Sending messages and message tools

This guide walks through sending messages and a channel’s conversation tools. It applies to anyone with posting rights in a channel.

Send a message

1. Open Communication and select a channel from the list.
2. Type your message in the field at the bottom.
3. Send it with the Send button.

New messages appear immediately, and unread messages are flagged in the channel list. A “New messages” divider shows where to resume reading.

A channel opens at its newest messages. In a busy channel you can browse older history with the “Show older messages” button at the top of the conversation — the view stays in place while the older messages load above.

Mention a person (@-mention)

Type @ followed by a person’s name to get a suggestion list. The mentioned person gets a notification about the message. If @kaikki alerts are allowed in the channel, you can mention all channel members at once — see Announcements and notifications.

Reply in a thread

You can continue a single message’s conversation in a separate thread, keeping the main channel tidy.

1. Select Reply in thread under a message.
2. Type your reply in the thread panel that opens.
3. Send the reply.

A counter showing the number of replies appears under the message.

React to a message (emoji)

You can respond to a message lightly with an emoji reaction — for example as an acknowledgement or a thank-you — without writing a separate message.

1. Hover over the message and select the smiley button in the toolbar.
2. Pick one of the emojis: 👍 ❤️ 😂 😮 😢 🎉 ✅.

Reactions appear under the message with counts, and your own reaction is highlighted. You can also click a reaction already shown under a message to join it — clicking it again removes your reaction.

Note

Reacting is allowed by default for everyone who can see the channel. A channel manager can restrict it in the channel settings under Detailed permissions (the React action) — see Channels and how to manage them.

Attach a file

You can attach the housing company’s documents to a message.

1. Select the attachment button (📎) next to the message field.
2. Choose the documents to attach and close the dialog.
3. Send the message — attachments appear in the message as clickable links.

Note

Attachments are selected from the housing company’s existing documents. A recipient sees an attachment only if they have access to that document.

Search messages

Type at least two characters into the search field above the channel list. Results appear in place of the list. Click a result and VAREK opens the right channel and jumps to the found message.

Pin an important message

You can pin an important message to the top of the channel.

1. Hover over the message to reveal the toolbar on the right.
2. Select Pin (📌).

Pinned messages show in the pinned strip at the top of the channel. If you don’t have pinning rights, you can propose a pin to an admin.

Schedule a message

You can schedule a message to be sent later.

1. Write the message as usual.
2. Select the clock button (🕓) next to the message field.
3. Choose the send time and confirm.

Scheduling is available to anyone with posting rights in the channel. Scheduled messages appear in the channel settings under Scheduled messages, where they can also be cancelled — but the channel settings (⚙) can only be opened by a channel manager (an admin or the channel’s creator). If you don’t have those rights, ask a channel manager to cancel your scheduled message if needed.

See also

• Communication in VAREK (overview)
• Channels and how to manage them
• Announcements and notifications