office. Owners and admins can tag any client in the organization.
</Note>

***

## Reacting to a message

React to any message with an emoji — a quick way to acknowledge or respond without typing.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the reaction picker">
    Hover over a message and click the **add reaction** button (the smiley icon).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick an emoji">
    Choose from the quick set: 👍 ❤️ 😂 😮 😢 🙏 🎉 🔥 👀 ✅.
  </Step>

  <Step title="See who reacted">
    Reactions appear as chips beneath the message, each with a count. Hover a chip to see who reacted. Click a chip to add or remove your own reaction — yours is highlighted.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Reactions update live for everyone in the conversation.

***

## Reading and managing messages

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Load earlier messages" icon="clock-rotate-left">
    Only the most recent messages load at first. Use **Load earlier messages** at the top of the thread to page back through history.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Seen receipts" icon="check-double">
    In a direct message, your most recent message shows a **Seen** time once the other person has read it.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Copy a message" icon="copy">
    Hover over any message and click the **copy** icon to copy its text to your clipboard.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Delete your messages" icon="trash">
    Hover over a message you sent and click the **trash** icon. It is replaced with a "deleted a message" note. You can only delete your own messages.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Message grouping" icon="layer-group">
    Consecutive messages from the same person within a few minutes are grouped together under one header for a cleaner thread.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Day and unread markers" icon="calendar-day">
    A day label (**Today**, **Yesterday**, or the date) separates messages sent on different days, and a **New** divider marks where the messages that arrived since you last opened the conversation begin.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Notification sounds

Messages can play a short sound when activity comes in. Open the settings from the gear icon at the top of the conversation list, or from **Settings → My Profile → Chat Notifications** — both control the same preferences.

| Setting           | What it does                                                                                                   |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **New messages**  | Plays a sound for incoming messages. Only plays for messages you didn't send.                                  |
| **Mentions**      | Always pings when someone **@mentions** you, even if the New messages sound is off.                            |
| **Sound choice**  | Pick the sound to play: **Chime**, **Pop**, **Ping**, or **Marimba**. Use the play button to preview each one. |
| **Sent messages** | Plays a quiet confirmation tick when your own message goes out. Off by default.                                |

***

## Notifications and unread counts

* The chat button and each conversation show **unread badges** so you can see at a glance where messages are waiting.
* When someone mentions you or messages you, a notification appears in your notification bell. Selecting it takes you straight to that conversation.
* New messages, sounds, and unread counts update live across the app — you don't need to be on the Messages page to stay current.

<Note>
  Message times are shown in Eastern Time (America/New\_York).
</Note>