1000 FAQs, 500 tutorials and explanatory videos. Here, there are only solutions!
Manage a kChat channel
This guide details the use and management of channels in kChat.
A kChat channel is a dedicated communication space for a project, theme, or team where members can exchange documents, chat in real-time, and organize video conferences.
General Channel
Every organization on kChat automatically has a General channel to which all users are automatically invited.
You can use this channel to share information that concerns your entire organization, such as company updates or motivational news.
You can, of course, start a new conversation thread within the General channel as well.
Additional Channel
To add a new discussion channel:
- Click on the + button located in the left sidebar of kChat
- Click on Create a new channel
Channel Information
When creating a new channel, you can choose:
1. its name
It will be editable later on.
2. its URL
By default, it takes the name of the channel, but you can modify it using lowercase letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and underscores - also editable later on.
3. its status Private
or Public
It will be editable later on (read below).
4. its description
The description helps specify how this channel should be used. This text appears in the list of channels in the "More..." menu and provides users with an indication of whether they should join the channel or not.
Once the channel is created, you can still define:
5. a header
Differences between Private
and Public
channels
Public channels increase transparency. All users can see and join a public channel, ensuring that everyone involved in a project, theme, or team has access to the same information.
Private channels allow restricting sensitive content to users of your choice. Only an existing member can invite another user to a private channel. There are also differences in the management of archiving/deletion (read below).
Private channels are limited to 20 (50 with kSuite Pro and 1000 with the Enterprise offer).
Convert a Public Channel to a Private Channel
To turn a Public channel into a Private channel:
- Click on the Public channel in the left sidebar menu
- Then click on the channel title at the top of the discussion
- Choose Convert
Message history and member ownership are preserved; publicly shared files remain accessible to anyone with the link; the change is permanent and cannot be undone.
What about the reverse?
The reverse (changing a Private channel to a Public channel) is also possible, but only a kChat administrator user can do it; message history is preserved.
Leave a Channel
Aside from the main channel titled General, you can leave a channel at any time:
- Click on the action menu â‹® to the right of the relevant channel (in the left sidebar)
- Click on Leave the channel
If you leave a Private channel, you won't find it in the search anymore but only via its URL if you have it or by being re-invited by a channel member.
If you leave a Public channel, you leave it immediately but can rejoin it anytime by finding it with its name in the search, even if it has been archived.
Archive/Delete a Channel
Aside from the main channel titled General, you can archive a channel at any time, preventing any new messages and not counting it towards your available channel quota:
- Click on the channel in the left sidebar menu
- Then click on the channel title at the top of the discussion
- Click on Archive the channel
If you create a channel and then archive it, you can rejoin it anytime by finding it with its name in the search:
You can then unarchive it:
or close it to not see it on your interface anymore:
Bookmark a Channel
To bookmark any channel, simply:
- Click on the star located at the top of a channel
- A new Bookmarks menu will appear in the left sidebar, grouping all items you have bookmarked (valid for your user only)
Mute a Channel
You can hide notifications from a channel:
- Click on the action menu â‹® to the right of the relevant channel (in the left sidebar)
- Choose Mute
Organize by Categories
By clicking on the + button located in the left sidebar of kChat, you can add one or more categories allowing you to place items (channel, contact, etc.) within them. Then drag the desired channel onto the created category (valid for your user only):
User-to-User Chat Channel
Direct messages are direct conversations between two or more people that occur outside of channels.
Every user within an organization can freely create direct messages whose content will only be visible to the involved individuals.