Summary: OTalk is your centralized communication hub within the Onahiri platform. This powerful interface enables real-time messaging, team collaboration, and efficient information sharing across your organization.

OTalk is your centralized communication hub within the Onahiri platform. This powerful interface enables real-time messaging, team collaboration, and efficient information sharing across your organization.

Overview

The Chat Dashboard provides:

• Real-time messaging: Instant communication with individuals or groups
• Chat organization: Easy management of all your conversations in one place
• Participant management: Add or remove members from group conversations
• Message search: Find specific information across all your chats
• Real-time updates: See new messages and status changes instantly

Navigation

The Chat Dashboard is accessible from the main navigation menu by clicking “Chat”. The interface is divided into two main sections:

• Left Panel: Displays your list of chats, with search functionality and the ability to create new chats
• Right Panel: Shows the selected chat’s conversation history and details

Chat List

The left panel of the dashboard shows all your active and inactive chats:

Chat Organization

Chats are automatically sorted with:

• Active chats appearing first, ordered by most recent activity
• Inactive chats (where you’ve been removed or have left) appearing below active chats

Each chat in the list displays:

• Chat name or participants’ names
• Preview of the latest message
• Timestamp of the latest message
• Unread message count indicator

Searching Chats

The search bar at the top of the chat list allows you to:

• Search by chat name
• Search by participant name
• Search by message content

Search results are highlighted, showing you exactly where your search terms appear.

Creating New Chats

To start a new chat:

1. Click the “+” button in the top-right corner of the chat list
2. Choose participants from your organization
3. Optionally, set a name for the chat (required for group chats)
4. Click “Create” to begin your conversation

Chat Details

When you select a chat, the right panel displays the conversation:

Viewing Messages

The message area shows:

• Complete conversation history
• Sender name and avatar for each message
• Timestamp for each message
• Read/delivered status indicators

Sending Messages

The input area at the bottom of the chat window allows you to:

• Type and send text messages
• Upload and share files
• Record and send audio clips
• Share links to documents

Response Types

The system supports various response types:

• Text comments
• Status updates
• Priority changes
• Time entries
• Image uploads
• Document links
• Audio recordings

Collaboration Features

Real-time collaboration elements include:

• Typing indicators (see when someone is composing a message)
• Online status indicators
• Message read receipts
• Message reactions/emojis

Managing Participants

Viewing Participants

To view all participants in a chat:

1. Select the chat from the list
2. Click the participants icon in the chat header
3. The participants panel will show all active members

Adding Participants

To add new people to a chat:

1. Open the participants panel
2. Click “Add Participants”
3. Select individuals from your organization
4. Click “Add” to include them in the conversation

New participants will have access to the complete message history.

Removing Participants

To remove someone from a chat (requires appropriate permissions):

1. Open the participants panel
2. Find the participant you want to remove
3. Click the remove icon next to their name
4. Confirm the removal

Leaving a Chat

To leave a chat yourself:

1. Select the chat you wish to leave
2. Click the “Leave Chat” option in the menu
3. Confirm your decision

Note: When you leave a chat, others will still see your past messages, but you’ll no longer receive new ones.

Real-Time Functionality

The Chat Dashboard leverages WebSocket technology to provide real-time features:

• Instant message delivery: Messages appear immediately without refreshing
• Live typing indicators: See when others are typing
• Status updates: Message delivered/read indicators update in real-time
• Participant status: See when people join or leave a chat
• Unread counts: Automatically updated as new messages arrive

This real-time capability ensures efficient and responsive communication across your team.

Standalone Communication Tool

The Chat system is designed as a standalone collaborative communication tool:

• Independent from the task management system
• Focused purely on team communication and collaboration
• Provides a centralized location for all organizational conversations
• Allows for both formal and informal communication needs

Best Practices

For Effective Communication

1. Use clear chat names: Name group chats according to their purpose
2. Keep context in one chat: Avoid splitting related discussions across multiple chats
3. Use response types appropriately: Select the correct response type for your message
4. Add relevant participants only: Include only necessary people in conversations

For Chat Organization

1. Archive old chats: Leave inactive conversations to keep your list clean
2. Use search effectively: Search for specific content rather than scrolling through history
3. Create focused group chats: Make topic-specific chats rather than one large group
4. Check read receipts: Ensure important messages have been seen by recipients

Troubleshooting

Messages Not Sending

1. Check your internet connection
2. Reload the application to reestablish WebSocket connection
3. Verify you haven’t been removed from the chat

Can’t Find a Specific Chat

1. Use the search functionality with various keywords
2. Check if you’ve been removed from the chat
3. Verify if the chat has been archived or deleted

Can’t Add Certain Participants

1. Verify that the person is part of your organization
2. Check if you have permission to add participants
3. Ensure the person isn’t already in the chat (possibly inactive)

Privacy and Security

• All messages are encrypted in transit
• Access to chats is permission-based
• Chat history is preserved for compliance and record-keeping
• Administrators may have access to chat logs for security purposes