Using the Messenger

3.1. The Messenger Components

The Messenger app consists of the following components.

Tool bar

Contains the following buttons and icons:

  • New conversation button. Starts a new conversation or a new group conversation.

  • Add buddy button. Adds a user from another groupware environment to the buddy list.

  • Invite guest button. Adds a guest to the buddy list.

  • Call History button. Displays the Call history in the detail view.

    In order to display a conversation in the detail view, click on an entry in the conversations list.

  • Delete conversation icon . Deletes the conversation that you selected in the list.

As soon as there is an incoming call, the tool bar will be hidden by the following elements:

  • the caller's name

  • the buttons Accept, Decline, Ignore

Display area

Contains a list of the current conversations and the detail view of a conversation, a group conversation or the call history.

List

Shows a list of chats. The following details are displayed: the contact's or group's name, the date of the last chat message, the first line of the last chat message. The following functions are available.

Detail view

Shows the content of the conversation selected in the list . The following contents and functions are displayed.

  • The contact's name and status

  • Invite user icon

  • Video icon

  • Call icon

  • Other icon . Contains this function:

    • mute notifications

  • When chatting in real-time:

    • Sent and received messages

    • Send file icon

    • Input field for your quick reply

    • Send button for sending a real-time message

  • When communicating via call:

    • The contact's name and picture

    • The duration of the call

    • Button for hanging up, button for muting the microphone

    • Send file icon

    • Send button for sending a real-time message

    Tip: The contact's name, the duration of the call and a button for hanging up are also displayed in the menu bar.

  • When communicating via video calls:

    • a large image of the other participant's live cam in the background

    • a small image of your live cam in the foreground

    • button for disabling your camera on the other participant's screen, button for hanging up, button for muting your microphone

    • Send file icon

    • Send button for sending a real-time message

    Tip: The contact's name, the duration of the call and a button for hanging up are also displayed in the menu bar.

Detail view for group chats

Shows the content of the group conversation selected in the list. The following contents and functions are displayed.

  • The group's name. A list of participants is displayed on the right side. The status of each participant is displayed.

  • Invite user icon

  • Video icon

  • Call icon

  • Other icon . Contains these functions:

    • mute notifications

    • leave the group conversation or rejoin the group conversation

  • When chatting in real-time:

    • Sent and received messages

    • Input field for your quick reply

    • Send button for sending a real-time message

Call History

Shows a list of calls. In order to open the call history, click the Call history icon The list displays the interlocutor's name, the status and date of the call. The following functions are available:

  • If clicking on a name, all relevant information is displayed in a pop-up.

  • In order to close the call history, click on Close on the upper right side.

Tip: The call history will also be displayed in the other apps in the halo view.

Contact list

Shows a list of contacts with which you can have a conversation. In order to open the buddy list, click the Buddy list icon on the right side of the menu bar. The buddy list contains all contacts from the global address book, guest users, and favourites. The buddy list shows the following contents:

  • The contact's name. If the personal data of the contact includes a picture, it will be displayed.

  • The contact's current status. The status is also indicated by a colour.

  • When hovering over an on-line contact, icons for starting a conversation with this contact are displayed.

Note: Whether the buddy list also shows off-line contacts, can be set in the Settings.