Comments and mentions

Talk about a file where it lives. Anyone who can see a file can read and write its comments, so a question about a column stays next to the column, not in a chat thread nobody can find later.

Write a comment

1. 1

   Open the file

   Choose it in Files, then choose the Comments tab.

2. 2

   Write

   Type in the box under Add a comment. A comment can be up to 5,000 characters.

3. 3

   Mention a colleague (optional)

   Type @ in the box. A list of colleagues opens, narrowed as you type their name. Choose one with the arrow keys and Enter, or click it, and their name is put into your comment. They get a notification. Only people who can already see the file are offered. Delete the name from the text and they are not told.

4. 4

   Choose Comment

   It appears at the bottom of the conversation, with your name and the time.

Reply

Choose Reply under a comment, write your answer and choose Reply again. Replies sit indented under the comment they answer. Threads are one level deep: you can reply to a comment, but not to a reply.

Comments are listed oldest first, so a conversation reads top to bottom.

Edit and delete

• Edit is for the author only. An edited comment says (edited) beside the time.
• Delete is for the author or an admin.

A deleted comment is not removed from the thread. It is replaced by a short line saying it was deleted, so replies keep their place and nobody is left wondering what they answered.

Mentions

• A mention sends the person a notification.
• Editing a comment notifies only the people newly mentioned.
• A mention never gives anyone access to a file. Only people who could already see it can be tagged.

In the demo company

The demo company is read-only: you can read its comments and try the buttons, but a comment you write is refused with a message that says why.

From code

Reading, writing, editing and deleting comments are available over HTTP, and new comments can arrive live: see Team and collaboration API and Live updates.