The Chat Pod in Adobe Connect is an essential tool for text-based communication during virtual meetings or webinars. For example, when you first enter a meeting room, you can introduce yourself by chatting to everyone. If you have a question and don't want to disturb the meeting flow, you can privately send a chat message to another participant. 

As a presenter, you can use multiple Chat pods. Chat pods can display content to everyone or only to presenters (in Backstage).

Chat pod content persists in a meeting room until deleted. If you want to preserve the content for future use, send it through email.

The host can turn the chat panel on or off. Chats in the chat panel cannot be preserved or recorded in the meeting session.

Create a Chat pod

A host can create and display multiple Chat pods. You can use different Chat pods for different layouts and meetings. To create a chat pod, follow the steps.

Send public or private chat messages

Use the Chat pod to compose a message and send it to a specific participant, all presenters at the meeting, or all attendees. To proceed with chat messages, follow the following steps.

Use audio notifications for new chat messages

The Chat pod can generate a notification to alert a user about any new message. This option is available individually for each Chat pod and is specific to a session. 

Enabling sound alerts for chat messages in Adobe Connect significantly boosts participant engagement and responsiveness during sessions.

Clear messages from a Chat pod

Chat pod messages are persistent and are available in different layouts of the same meeting room. When an empty Chat pod is available in a meeting, a host can clear all messages for all attendees. You cannot retrieve the cleared chat messages. Hosts can also hide a Chat pod and create a new pod. You cannot retrieve the cleared chat messages.

Use the following steps to clear messages from the Chat pod.

Disable private chat between participants

By default, two participants can chat privately. However, as a host or presenter, you can turn off this option to prevent private chat by following these steps:

Use chat notifications for presenters and hosts

If you're a host or presenter, chat notifications let you communicate with your audience while presenting. The meeting window is minimized or maximized to full-screen, concealing the Chat pod. If an attendee sends a message while you're presenting, a notification appears in the lower-right corner of the screen. You can view the sender's name and the first few words of the message in the notification window.

Chat notifications are enabled by default. However, you can turn off the notifications during presentations. Use the following steps to manage notifications for the Chat pod:

Format chat text

Adobe Connect provides basic text formatting options in the chat pod, including bold, italic, and color formatting. 

From options  in the Chat pod, select Preferences. In MY SETTINGS, use the following options to format chat text.

Text size: From the font size list, choose the size for your text messages. 

Chat color: From the font color list, choose the color for your text messages. 

Sound on: Turn it ON or OFF to receive chat notifications accordingly.  

Email and save chat messages

Hosts and presenters can email a chat history for future reference.

While you are logged into a meeting room, all the messages you send and receive remain in your Chat pod.  To preserve the chat history, a host or presenter can email the chat content.

The host can request e-mail chat from the Everyone tab, Hosts tab, Presenters tab, and any private chat in which they've been participating.  

The host can view all transcripts from the entire chat history under different headers:

• Transcript from Chat with Everyone
  
• Transcript from Chat with Hosts
  
• Transcript from Chat with Presenters
  
• Transcript from Chat with XYZ

To email chat, select options  in the Chat pod. From MANAGE CHAT, select Email chat.

Send public or private chat messages in chat panel

Use the Chat panel to create a chat and send it to a specific participant, all presenters at the meeting, or all attendees. The host can select or deselect the Enable Chat Panel for this room option as per their requirements.

How chat panel interacts with other pods

Every pod interacts uniquely with the Chat Panel. While working with the chat panel, you may notice the following behavior of the chat panel while interacting with different pods.

• While screen sharing from the Share pod, clicking on the chat icon will open the chat in the Chat Panel if it's enabled for the meeting room. Otherwise, it will open in the available Chat pod. 
  
• When selecting an attendee from the Attendee pod for a private chat, the chat will open in the Chat Panel if enabled for the meeting room. Otherwise, it will open in the available Chat pod. 
  
• Chat Panel will not be visible live when switching on prepare mode.

Best practices to use Chat pod

• Establish Guidelines: Set clear guidelines for chat pod usage at the beginning of the session. This could include encouraging participants to use it for asking questions, sharing relevant resources, or making brief comments related to the discussion.
  
• Use Formatting: Encourage participants to use formatting options such as bold, italics, or text color to make their messages more readable and visually appealing.
• Manage Chat Flow: Monitor the chat pod regularly to ensure that questions are addressed, discussions remain productive, and any technical issues are promptly resolved.
• Review Chat Transcript: After the session, provide participants with access to the chat transcript so they can review any information shared or discussions that took place during the meeting.