OnBoard Messenger lets you send secure, instant messages to people in your organization from the web, iPhone or iPad (iOS, Apple’s mobile operating system), or Android device. Messages stay available anywhere you can access OnBoard.

Access Messenger

How Do I Access Messenger?

You can open Messenger from the main navigation menu in OnBoard.

1. Open OnBoard.
2. Go to the main navigation menu.
3. Select Messenger.

How Do I Start a New Message?

You can start a new message by selecting Compose in the Messages panel.

1. In Messenger, select Compose near the top of the Messages panel.

2. Choose who you want to message:
   • One user
   • Multiple users
   • A Group

3. Select Start Conversation in the top-right corner.

4. Type your message in the message bar.
5. Select SEND when you are done.

What Happens After I Send a Message?

After you send a message, everyone in the conversation can see it and reply right away.

• Anyone selected as a recipient can view the conversation and respond instantly.
• Anyone already using OnBoard when the message is sent may:
  • Hear a message sound
  • See an Unread Message badge in the left navigation

Access Messenger on Mobile Phones

How Do I Access Messenger on a Mobile Phone?

On a mobile phone, Messenger is located in the bottom navigation menu instead of the main side navigation.

1. Open the OnBoard mobile app on your phone.
2. Look at the bottom navigation bar.
3. Select the Messenger icon and label to open your messages.
   • The Messenger option includes both an icon and text label.
   • This layout is optimized for smaller screens and quick access.

Can I Message Someone From Their Profile?

You can start a message directly from a user’s profile by selecting the Messenger icon.

This shortcut is available across the mobile app, making it fast to start conversations without going into Messenger first.

1. Open a user’s profile.
2. Select the Messenger speech bubble icon.
3. A new message thread will open with that user.

Where Else Can I Start a Message on Mobile?

Where else can I start a message on mobile? You can start messages directly from several areas in the mobile app where users are listed.

This makes it easy to communicate in context without switching screens.

You can initiate messages from:

• Directory
  • Open the Directory and select a user.
  • Tap the Messenger icon from their profile.
• Groups
  • Open a Group.
  • Select the Messenger icon to start a group message.
• Meeting Books
  • Open a meeting.
  • Use the Messenger option within the meeting to message participants.

These shortcuts help you quickly connect with the right people based on what you are viewing.

Add Message Attachments

How Do I Attach Files To A Message?

You can attach files from your computer or from Resources, which is your organization’s document library in OnBoard.

OnBoard supports file sharing in Messenger on:

• The web version of OnBoard
• The OnBoard mobile app for phone and tablet

1. To add files to a message, select the Attach button.

2. Add your file by either:
   • Dragging and dropping it, or
   • Selecting a document from:
     • Your computer
     • Your Resources

3. After you add all files, select Attach.

4. Finish typing your message.
5. Select Submit to send the files and message.

How Do Recipients View Attached Files?

Recipients can open a document or preview an image directly from the message.

• Participants can select the file in the message to open it.
• Images can be previewed directly in Messenger.

Can Recipients Download Attached Files?

Recipients can download attached files only if downloads are enabled for your organization.

• On the web app, use the download icon to save the file to your device.

• On the phone or tablet app, use the share button to:
  • Download
  • Print
  • Share the document from your device

Use Message Extras

How Do I Create a New Line Without Sending the Message?

You can create a new line by holding Shift and pressing Enter.

• Press Shift + Enter to add a line break without sending the message.

How Do I Add Emojis to a Message?

You can add emojis from your device’s built-in emoji menu or keyboard.

• Android and iOS: Use the standard emoji keyboard on your device.
• Windows:
  • Right-click and choose Emojis, or
  • Press Windows key + Period (⊞ Win + .)
• macOS:
  • Press Control + Command + Space

Will Everyone See the Same Emoji?

Recipients should see the equivalent emoji on any device they use to view OnBoard messages.

Receive Message Notifications

How Do I Know When I Have Unread Messages?

OnBoard shows unread messages with a red badge and can also send email and mobile push notifications.

• On the web, phone, and tablet apps, a red badge appears next to Messenger when you have one or more unread messages.

Email Notifications

When Are Email Notifications Sent?

Email notifications are sent after a message remains unread for a set amount of time.

• The first email notification is sent 15 minutes after the first unread message is delivered.
• If the messages are still unread, a follow-up email is sent 4 hours after the first email.
• If the messages are still unread and new messages arrive, another email is sent 4 hours after the new messages are delivered.

Mobile Push Notifications

When Do Mobile Push Notifications Arrive?

Push notifications arrive immediately on supported mobile devices.

• On iOS and Android phone and tablet apps, users receive instant push notifications when a new message is delivered.

Rename a Conversation

How Do I Change the Name of a Conversation?

You can rename a conversation from Conversation Details after at least one message has been sent.

Conversations may cover many topics and include many participants, so renaming them can make them easier to find later.

1. Open the conversation you want to rename.
2. Make sure at least one message has already been sent. 
   • Important: Conversation Details does not appear until a message has been sent.
3. Select the Conversation Details icon in the top-right corner of the message thread.

4. Enter a new Conversation Name.
5. Review any other conversation details if needed.
6. Select Save Changes in the top-right corner.

What Happens After I Rename a Conversation?

After you save the new name, all participants will see the updated conversation name in their Messages list.

Understand Message Retention

What is Message Retention?

What is message retention? Message retention is the rule your organization uses to decide how long messages stay available in OnBoard.

Different organizations may have different security or records policies. In OnBoard, an Organization Administrator can manage message retention settings in Organization Settings.

How Do I Know if a Message Was Archived or Deleted?

How do I know if a message was archived or deleted? If a message has been archived or deleted, the original message text is replaced with a notice that tells you the message was deleted.

• You will still know that a conversation existed.
• The actual message text will no longer appear.

Why Did My Message Thread Disappear?

Why did my message thread disappear? A message thread may disappear if it was created using a Group and that Group was later deleted, or if you were removed from that Group.

• If a Group was used to select recipients, the conversation depends on that Group.
• If the Group is deleted, or if you are removed from it, the message thread will be removed from your conversation list.

Plan Information

Messenger is included in OnBoard's Premium and Ultimate Plans. To add Messenger for your organization contact your Account Manager today. 

FAQs

Can I message more than one person at the same time?

• Yes. You can message one user, several users, or an entire Group.

Can people reply right away?

• Yes. Anyone included in the conversation can see the message and respond immediately.

Does Messenger work on both web and mobile?

• Yes. Messenger works on the web version of OnBoard and on the iOS and Android mobile apps.

Can I send files in Messenger?

• Yes. You can attach files from your computer or from your Resources in OnBoard.

Can people download the files I send?

• Maybe. People can download files only if document downloads are enabled for your organization.

How do I tell if I have unread messages?

• You may see:
  • A red unread badge in OnBoard
  • An email notification
  • A mobile push notification on iOS or Android

Why can’t I see Conversation Details?

• Why can’t I see Conversation Details? Conversation Details does not appear until at least one message has been sent in that conversation.

What happens if a Group conversation disappears?

• What happens if a Group conversation disappears? If the conversation was created from a Group, it may disappear if that Group is deleted or if you are removed from the Group.

Who controls message retention?

• Who controls message retention? An Organization Administrator controls message retention settings in Organization Settings.