Conversations, IMs and group chat¶
All your text conversations (nearby chat, IMs, group chats and conferences) live in the Conversations window. Open it with Communicate → Conversations… or Ctrl+T. Communicate → Nearby Chat… (Ctrl+H) opens it on nearby chat.
The conversation list¶
The left side lists your open conversations. Click one to read and reply. Above the list:
- Start a new conversation (+): IM someone, or start a conference with several people.
- Speak: talk on voice in the selected conversation (see Voice chat).
- View/sort options: sort conversations by type, name or recent activity; open Chat preferences…, Privacy preferences…, the Conversation log…, and translation settings.
With Show my friends as Contacts at the top of the conversation list on (Preferences → Chat → IM), a Contacts entry lists your friends, online first; click a friend to IM them.
Right-click a conversation to Close conversation, open or leave voice, and for group chats Snooze group chat (silences it for a while without leaving the group).
In a conversation¶
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| Add someone to this conversation | Turns an IM into a conference. |
| Open voice connection | Starts a voice call in this conversation. |
| Search this conversation's history | Finds earlier messages (also Ctrl+F, if turned on in Preferences → Chat → IM). |
| End this conversation | Closes it. |
| Emoji buttons | Pick emoji; recent ones are kept handy. |
Right-click a person in the participant list for their profile, IM, teleport offers and requests, voice call, Chat history…, friend and group invites, Zoom In, Map, Pay, and blocking (Block Voice, Block Text). Group moderators also get Moderator Options (mute people, turn text chat off for someone) and Ban member.
Shift+Enter starts a new line in an IM. Ctrl+Up / Ctrl+Down bring back what you sent before. For more typing shortcuts see Chat extras.
Nearby chat¶
Nearby chat is what people around you say (within 20 m; shouts reach 100 m). You can type it in the chat bar at the bottom left of the screen, or in the Nearby chat conversation. With Show the channel selector in the nearby chat bar on (Preferences → Chat → Chat Bar), a channel number lets you talk to scripted objects.
Chat history and logs¶
- Communicate → Conversation Log… lists past conversations; open one to read its transcript.
- Right-click a person → Chat history… opens your transcript with them.
- What's saved, and where, is set in Me → Preferences → Chat → General (Save and Location).
Moving from another viewer? The importer merges your old chat history into Slipstream's.
Notifications for new messages¶
How each kind of message gets your attention (pop-up, flash, sound, or open the window) is set in Me → Preferences → Chat → General. Keyword alerts (when someone mentions your name) are on the Alerts tab. See Preferences: Chat.
Group chat¶
- To stop one group's chat without leaving the group, untick Receive group chat in the group's profile (Communicate → Groups, open the group, General section).
- Snooze group chat (right-click the conversation) silences it for a while.
- Disable all group chats and the snooze time are in Preferences → Chat → Groups.