Chatting with other people (chat between two people)

CHAT 10-030

What you need to know

In Matrix communication can take place between two or more people (=groups, see also Helpcard Internal link opens in the same window:Creating groups (private rooms) (CHAT 10-040) oder Internal link opens in the same window:Creating groups (public rooms) (CHAT 10-050)). This communication takes place via so-called rooms.
Rooms with only two people are listed on the left under People.
Rooms with more than two people (=groups) appear under Rooms.

This guide describes how to find other people (e.g. employees / students of HFU, Matrix users outside the university) and how to chat with them 1:1.

What you have to do

  1. Searching for and finding a person

    • On the left side, next to People, click the "Start Chat" plus icon (see Fig. 1.1).

    • You can now find other people by entering the name, mail address or matrix ID.

    • If you do not find a person in the search, this person has not yet logged in to Matrix for the first time.

    • Wir empfehlen den jeweiligen Kontakt über die Einladung zu informieren.

    • Wählen Sie aus den Vorschlägen die gesuchte Person aus und klicken Sie auf "Los".

    • Es wird ein Raum für eine Konversation zwischen Ihnen und der gesuchten Person erstellt. Die gesuchte Person wird in diesen Raum eingeladen. Anschließend können Sie Direkt-Nachrichten versenden.

    • 1.1
      Enlarge image

      Enlarge the image by clicking on the green frame in the upper right corner.

  2. Verification of a contact: it is recommended you verify the respective contact to make sure that the person does not contact you under a false name.

    • To do this, click on the person's avatar in the chat history (at the very top) (see Fig. 2.1).

    • When the profile opens, verification is possible.

    • Click on "Verify" under "Security" (see Fig. 2.2).

    • Start the verification with "Start verification".

    • A verification request is sent.

    • Compare the emojis by phone or via Internal link opens in the same window:Zoom, for example. Do not use the HFU chat for emoji matching. This is the only way to ensure that no one performs the comparison under a false identity.

    • Then confirm the successful verification by clicking on "Accepted".

    • You have successfully verified your contact.

  3. Chat communication and interaction

    • Format chat messages
      In Matrix, the Markdown markup language is used. For example, you can format messages as follows:
      **Write chat messages bold**.
      _Chat messages in italics_

      Emojis can be found by using the emoji selector or by entering the selector with a colon.

      To start a new line, use the combination Shift and Enter.

    • Use the Enter key to send chat messages.

    • Editing chat messages
      You can edit and remove your own messages after they have been sent.
      To do so, hover over the message and click on the pencil icon (see Fig. 3.1). Alternatively, you can press the "arrow up" button in the chat window to open an older message in edit mode.

    • Remove messages
      You can still remove your own messages after sending them.
      To do this, hover over the message.
      To remove a message, click on the three dots and select "Remove" (see Fig. 3.1).

    • Respond to chat messages/quote chat messages (see Fig. 3.1).
      Hover the mouse over the other person's message to select....
      ... "react" to a message using an emoji (to express agreement, for example) with the emoji icon.
      ... respond to certain speech (to "quote" it) with the arrow icon.

    • Use commands - for example, make it "rain confetti":
      By typing a slash / you can invoke various commands.
      Under /help you can bring up the command menu.
      You can...
      ... execute various actions, for example leave a room with /part
      ... format chat messages, for example use /spoiler to make a message invisible for the time being
      ... use effects like confetti rain ( /confetti )

    • 3.1
      Enlarge image

      Edit and delete chat messages, and respond and reply to messages from others

  4. Search for chat messages
    You can search for messages using the search function.

    • Messages in encrypted rooms can be found only by using the desktop client.

    • In a room (=a conversation), click the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner.

    • Enter your search term and search in this room or in all rooms.

    • The search will be executed.

    • Exit the search by clicking on the red cross.

    • If a search is not possible, go to the "Security" setting under your avatar. There you can alter the "Message Search" and disable or enable it.

Problems or questions?