Messaging Basics

• Channels and DMs
• Composing & Formatting
• Files & Pins
• Mentions & Reactions
• Threads & Replies

Channels and DMs

Room types

• Public channels: discoverable and joinable by anyone in the workspace; great for cross‑team topics.
• Private groups: invite‑only rooms for sensitive or focused work.
• Direct messages (DMs): 1:1 or small ad‑hoc group chats.

Create or join

• Click + in the sidebar → New Channel or New Group → name it and set privacy.
• Join public channels from the channel browser; request an invite for private groups.

Room housekeeping

• Topic & description: set context so newcomers understand the purpose.
• Archive vs. delete: archive to keep history read‑only; delete only when certain.
• Member roles: assign moderators for triage and topic curation.

Composing & Formatting

Compose efficiently

• Shift+Enter inserts a new line without sending.
• Press Up Arrow to edit your last message quickly.
• Use Ctrl/Cmd + K to navigate without leaving the keyboard.

Formatting (Markdown)

• Headings: # Title, ## Section
• Bold/Italic: **bold**, *italic*
• Code: backticks for inline, triple backticks for blocks
• Lists: - item or 1. item
• Links: [text](https://example.com)

Useful message tools

• Quote: select text → “Reply in thread” or > in composer for blockquote.
• Emoji/reactions: add signal without noise; great for quick polls.
• Edit/delete: hover a message to reveal actions (permissions apply).

Files & Pins

Share files

• Drag & drop into the composer or click the paperclip to attach files.
• Add a caption for context; large files may upload in the background.

Find files later

• Open the room header → Files to see recent uploads.
• Use search filters (type:file, by:user, in:room) to narrow results.

Pins and stars

• Pin key messages/files to the room so everyone sees them.
• Star messages to bookmark them for yourself (see your Starred).

Mentions & Reactions

Mentions

• @username notifies a person; @all and @here are powerful—use sparingly.
• Mention a role (if enabled) to notify a group of people.

Reactions

• Add emoji reactions to acknowledge or vote without new messages.
• Filter for reacted messages via the room’s search filters.

Status & availability

• Respect DND and away statuses; use threads instead of broad pings.

Threads & Replies

Why threads

• Keep channels tidy by moving side conversations into threads.
• Threads reduce notification noise for people not following the topic.

Start and follow a thread

• Hover a message → Reply in thread.
• The composer switches to the thread; send your reply.
• Click “Follow” to receive thread‑only notifications without muting the room.

Best practices

• Use threads for questions, decisions, and sub‑topics.
• Summarize outcomes back in the main channel to close the loop.