Messaging
Everything you need to know about sending messages, sharing files, and tracking delivery.
Sending messages
Once you have an accepted connection, messaging is straightforward:
- Open the O'Chat channel from the Discuss sidebar
- Type your message in the input field
- Press Enter or click the send button
Your message is automatically encrypted before being sent. The recipient's Odoo will decrypt it on their end. The central server never sees the plaintext content.
Delivery status
O'Chat provides real-time delivery tracking for every message you send:
| Icon | Status | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Pending | Message is being sent to the server | |
| Sent | Server received the message | |
| Delivered | Message delivered to recipient's Odoo | |
| Read | Recipient opened the message | |
| Retrying | Delivery failed, retrying automatically | |
| Failed | Delivery failed after all retry attempts |
Status updates happen in real-time — you'll see the icon change without refreshing the page.
Sharing files
O'Chat supports file attachments with your messages:
- Click the attachment icon (📎) in the message input
- Select one or more files from your computer
- The files will be attached to your next message
- Send the message as usual
File limits
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum file size | 100 MB per file |
| Files per message | 5 files maximum |
| Total per message | 500 MB maximum |
Files are encrypted too
Attachments are encrypted along with your message content. They're stored as regular Odoo attachments after decryption on the recipient's side.
Receiving messages
When someone sends you a message:
- The message appears in the O'Chat channel in real-time
- The channel moves to the top of your O'Chat list
- You receive Odoo notifications (browser/email based on your settings)
- Unread messages are highlighted
Messages show the sender's name and avatar based on the contact associated with the connection.
Message limitations
Due to the encryption architecture, O'Chat messages have some limitations compared to regular Odoo Discuss:
| Feature | Supported | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Send messages | — | |
| File attachments | — | |
| Delivery tracking | — | |
| Edit messages | Encryption prevents modification | |
| Delete messages | Already delivered to recipient | |
| Reply to messages | Threading not supported | |
| Reactions (emoji) | Would require sync protocol |
Rich text formatting
O'Chat preserves HTML formatting in messages. You can use:
- Bold, italic, and other text formatting
- Bullet points and numbered lists
- Links (URLs are clickable)
- Code blocks and inline code
Use the formatting toolbar in the message composer, or use Markdown-style shortcuts.
Bulk messaging
Need to send the same message to multiple clients? O'Chat supports bulk messaging:
- Go to Settings → O'Chat → Connections
- Select multiple connections
- Click Action → Send Bulk Message
- Compose your message and attach files if needed
- Click Send — the message is sent to all selected connections
Use responsibly
Bulk messaging is great for announcements, maintenance notices, or important updates. Avoid spamming — your clients receive these messages in their Odoo.
Troubleshooting
Message stuck on "Pending"
- Check your internet connection
- Verify your O'Chat registration is still valid
- Check the Odoo server logs for errors
Message shows "Failed"
- The recipient's instance may be offline
- The recipient's webhook URL may be unreachable
- Check the error message for more details
Automatic retries
When delivery fails, O'Chat automatically retries with exponential backoff. A message will only show "Failed" after all retry attempts are exhausted.
Not receiving messages
- Ensure your Odoo instance is accessible from the internet
- Check that the webhook endpoint (
/ochat/webhook) is reachable - Verify your firewall allows incoming connections