Chat
Send and receive private messages with other Evencia users in real time.
Overview
The Chat feature lets you send private messages to other Evencia users directly from the platform. You can have real-time conversations, share files and images, reply to specific messages, and see when the other person has read your message — all without leaving Evencia.
Use Chat to quickly communicate with colleagues, co-organisers, and team members while working on an event.
Where to find Chat
From the navbar menu, select Chat.
Before you start
- You need the Chat permission on your account to use this feature. If you cannot see the Chat option, contact your administrator.
- You can only message users who also have Chat access.
- Chat messages are private — only you and the person you are messaging can see them.
How to start a conversation
Option 1 — Search for a user
- In the sidebar, type a name or email address in the Search users… box.
- A list of matching users appears below the search box.
- Select the user you want to message.
The conversation opens on the right side of the screen. If you have spoken to this person before, your previous messages are shown.
Option 2 — Use the Contacts tab
- In the sidebar, select the Contacts tab.
- Browse the list of available users.
- Select the chat icon next to any user, or select their name, to open a conversation.
How to send a message
- Open a conversation.
- Type your message in the text box at the bottom of the screen.
- Press Enter to send, or select the Send button.
To add a new line without sending, press Shift + Enter.
How to send files and images
You can attach images, videos, audio files, and documents to your messages.
- In the message input area, select the paperclip (attach) icon.
- Choose the files you want to send from your device.
- A preview of the selected files appears above the text box.
- Add a text message if you want, then press Enter or select Send.
Limits:
- Each file must be 3 MB or smaller.
- You can attach up to 10 files at once.
To remove a file before sending, select the × on its preview.
How to use emojis
Emoji picker
Select the smiley face icon next to the message input to open the emoji picker. Select any emoji to insert it into your message.
Emoji shortcodes
Type a shortcode surrounded by colons — for example :smile: or :thumbsup: — and it will automatically convert to the matching emoji when you send the message.
Text emoticons
Common text emoticons such as :), :(, :D, <3, and ;) are automatically converted to emojis as you type (when you press space after them).
How to reply to a specific message
- Hover over the message you want to reply to.
- Select the reply icon that appears next to the message.
- A preview of the original message appears above the text input.
- Type your reply and send it.
Your reply will be linked to the original message so both of you can see the context.
To cancel a reply, select the × on the reply preview.
How to edit a message
You can edit a message you sent within 3 minutes of sending it.
- Hover over the message you want to edit.
- Select the pencil (edit) icon that appears.
- The message text appears in the input box with an Editing message indicator.
- Make your changes and press Enter or select the checkmark button to save.
Edited messages display a small ✏️ edited label so the other person knows the message was changed.
To cancel editing without saving, select the × in the editing indicator.
Note: The edit option disappears after 3 minutes from when the message was sent.
How to delete a message
You can delete a message you sent at any time.
- Hover over the message.
- The message options appear. Select Delete.
The message is removed from the conversation for both you and the other person.
Note: You can only delete your own messages. You cannot delete messages sent by the other person.
How to view and download attachments
Images and videos — select the thumbnail in the message to open a full-screen preview. Use the Download button in the preview to save the file to your device.
Audio files — select the audio attachment to play it, or use the Download icon to save it.
Other files — select the Download icon next to the filename to save the file to your device.
Understanding message status
When you send a message, a status indicator appears next to it:
| Symbol | What it means |
|---|---|
| ✓ | Message sent |
| ✓✓ (grey) | Message delivered to the recipient's device |
| ✓✓ (blue) | Message read by the recipient |
Online status and last seen
Each user's name shows a small coloured dot:
- Green dot — the user is currently online.
- Grey dot — the user is offline.
When the user is offline, the conversation header shows when they were last seen (for example "Last seen 5 minutes ago").
Typing indicator
When the other person is typing a reply, you will see a "[Name] is typing…" message at the bottom of the conversation and in the conversation list.
How to clear a conversation
Clearing a conversation removes all messages from your view. The other person's view is not affected.
- Open the conversation you want to clear.
- Select the trash (clear) icon in the top-right corner of the conversation header.
The conversation is cleared immediately. New messages can still be sent and received after clearing.
Navigating conversations
Chats tab — shows all your existing conversations, sorted by most recent. Conversations with unread messages show a numbered badge.
Contacts tab — shows all users you can message. Use this to start a new conversation.
Search — works in both tabs to quickly find a user by name or email.
Load more — if you have many conversations, select Load more at the bottom of the list to see older ones.
Scroll up — inside a conversation, scroll up to load earlier messages.
Common problems
I cannot see the Chat option in the menu
Your account may not have the Chat permission. Contact your administrator and ask them to enable Chat access for your account.
I cannot find a specific user in the search
The user may not have Chat access yet. Ask your administrator to enable the Chat permission for that user's account.
The edit option has disappeared on my message
Messages can only be edited within 3 minutes of being sent. After that, the edit option is no longer available.
My message shows ✓ but not ✓✓
The recipient's device has not yet received the message. This usually happens if they are offline. The status will update to ✓✓ when they come online and the message is delivered.
I cannot delete someone else's message
You can only delete messages you have sent yourself. You cannot remove messages sent by other users.
My file is not uploading
Check that each file is 3 MB or smaller. Files larger than this limit cannot be sent. Also make sure you are not trying to attach more than 10 files at once.
Tips
- Use the Contacts tab to see who is currently online before starting a conversation.
- Use reply to keep track of which message you are responding to in a long conversation.
- Use the emoji picker to quickly find and insert any emoji without needing to remember shortcodes.
- If you accidentally sent the wrong message, use edit straight away — you have 3 minutes.
- Clear conversation only clears messages on your side. Use it to tidy up your view without affecting the other person.