Conversational Foundations
Starting a Conversation Made Easy
Initiating a chat is straightforward and user-friendly. When viewing your Contacts list, you’ll notice an icon next to each contact’s name indicating their current online status:
- A green sunburst signifies the person is online and available.
- A red sunburst shows the user is online but busy.
- A grey sunburst means the person is not currently online.
This action will open the chat in a new tab if you’re using the Tab Theme, or in a new window for those using the Desktop Theme. Enhance your message by using the provided formatting tools to add emphasis, color, and emoticons.
The chat interface will display your message along with a date/timestamp and your Zoho ID. When your chat partner responds, their message will appear directly below yours.
Supervising Various Conversations
Managing multiple conversations can be a challenge, especially if you frequently chat with several contacts at once. Depending on your selected theme, each chat will open in its own window or tab. The Desktop Theme, for example, allows multiple chat windows as depicted. Each chat operates independently, enabling you to easily switch between them by dragging and dropping the corresponding window or tab.
The tab or window title bar will turn orange to alert you of a new message in a particular conversation. Visiting that chat will change the color back to normal, indicating that you are caught up with the messages.
File Transfer via Chat
Attaching files to your chats can be incredibly useful, whether sharing a spreadsheet with a coworker or a personal photo with a friend. Unlike traditional methods that require you to use email or set reminders, Chat enables immediate file transfer.
In the chat window, locate the Send File button, which is positioned in the bottom right corner, just above the Send button. In the Tab Theme, it appears as a link, while in the Desktop Theme, it is represented by a paper-shaped icon. When you choose to send a file, the message box transforms into a field with a Browse button. Clicking Browse opens a File Upload window where you can select your desired file and confirm by clicking OK. Once the file path is shown in the Browse box, you can send the file. The transferred file link will then be visible in both your and your chat partner’s window, allowing the recipient to open or download the file by clicking on the link.
Sending a Message While Connected
These messages will remain marked as unread until the contact logs into Zoho Chat next. To send an offline message, open a chat window or tab as usual and type your message. Even though the recipient is not online to respond immediately, you can send your message by pressing Send or Enter. This message will then await the recipient’s next login, appearing as a new unread message in their Zoho Chat. If you’re online when they receive your message, they can initiate a chat starting with your offline message. If you are not logged in, they can still leave you an offline message, which will be available for you to view and respond to under the Unread Messages in the Notifications section of Zoho Mail.
By understanding these key aspects of online chat, you can enhance your communication efficiency and ensure that your interactions remain productive and enjoyable. Whether managing multiple conversations, transferring files, or communicating with offline contacts, these tools are designed to streamline your digital communication needs.
© Image credits to Steve Johnson
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