Zephyr has a collaboration framework built-in that allows users of the system to communicate and collaborate with each other. This application is available in all desktops and users are automatically logged on to it when they log into their Desktops.
The application is accessed by clicking on the Message Bar found at the bottom of every Desktop.
The Message Bar displays the number of unread messages and details about a message as they are sent - User, Time, Data, and the first line of the message. These messages float in and out of the bar and only the latest one is displayed in this notification area.
On clicking anywhere in the Message Bar, the Collaboration application window slides open allowing the user to interact with it. Clicking anywhere outside this window will dismiss the Collaboration application and the user can go back to working with their other applications on the Desktop. Every user of Zephyr, added either via the Resource Management application or via Defects Admin, is automatically listed in here. Also, every project created in Project Setup automatically gets added here with the list of assigned resources in it.
When a user is logged into their Desktop, this is indicated by their icon turning green. There are multiple ways in which users can communicate with each other.
The Broadcast tab is a default one and is used to send a message to everyone in the Department (and Defect Users too). Obviously, this should be used sparingly else it loses its value and importance.
Every user can have a 1-on-1 (or private) conversation with any other user in the Department. They do so by double-clicking on that user's name in that Department list (not on the name in the Project list) . A tab opens with that user's name ("Lana Malakova" in this example) and a conversation can begin in that tab. Multiple 1-on-1 conversations can be had in parallel. Note: if a user is not logged in, any messages sent to them will not show up for them when they eventually log in.
If a message needs to be sent to everybody on a project team, then this is done by double-clicking on a project name. A tab opens with that project name and messages can be sent there, which will be received by everyone in that project if they are currently logged on.
Note:
If a user is not logged in, any messages sent to them as part of the project will not show up for them when they eventually log in.
You cannot have a 1-on-1 conversation with a user by clicking on their name under a Project. 1-on-1 conversations are only possible by clicking on their names under the Department.