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Using Mattermost

First Steps

Getting Access

Before you can access Mattermost you first need to sign up to the XR UK Communications Hub. For instructions on how to do that please read this guide.

Once you are on the Hub you can access Mattermost in a few ways:

  1. Click on the Mattermost icon from the Comms Hub main page.

mattermost_icon_resize.png

  1. Type https://organise.earth into your browser and hit Enter.

Once this is done we recommend adding the page to your bookmarks/favourites so it's easier to find in future.

Mattermost is also available as an app so you can install it to your smartphone or tablet. Please read this document for instructions on how to do this.

Landing Page

When you have logged in to Mattermost you will see a screen that looks a lot like this:

Hdsimage1.png

Teams

Teams in Mattermost are basically collections of channels. They appear on the far left of your screen (1) and you can click on the icons to switch between them.

You will be added to the UK team by default but your group might use other teams and you will see these too.

Checking who else is in my team

To see the other members of a team, click on the Main Menu (3) and select View Members.

Joining other teams

To join a public team, click on the + sign below your list of teams (1). This will bring up a list of all the other XR public teams you are able to join, including for other countries. Click on one of the list of teams to add yourself.

If you want to be added to a private team (e.g. for your local group) you will need to speak to a Group Admin/Tech Champion who will be able to send you an invite.

Leaving a team

To leave a team, open the Main Menu (3), and then select the option Leave Team.

Channels

Channels are just another name for group chats. Every local group/working group set up on the Hub will have several of these channels that you will be added to if you are part of that group.

Joining channels

To join a public channel click on More... below PUBLIC CHANNELS on the left (4). This will bring up a list of all of the public channels in your team. Click on any of these in the list to add yourself.

If you want to join a private channel you should ask someone already in that channel to add you. You could also post a message in that group's Receptionreception channel asking to be added.

Leaving a channel

To leave a channel, select it then click on the channelits name at the top of the screen (not where it appears on the left), and from the dropdown menuthen select the option Leave Channel.

How

Muting channels

You can mute channels if you want to stop receiving notifications from it but don't want to leave. To do I 'mute' or ignore a Channel?

If youthis click the Channelchannel heading you(at the top of the screen) and click Mute Channel. You can use 'Notification Preferences' toalso set howwhether you willwant to be notified aboutif thatsomeone channeluses only, including the ability to turn off @all, and @channel mentions,@all or 'Mute@channel channel'by toclicking turnon offNotification all notifications for this channel without leaving it.Preferences.

Default channels

Every team has two default channels that you will be added to when you are added to the team:

  • Town Square: This is the communal area in each team that should be used for announcements and general XR-related discussions.

  • Off Topic: This is a place where team members can discuss things that aren't directly related to the business of the team (e.g. social activities).

Very Important: Please do not rename these default channels as it will cause a lot of confusion.

It is not possible to leave the Town Square channel. If you want to stop receiving notifications you should mute the channel instead.

Contacting other groups

All XR UK groups on Mattermost have a public 'Reception' channel in the UK team, and their members will be added to them by default (you will probably be in some yourself). This lets rebels from other groups find and speak to them.

To join someone else's reception channel, click More... below PUBLIC CHANNELS (4), find the channel you want to join and then click Join. The channel will then appear next to the other public channels you have joined.

Creating channels

CreateImportant: Public:You Publicshould not create public channels shouldfrom alwaysinside beMattermost. created by your Group Admin or Tech Champion or your team members will not automatically be added to them.
The + sign next to 'PUBLIC CHANNELS' will allow you to create a new public channel within the team, butInstead please don'tget do this without agreement from theyour Group Admin/Tech Champion -to theydo havethis betterfor waysyou ofusing creatingthe new public channels.Hub.

CreateTo Private: If you need to discuss something withcreate a groupprivate ofchannel:

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    it may make sense to have a Private Channel rather than a larger DM group.
  1. Click on the + sign next to 'PRIVATE CHANNELS'CHANNELS to(5)
    2. set
  2. Enter onea up. If it isname for the wholenew teamchannel please(and seeoptional purpose and header)
  3. Click Create PublicChannel
    4. above.

WHERE I'M UP TO

What is Channel heading or Channel info?

