TaskRox Help & User Manual
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Topic: Messages
General
Modules
Messages
Messages provides text chat in channels for the people working on a project or site. Use it for quick, informal coordination within the team.
On this page
Channels and #general
Every project and site has a #general channel. TaskRox creates it the first time anyone opens Messages. It always appears first in the channel list; other channels follow in the order they were created.
To create a channel:
- Click the + (Add channel) button beside the Channels heading.
- Type a name, for example deliveries or site-access.
- Press Enter, or click + (Create channel).
The new channel opens straight away. Everyone who can open Messages on the project can see every channel. Private channels, channel membership, renaming, archiving and deleting channels are not available.
The number beside a channel is its total message count, not an unread count. It updates when you reload the page.
Sending and reading messages
The first channel opens when you open Messages. To change channel, click its name.
Type in the message box at the top of the conversation, then press Enter or click the send (paper plane) icon. Blank messages are not sent. Messages are plain text only.
The conversation shows the latest 100 messages in the channel, oldest first. Consecutive messages from the same person sent within five minutes of each other share one name, avatar and timestamp. Hover over a timestamp to see the full date and time. If the author has a workforce profile, click their name to open it.
The open channel checks for new messages every five seconds. Other channels refresh when you open them.
Attachments, @mentions, reactions, threaded replies, message editing, unread counts and message notifications are not available.
Deleting and finding messages
To delete one of your messages, hover over it and click the bin icon (Delete message). Deletion takes effect immediately, with no confirmation and no undo. Deleting requires Admin permission on Messages.
To find a message, use Global Search. Message text and channel names appear under Message / Wall. Selecting a result opens the project's Messages page.
When a project is archived, Messages becomes read-only. The project archive export includes all messages.
Permissions and preferences
Your Messages permission level controls what you can do:
| Permission | You can |
|---|---|
| View | Open Messages and read all channels |
| Edit | Also send messages and create channels |
| Admin | Also delete messages |
Organisation owners and workspace administrators have Admin on Messages.
Click the Messages settings button in the module header to set two personal preferences:
- Send shortcut: Enter sends (the default) or Ctrl+Enter sends (Cmd+Enter on Mac).
- Timestamp format: Relative (for example, 5m ago) or Absolute (date and time).
On a phone, the channel list fills the screen. Tap a channel to open it, and tap the back arrow to return to the list.
When to use Messages, Wall, SMS, Correspondence, or Calls
Use Messages for internal project chat and quick coordination.
Use Wall for project feed updates, progress photos and videos, comments, and category-tagged posts.
Use SMS for external phone-based messages, campaigns, delivery tracking, opt-outs, and governed notice records.
Use Correspondence for controlled email-style communication, formal issue workflows, restricted threads, sender identities, and AI-assisted replies.
Use Calls when text isn't fast enough — a live voice or video conversation with a linked TaskRox user, started directly from the record you're both looking at.