Channels & Team Communication

Step-by-step guide

1. 1

   Browse and join channels

   The sidebar is divided into Channels for group conversations and Direct Messages for one-on-one chats. Everything is tied to your project, so your whole team stays aligned in one place. Click Browse All Channels to see a list of available channels, find one relevant to your work, and click Join. You can also create common channels with a single click from this view.

2. 2

   Create a new channel

   Click the + icon next to the Channels heading. Give your channel a name and an optional description. Toggle it to Private if you only want invited members to see it — public channels are visible to everyone on the project. Click Create when you're done. Newly created channels appear under All Channels, where project members can browse and join public ones at any time. Private channels are restricted — only the channel creator can add members.

3. 3

   Post messages and use Quick Replies

   Inside a channel, type your message in the input box at the bottom. You can attach files, add emoji reactions, or mention a team member using @ followed by their name. Press Enter or click Send to post. For common construction updates, use Quick Replies — click the quick replies button to see pre-written templates like "Work completed", "Materials delayed", "Ready for inspection", and more. Click any template to populate it in the message box, then send or edit before sending.

4. 4

   Reply in threads and react to messages

   To keep conversations organised, use threads. Hover over any message and click Reply to open the Thread panel on the right. All replies stay grouped under the original message, keeping the main channel clean while detailed discussions happen in the thread — you'll see a reply count badge on messages with ongoing threads. To acknowledge a message quickly, hover over it and click the emoji icon to add a reaction.

5. 5

   Manage channel members and archive channels

   For private channels or to add specific people, click the Settings button next to the channel name in the sidebar, then click Add Member and search for the person you want to add. The channel menu also lets you Archive or Leave the channel. When a channel is archived, it becomes read-only — useful for keeping the sidebar clean once a phase of work is complete. Archived channels can be unarchived at any time.

6. 6

   Forward messages, search, and use Direct Messages

   Any message, along with its reply thread, can be forwarded to another channel or direct message — hover over the message, click Forward, and select the destination. To find something from a previous conversation, click the Search icon in the sidebar and type keywords. AskThePlans searches across all channels and messages and returns matching results as links to the original messages. For private one-on-one conversations, use Direct Messages by clicking a member in the Direct Messages section of the sidebar.