Chat

You use the Chat feature to send instant messages to collaborators and suppliers associated with a sourcing document. Chat messages can be public, to include all collaborators and/or suppliers, or private, to be directed to a single collaborator or supplier.

Choose the Chat toolbar option to bring up the Event Message Board.

Features

Field Help for the Event Message Board

Select the box in the upper right corner of the board to collapse the Event Message Board.

If chat is disabled in the document type for a document, you will not be able to exchange messages or view message fields or options. The message area will display only document alerts.

Function	Description
Message Area	Displays the text of any messages exchanged for this document, up to a maximum number of messages determined by your system administrator. The default maximum is 50. New messages are added and old ones removed if the count exceeds this maximum. This message area updates automatically as new messages are exchanged.
View History	Displays all messages that have been exchanged for this document since it was opened for bidding. This message area does not update automatically. Click View History again to see any new or updated messages that have been exchanged.
Message Text Box	Enter message text in this text box and click Send. Depending on the recipient you have selected, this text box will be labeled as follows: Message to a Collaborator Message to All Collaborators Message to a Supplier Message to All Suppliers
Recipient List	This list displays the users to whom you can send a message, including the individual collaborators and suppliers currently online. You select message recipients as follows: Select All Buyside Users to send a message to all document collaborators. This message will not be visible to suppliers. Select an individual collaborator to send a message that will be visible only to that collaborator. Select All Sellside Users to send a message to all document suppliers. This message will be visible to all collaborators as well as all suppliers. Select an individual supplier to send a message that will be visible to that supplier and to all collaborators, but not to other suppliers.

Activities

Conducting a Chat

You choose the Chat toolbar button to bring up the Event Message Board. You use this board to exchange messages related to the current document with collaborators and suppliers, as well as to view document alerts.

To send a message to a collaborator or supplier:

Choose Chat in the document toolbar.
In the Event Message Board, select the message recipient or recipients as outlined in the table above.
Enter the message into the message text box.
Choose Send.