In this tutorial we will go through how to use the Messaging feature on Tapestry. This feature can be used to communicate directly with both staff and relatives on your account.
At the moment, only direct messages can be sent between staff and relatives. Currently, there is not the ability to send group messages.
Enabling Messaging
If you don’t already have Messaging enabled on your account, then a Manager user will be able to do this.
Just head to Configuration > Features > Messaging > Enable.
How to use the Messaging feature
You can access it by clicking the speech bubble icon at the top right of the screen. Your conversations will appear on this page. However, if you have just enabled the feature this will likely be blank, like the screenshot below.
To start a new conversation, click the New Conversation button at the top left.
You will then be given a list of all staff and relatives on your account. To start a conversation with a user, click on their name. You can also search for a specific user using the search bar at the top.
Under each relatives’ name, the names of linked children, and their relationship to them will appear.
To send a message, type your message into the box and click the arrow icon. Messages you have sent will appear in a green-shaded box, and received messages appear in a grey-shaded box. You can delete messages by clicking the bin icon above them.
You will be able to see your other conversations on the left hand side, allowing you to easily switch between them. A number will appear attached to the envelope icon to indicate that you have new messages in that conversation.
If you are not in the Messaging page, a number will appear next to the speech bubble icon, to let you know you have unread messages.
If you are a manager you will be able to view other staff members’ messages by clicking View another user’s messages.
You will then be able to click a staff member’s name from the list to view their messages. You can also use the search bar at the top to find a specific staff member.
You will then see that staff member’s conversations – if they have any. You can click on on of the conversations to open it.
As with your own, it is possible to delete another user’s messages by clicking the bin icon. However, it is not possible to reply to another user’s conversation.
You can use the buttons at the top of the page to go back to your own messages, to return to the previous page, or to view another staff member’s messages.
That is how to enable and use the Messaging feature on Tapestry! See below for further support guides on our other communication features.