Chat and Channels in BasicOps

BasicOps now includes a powerful Chat and Channels feature set to streamline how your team communicates. Whether you're sending a quick DM, launching a team-wide conversation, or managing channels for department updates, everything happens in one place, right alongside your tasks and projects. By unifying communication and work execution in a single platform, your team spends less time switching between external apps, and stays focused on what really matters: getting work done together efficiently.

This article contains:

• General Chat Features
• Chat Editing Tools
• Associating Chats, Notes, and Projects
• Direct Chats
• Group Chats
• Channels
• Chat Settings

General Chat Features

The ChatBar - the chat and channels toolbar appears on the right side of your BasicOps workspace. It’s your command center for conversations.

ChatBar Structure:

• Icons represent your most recent chats, group chats, and channels.
• A divider separates each type (Chats, Groups, Channels).
• Click an icon to open the thread instantly.

Using the Chat Directory

Need to start a conversation with someone not listed in your toolbar?

To open the Chat Directory:

1. Click the Magnifying Glass icon beneath your profile picture.
2. Search for any person, group, or channel.

To close the Chat Directory:

1. Click anywhere in the header (where your profile appears).
2. Or click outside the directory area.

To start a new conversation or channel:

1. Click the + (plus) icon at the bottom of the chat sidebar.
2. Choose between starting a:
   • Direct chat (one-on-one)
   • Group chat (3 or more users)
   • Channel (for ongoing, structured topics)
3. Fill in the setup form:
   • Name your chat or channel for easy recognition.
   • Add participants by name or email.
   • Select privacy settings for channels (Public or Private).
4. Click Create to launch the thread.

Once your chat or channel is created, you’ll have access to a powerful rich-text editor:

Chat Editing Tools

BasicOps chat supports a robust set of tools to enhance your messages:

• Bold, Italic, Underline – Use rich formatting to highlight key points.
• Bullet & Numbered Lists – Organize discussion points clearly.
• Code Blocks – Share snippets or technical details in a readable format.
• Hyperlinks – Link out to documentation, resources, or tasks directly.

Attaching Files

You can easily share attachments in any chat or channel:

• Click the paperclip icon to upload files from your computer.
• Drag and drop files directly into the message area.
• Supported file types include PDFs, images, Office docs, and more.

 Mentions and Notifications

Tag teammates to draw their attention or assign responsibility:

• Type @name to mention someone directly (they’ll receive a notification).
• Use @channel or @here in channels to notify all members or active participants.

Associating Tasks, Notes, and Projects from Chat

BasicOps lets you take action directly from within your conversations, turning ideas into action without ever leaving the thread. You can quickly associate messages with tasks, notes, or projects using intuitive inline shortcuts:

Create Tasks from Chat

1. Highlight any portion of a message.
2. Select the checkbox icon.
3. This turns the selection into a new task linked to the conversation thread.
4. You can then assign it, add a due date, and track progress inside your task dashboard.

Link to Existing Tasks, Notes, or Projects

1. Type # followed by the name of a task, note, or project.
2. A dropdown will appear with matching items from your workspace.
3. Select one to insert a clickable link directly into the chat message.
4. This allows team members to jump straight to the relevant work item.

These features keep your discussions connected to your workflows, so nothing gets lost and everything stays actionable.

Direct Chats

Some key features in Direct Chats:

• 1:1 conversations between any two users in your workspace.
• Chat history is permanent and always accessible.
• You can only have one chat thread per person—no duplicates.

Group Chats

Some Key features in Group Chats: 

• Designed for 3 or more people.
• Great for temporary discussions or ad-hoc collaboration.
• Group chats are private to invited members.
• Each group chat is unique by its member list—you can’t create duplicate groups with the same exact members.
• You can rename a group chat at any time for easy reference.

Channels - Available in Professional plans and above

Some key features in Channels: 

• Channels are designed for ongoing, topic-based communication.
• Can be public (open to everyone in the workspace) or private (invite-only).
• Each channel has one or more administrators, who can:
  • Change the name or icon
  • Add/remove members
  • Change privacy settings
• Users can leave a channel at any time.
• There’s no limit to how many channels you can create.

Note: External Users cannot create or delete group chats or channels, but they may leave.

Common use cases:

• Company-wide announcements
• Project-specific updates
• Departmental or cross-functional communication

Chat Settings

Access chat settings to customize your experience:

Note: Full settings documentation is coming soon. For now, you can:

• Change chat or group chat names (where applicable)
• Update channel icons or names if you're an admin
• Mute notifications or leave a channel