Collab Chat
Slack-style team messaging — channels, direct messages, threads, reactions, and instant huddles.
Overview
Collab Chat is TotalApp's built-in team messaging system, styled and structured after Slack. It provides channels for topic-based group conversations, direct messages for one-on-one communication, presence indicators, emoji reactions, and threaded replies — all within the TotalApp workspace.
Collab Chat integrates directly with the Meeting & Huddle screen: clicking the Huddle button in any channel launches the Meeting screen with video and audio for that channel's participants. There is no separate login — your TotalApp account identity is used automatically.
Quick Start
Click a channel name in the left panel to open that channel. Type a message in the composer at the bottom and press Enter to send. To reply to a specific message in a thread, hover over the message and click the reply icon. To start a video huddle, click the Huddle (video camera) icon at the top of any channel.
Layout
Collab Chat uses a three-column layout:
Left Panel — Navigation
Lists all channels and direct messages. Channels are grouped under "Channels" with a # prefix; DMs are listed under "Direct Messages". Click any item to open it in the centre panel.
Centre Panel — Messages
Displays the full message history for the selected channel or DM. The message composer with formatting and emoji tools sits at the bottom. New messages appear at the bottom.
Right Panel — Threads
Opens when you reply to a message in a thread. Shows the original message and all replies in a side panel without leaving the main channel view.
Channels
Channels are shared conversation spaces organised by topic, team, or project. Anyone in the workspace can view and post to public channels. Private channels are invitation-only and shown with a lock icon.
Default Channels
| Channel | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| # general | Public | Company-wide announcements and general discussion. All members are added automatically. |
| # backend-team | Public — Huddle Active | Engineering team discussions. Has an active Huddle indicator showing participants in an ongoing video call. |
| # design | Private 🔒 | Design team private channel. Only invited members can see this channel in the sidebar. |
| # releases | Public | Release announcements, changelogs, and deployment updates. |
| # random | Public | Off-topic chat, fun, and casual conversation. |
Active Huddle Indicator
When a channel has an ongoing Huddle (video call), a green "● Live" indicator appears next to the channel name in the sidebar and at the top of the channel. Click it to join the Huddle in progress.
Private Channels
Private channels (🔒) are only visible to members who have been explicitly invited. Members not in the channel cannot see the channel name, its messages, or its member list.
Direct Messages
Direct Messages (DMs) are private, one-on-one conversations between you and another team member. They appear in the Direct Messages section of the left panel.
Presence Indicators
A coloured dot next to each person's name shows their current status:
| Dot Colour | Status |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Green | Active — currently online and using TotalApp |
| 🟡 Yellow / Away | Idle — logged in but inactive for a period |
| ⚫ Grey | Offline — not currently logged in |
Starting a DM
Click the + icon next to "Direct Messages" in the left panel, then search for and select a team member. The DM conversation opens in the centre panel.
Messaging
Sending a Message
Click the message composer at the bottom of the centre panel. Type your message and press Enter to send. To add a line break without sending, press Shift+Enter.
Message Composer Toolbar
| Button | Function |
|---|---|
| B Bold | Wraps selected text in **bold** markdown |
| I Italic | Wraps selected text in *italic* markdown |
Code | Wraps selected text in backtick code formatting |
| 😊 Emoji | Opens the emoji picker to insert an emoji into the message |
| 📎 Attach | Attach a file to the message (file sharing feature) |
| ✉️ Send | Sends the message (same as pressing Enter) |
Emoji Reactions
Hover over any message to reveal action icons. Click the smiley face (😊) icon to open the emoji picker and react to the message. Reactions appear below the message as small emoji badges with a count. Click an existing reaction to add your own reaction (or remove it if you already reacted).
Common Reactions
The most frequently used reactions — 👍 ✅ 🎉 — appear as quick-add buttons when you hover over a message, so you don't need to open the full emoji picker for common acknowledgements.
Threads
Threads let you reply to a specific message without creating clutter in the main channel. A thread is attached to the original message and opens in the right panel.
Starting a Thread
- Hover over any message to reveal the action toolbar.
- Click the Reply (speech bubble) icon.
- The thread panel opens on the right, showing the original message and a composer for your reply.
- Type your reply and press Enter.
Thread Indicator
After the first reply, the original message shows a "N replies" link below it. Clicking this link re-opens the thread panel for anyone who wants to follow the conversation. The reply count and the avatars of the last few participants are shown inline.
Thread vs Channel Reply
Replies in a thread do not appear as messages in the main channel — they stay contained in the thread panel. This keeps channels clean and on-topic while still allowing in-depth side conversations on any message.
Huddles
A Huddle is a quick video + audio call launched directly from a channel. Huddles are designed for spontaneous, informal team calls — the equivalent of "walking over to someone's desk."
Starting a Huddle
- Open a channel.
- Click the Huddle (video camera 🎥) icon in the channel header toolbar.
- The Meeting screen launches in full-screen mode, already connected to the channel's huddle session.
- Other channel members see the green "● Live" indicator in the sidebar and can click it to join.
Joining an Active Huddle
If a huddle is already in progress in a channel you are a member of, the channel name in the sidebar shows a green live badge. Click the channel and then the Join Huddle button at the top of the channel to enter the call.
Returning to Chat from a Huddle
When you end or leave the Meeting screen, you are automatically returned to the Collab Chat channel that launched the huddle. Your channel history and any messages posted during the call are waiting for you.
For detailed Meeting screen controls (camera, microphone, screen share, chat sidebar, command bar), see the Meeting & Huddle guide.