Threads

How Threads works

Threads is Sortly's built-in messaging feature. Instead of emailing your team or using other tools to talk about a specific item, folder, stock count, pick list, or purchase order, you can leave a comment right on it. Anyone who needs the context can find the conversation later, right where the inventory lives.

With Threads you can:

• Start a conversation on any item, folder, or workflow
• Reply to a comment and @mention a teammate to hand off a task or ask a question
• Edit or delete your own messages at any time
• Check the Threads inbox to see everything happening across your account, plus a tab for comments that mention you
• Get an email when you are mentioned while you are away from Sortly

Starting a conversation

A chat icon appears in a few places: the item detail page, the toolbar inside a folder, and the header of stock counts, pick lists, and purchase orders.

1

Select the chat icon in the header of the item, folder, or workflow you want to discuss.

2

A Threads panel opens on the right and shows every existing thread tied to it. If there are no threads yet, select Start a thread.

3

Type your message in the comment box at the bottom of the panel. Type @ to mention one or more teammates.

4

Select Add to post your comment.

To reply to a comment, type in the Write a reply... box below it. This pre-fills an @mention of that comment's author, so the right person is tagged automatically.

@Mentioning teammates

Type @ in any comment box to open a list of your teammates. Keep typing to filter the list by name, use the arrow keys to move through it, and press Enter or Tab to insert your selection.

The Threads inbox

Select Threads in the left menu to open your Threads inbox. It has two tabs.

All threads

Shows every conversation happening across your account, with the most recently active ones at the top. Each card shows the item, folder, or workflow it's tied to, along with the latest comment and how many replies it has.

My mentions

Shows every comment where someone has @mentioned you, even a reply deep in a conversation, so you never miss being tagged. Select a card to go right to that comment, which is briefly highlighted so you can find it right away.

On either tab, use the All types menu to narrow the list to Item, Folder, or Workflows. Select Only show unread to see only what you haven't read, or Mark all as read to clear everything at once.

Email notifications

As soon as you're @mentioned, you'll get an email with who mentioned you, the name of the item, folder, or workflow it's tied to, a snippet of the comment, and a button that takes you straight to the thread. You only get this email when you're actually @mentioned, so you won't be emailed for other activity on a thread you're part of. If you don't have permission to view that item, folder, or workflow, the email tells you that instead of showing the comment, along with a note to contact your admin to request access.

These emails are on by default, and we recommend keeping them on so you don't miss a message sent your way. To stop them, go to Settings > Preferences, set Threads under Email Preferences to Off, and select Save Changes. You can also change this from the Threads page.

Editing and deleting your messages

Select the three-dot menu on a comment you wrote to see Edit and Delete.

• Edit turns the comment into an editable box with your text. Press Enter or select Save to update it, or press Escape or select Cancel to discard your change.
• Delete on a reply removes only that reply.
• Delete on the first comment in a thread removes the entire thread and all its replies. You'll see a confirmation prompt first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can see a thread on an item, folder, or workflow?

Only teammates with permission to view that item, folder, or workflow can see its threads and comments. If you @mention someone (or @everyone) who doesn't have access, they'll still get a notification email, but instead of a comment snippet it will tell them they don't have access and to contact their admin to request it. They won't be able to view the thread or comments until access is granted.

Can I use Threads on the mobile app?

Yes. Open an item in the Sortly mobile app and tap the three-dot menu to view its thread and reply, the same as on the web. You'll see the full conversation history and can @mention teammates the same way.

Is Threads available on the Free plan?

Threads is available on all paid plans, and trial users get full access for as long as their trial is active. Upgrading from the Free plan, or starting a trial, gives you access, along with other paid features.

Can I search for a specific thread or message?

You can filter the Threads inbox by item, folder, or workflow to narrow things down. Keyword search isn't available yet.

What happens to a teammate's comments if they are deactivated?

Their comments stay exactly where they are. Deactivating a user does not remove or hide any of their thread content.

Does replying to my own thread notify me by email?

You'll get an email any time you're actually @mentioned. Replying to a thread you started, without tagging someone directly, won't send a notification.

Can I attach a photo or file to a comment?

Threads currently supports text and @mentions. Photo and file attachments aren't supported yet.

Can I mark a thread as resolved or done?

You can delete a thread you started if you want it removed entirely. There isn't a separate resolved or done status for threads.