---
title: "Starting a chat"
description: "Chat always happens inside a workspace, so the first step is to launch one. Open the workspace selector at the top of the sidebar, pick the workspace you want to work in, and th…"
url: "https://sotaagents.ai/manual/using-sotaagents/starting-a-chat"
generated_by: "sotaagents-ldp"
docs_index: "https://sotaagents.ai/manual/llms.txt"
locale: "en"
---

# Starting a chat

Chat always happens inside a workspace, so the first step is to launch one. Open the **workspace selector** at the top of the sidebar, pick the workspace you want to work in, and the home screen loads with a centered input box asking _How can I help you today?_ — type your question there to start a conversation.

### The chat layout

![The chat layout: workspace switcher, New Conversation, Search and Projects above the Recents list, with the composer centred](/manual/assets/product/chat-home-20260813.webp)
_The sidebar holds the workspace, search and your conversations; everything else is the thread._

| Area | What's there |
| --- | --- |
| Sidebar (left) | Workspace selector at the topNew Conversation buttonSearch (opens the command palette to find conversations)Projects (navigate to your project list)Recent conversationsAccount menu at the bottom |
| Chat UI (center) | Conversation areaChat input (holds model selector, text box, **(+)** attachments, file chips, and send/stop button)Type `/` to open the capabilities list |
| Artifacts panel (right) | Opens when you click a generated file or a citationLets you read, navigate, and download the file |

### Sending a message

1. #### Start a new conversation (optional)

   Hit _New Conversation_ in the sidebar to start fresh.

2. #### Type and send

   `Enter` sends, `Shift`+`Enter` adds a new line.

3. #### Watch the answer stream

   The assistant's reply appears live. If it needs to search, generate a file, or call a tool, you'll see a _tool step_ appear inline before it continues writing.

![An assistant answer streaming into the thread with headings and bullet points, above the reply composer](/manual/assets/product/chat-conversation-20260813.webp)
_The answer streams in as it is written; you can keep reading while it finishes._

4. #### Stop a runaway answer

   While the assistant is replying, the send button becomes a _Stop_ button. Click it to halt generation.

![The action row under an assistant message: retry, copy, read aloud and feedback, with the credits used](/manual/assets/product/chat-message-actions-20260813.webp)
_Every answer carries its own actions and the credits it cost._

### Reply, read aloud, and branch

Select a passage inside an assistant reply, then click _Reply_. The selected excerpt is attached above the composer so the next message keeps the exact context.

![Selected text in an assistant reply with the Reply action ready to attach the excerpt to the composer](/manual/assets/product/chat-quote-reply-20260903.webp)
_Select only the passage you want to discuss, then reply to that excerpt._

Open an assistant reply's _More_ menu for _Read aloud_ or _Fork from this message_. A message fork copies the conversation through that reply into a new thread and leaves the original untouched.

![An assistant message More menu showing Read aloud and Fork from this message](/manual/assets/product/chat-message-fork-menu-20260903.webp)
_Read the answer aloud or branch at exactly this message from the same menu._

### Edit and long conversations

Editing a historical user message opens the composer under a dark overlay and locks scrolling. Press `Esc` or click outside to leave edit mode; the in-progress edit is preserved if you switch conversations and return.

![A historical message being edited in the composer while a dark overlay covers the conversation](/manual/assets/product/chat-message-edit-overlay-20260903.webp)
_Edit mode takes over the screen so the branch point is unambiguous._

When a long conversation is summarized automatically to free context space, a _Context automatically compacted_ activity appears in the chat stream.

![A chat activity row saying Context automatically compacted](/manual/assets/product/chat-context-compaction-20260903.webp)
_The timeline records each automatic compaction._

### Inactive organizations

If the organization's subscription is inactive, the notice appears on the composer. Existing content remains readable, but sending messages, uploading files, and changing apps are disabled until the plan is restored.

![The composer showing an organization subscription cancelled notice and disabled sending](/manual/assets/product/chat-org-inactive-notice-20260903.webp)
_The inactive-organization notice appears with the controls it disables._

> [!NOTE]
> If something goes wrong
>
> An error banner appears below the messages with _Retry_ and _Dismiss_ buttons.