Messages in Smokeball is getting a new look, along with some new features. Here's what's changing and why.
Why is Messages changing?
Messages is one of the older parts of Smokeball. It doesn't quite match the newer areas of the software. Buttons sit in different places, and some things behave one way in Messages and another way elsewhere. That means more time spent searching for what you need, and more to remember.
We've rebuilt Messages so it looks and works like other areas of Smokeball. That means less time looking for things, fewer surprises, and nothing new to learn when you move between Messages and those areas.
This update also means we can improve Messages faster from here. Changes to the old version were slow and more difficult to make. From now on, when you tell us something would make your day easier, we can work to get it to you sooner. The new features below are the first of those.
What do I need to do?
Nothing. We're rolling the new look out to firms in stages, so it will appear on its own once it reaches yours. Everyone at your firm will get it at the same time. We make the change after hours, and if you happen to be logged in, you'll be asked to refresh.
There's nothing to install, set up or turn on. Every conversation, file and attachment will be exactly where you left it, and the way you send, share and assign messages to matters will work as it always has.
What's new in Messages?
Better search in conversations
Searching in Messages has been rebuilt from scratch. It's faster and more reliable at finding the message you half-remember.
You'll be able to search from the Messages screen to look across all of your conversations, or from a matter to stay within that matter's conversations.
Mark a message as unread
Read a message now, deal with it later. Mark it as unread and it stays flagged in your conversation list until you come back to it.
Like a message
Acknowledge a message without adding another one to the thread. This is useful when someone needs to know you or your client has seen it.
Revamped conversation navigation
Internal and external conversations are clearly separated into their own tabs; Channels and Direct Messages are grouped in the left panel, and you'll be able to filter the list to show only unread conversations.