Using the Client Portal

Smokeball Desktop App

Message a contact

1. Open a matter file and select the Messages tab.
   • Alternatively, you can select the Messages tab on the main Smokeball window to view messages across all matters.
2. Under External Matter Conversations, click on the plus icon.
   
3. Choose the participant/s and click Create to compose your message.
   • You can opt to send the message to be viewed through the Client Portal website, or send it as an SMS text message.
   • If you have the Archie AI add-on, you can use Archie to help convey your message by changing the tone, length or by improving your writing.
     
4. Select Send.

Send and share files or folders

Send a file

Send will deliver the file as a one-off attachment as a message.

1. Navigate to the All Files section at the bottom of your matter window and right-click on the file.
2. Select Send then select Client Portal..
3. Choose the parties and add an optional message. You can also attach extra files here. 
   
4. Select Send.

Share a file or folder

Share will deliver the file or folder as a dynamic link, meaning that the recipient can view any changes you make to the file itself.

Changes you make to a document or folder (including changing the folder structure) in Smokeball will carry over to a client when shared. Your clients can then view the latest version of the document or folder from their Client Portal without you needing to send them multiple versions.

1. Navigate to the All Files section at the bottom of your matter window and right-click on the file or folder.
2. Select Share then select Client Portal..
   
   
3. Choose the parties and add an optional message. You can also attach extra files here. 
   
4. Select Send.

When you click on a Shared document in a conversation:

1. The Shared icon is denoted next to the name of the document.
2. Information on the document's last update is located in the top-right corner of the document viewer.
3. To remove client access to the file or folder, select the three dots on the top-right corner of the document.

Important notes:

• When sharing a folder, the recipient will have access to all files within the folder and subfolders contained in it.
• Each folder can have a maximum of 130 files, and each file can be up to 5GB in size.
• There is no restriction on file types you can send or share.
• Documents and folders shared between parties on the Client Portal can be viewed from the Messages section in the matter’s File viewer.