Underneath the channel Name at the top of the page is useful information about what the channel is for. Some Teams link to your Forum, Minutes or other useful documents here. To see all the info click on the Channel heading:
2Ipimage5.png
...then select 'View Info'.
If you want to add useful information here you can select 'Edit Channel Header'.

How to link to your group forum in channel header?

Often people just can't remember where to find their forum. A link in your channel header can help - here is how to create one:

  • Go to the relevant forum (via Categories & Forums in the menu)
  • Copy the url from your browser's address bar (should look something like https://base.extinctionrebellion.org.uk/c/help-info-tech/migration-team-reception/92 - that's the DDAT Reception one, yours will be different)
  • Go to the channel
  • Edit the channel header
  • Put in the link like this:
    [Our Forum](https://base.extinctionrebellion.org.uk/c/help-info-tech/migration-team-reception/92) - the text in the square brackets is displayed, and the link is in the round brackets.

Sending Messages

You can write messages by typing in the box at the bottom of the screen. To send them hit Enter. The message will be sent to the current Channel or Direct Message you are in.

To reply to messages click on the Reply icon: reply2.png. It will allow you to respond and have discussions about a particular message, and not clutter up the channel for other people.

To add a reaction/emoticon to a message click on the Add Reaction icon: reaction.png.

How do I find messages?

search.png At the top right of the main window is a Search icon to search the current channel (and all your DMs). There are various options ro restrict the search. For example, to find message from user @username enter FROM:username (without the @ sign).

How do I add a link to a document or image?

Links are done with [text to display] in square brackets, immediately followed by (https://www.fulllinktext.com/blah) in round brackets.

How do I format my message, add bold/italic etc.?

There are simple ways to make your message more readable:

  • **bold** displays as bold
  • _italic_ displays as italic
  • ~~strikethrough~~ displays as strikethrough
  • ```typewriter style``` displays as typewriter stye
  • >quote displays as

quote

How do I alert someone to a message?

If you want to draw the attention of another member of the team to a post you are making type @ followed immediately by their username, eg '@username', and they will be notified of the mention. You can also use @all or @channel for all members in the channel but please use responsibly as for larger groups it is rarely appropriate.

How do I send a Direct Message (DM)?

Click the + sign to the right of the heading 'DIRECT MESSAGES' in the sidebar. Select the user(s) you wish to message, write your message and hit enter to send

Where do I find Direct Messages?

The names of users you've had conversations with will appear below the 'DIRECT MESSAGES' heading to make it easier to contact them again. Next to each name, an icon shows whether they are offline / online and whether they are currently active. Clicking on a username will display your direct message history with that user. Users you do not need to contact regularly can be removed from this list by pressing the cross to the right of their name.

Your Profile / Main Menu

How do I open the Main Menu? 0FAimage3.png

Click the three bars to right of your username at the top of the Channel column.

How do I logout?

Scroll down to the bottom of menu to find the 'Logout" option.

How do I change settings?

The first option on the Main Menu is 'Account Settings'; this let's you make changes to your profile:

1rKimage5.png

General: edit your name / username / nickname / role / email address and add a profile picture

Security: edit your password

Notifications: manage when and how you receive notifications of activity in Mattermost. You can opt to receive notifications on your desktop, via email or mobile push notifications. You can also specify what triggers are used to generate notifications.

Display: make changes to how things appear on screen including whether full names, usernames or nicknames are used to identify other users.

Sidebar: adjust how the sidebar is organised (the LHS blue section of the page).

Advanced: miscellaneous options including deactivation of your account.

How do I set my status/visibility to others?

Click on the status in the corner of your picture/avatar at the top of the Channel colum to change your status (e.g. to "Do not disturb") whilst remaining logged in. Click elsewhere to bring up the Main menu

How do I get rid of annoying 'System' messages?

Under the Advanced section, set Enable Join/Leave Messages to Off.

What are Flags and Pins?

You can Flag a post for your personal reference (e.g. to find later) by clicking the Flag next to it. Click the Flag icon at the top right to bring up all your Flagged posts in the channel.

Pinned posts are in a channel so that they can be quickly found again by clicking the Pin icon. Pinned posts are typically used for announcements that all rebels should read.

Flags are for you personally, pins are for everyone in the channel - only channel coordinators should pin posts.

Other Resources

Comprehensive manual for those interested in the software.

First Steps on Mattermost

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