Disciple.Tools User Documentation

Disciple.Tools | Record Comments

The Comments system in Disciple.Tools allows users to add notes, updates, and communicate about specific records. Comments appear in the Activity & Comments sidebar on the right side of any record details page and serve as a collaborative communication tool for team members working on contacts, groups, and other records.

Accessing Comments

Comments are available on all record detail pages in Disciple.Tools:

1. Navigate to any record (contact, group, etc.) by clicking on it from a list view
2. Locate the Activity & Comments sidebar on the right side of the page
3. Find the comment box at the top of the sidebar section

The comment system is always visible and accessible when viewing individual records.

Adding Comments

Basic Comment Creation

To add a comment to a record:

1. Click in the comment text area at the top of the Activity & Comments sidebar
2. Type your message using the text input field
3. Click the “Add Comment” button to save your comment

Your comment will immediately appear in the activity timeline below the comment box.

Comment Types and Categories (only on contacts)

Disciple.Tools allows you to categorize your comments for better organization:

1. Locate the dropdown menu below the comment text area
2. Select a comment type from the available options, which may include:
   • Comment (general notes)
   • Update (status or progress updates)
   • Coaching (mentoring and guidance notes)
   • Prayer Request (spiritual support needs)
   • Other custom types configured for your installation
3. Choose the appropriate category before submitting your comment

The comment type helps team members quickly understand the nature and priority of different communications.

Mentioning Users in Comments

You can notify specific team members by mentioning them in comments:

1. Type the @ symbol followed by the user’s name (e.g., @John Doe)
2. Select the correct user from the dropdown list that appears
3. Complete your comment and submit it normally

What happens when you mention someone:

• The mentioned user receives a notification about your comment
• Their name appears as a clickable link in the comment
• They can quickly navigate to the record to see the full context

Formatting Comments with Markdown

You can use Markdown to format your comments. This allows for bolding, italics, lists, links, and images.

Text Formatting

• Bold: Wrap your text in two asterisks. Example: **This is bold text** will appear as This is bold text. You can also use two underscores: __This is bold text__.
• Italics: Wrap your text in one asterisk. Example: *This is italicized text* will appear as This is italicized text.

Lists

• Unordered Lists: Start each line with a hyphen -, an asterisk *, or a plus +. Example: ```
  • First item
  • Second item ```
• Ordered Lists: Start each line with a number followed by a period. Example: ```
  1. First item
  2. Second item ```

Links

You can create a link by wrapping the link text in brackets [ ] and the URL in parentheses ( ). Example: [Disciple.Tools](https://disciple.tools) will appear as Disciple.Tools. URLs are also automatically converted to clickable links.

Images

You can embed an image by using an exclamation mark !, followed by alt text in brackets [ ], and the image URL in parentheses ( ). Example: ![Alt text](https://example.com/image.jpg)

Reacting to Comments

You can add emoji reactions to any comment in the activity timeline:

1. Hover over a comment to see the reaction controls.
2. Click the smiley face icon to open the emoji picker.
3. Select an emoji to add it as a reaction to the comment.

Managing Reactions:

• Your reaction will appear below the comment with a count.
• To remove your reaction, simply click on the emoji you added.
• You can hover over a reaction to see who has reacted.

Translating Comments

If a comment is written in a language different from your own, you can translate it directly in the timeline. This feature is powered by Google Translate and must be enabled by a site administrator.

1. Find a comment in a foreign language.
2. Click the “Translate” link that appears below the comment text.
3. View the translation, which will appear directly below the original comment.
4. To hide the translation, click the “Hide Translation” link.

Viewing and Managing Comments

Reading Comment History

All comments appear in the activity timeline in reverse chronological order (newest first):

• User name and timestamp appear with each comment
• Comment type is displayed as a label or category
• Full comment text is shown with preserved formatting
• Mentioned users appear as highlighted links

Comment Visibility and Permissions

Who can see comments:

• All users with access to the record can view comments
• Comments are visible to anyone who can view the record details

Who can add comments:

• Users with edit permissions on the record can add comments

Comment Notifications

Receiving Comment Notifications

When someone mentions you in a comment or adds a comment to a record you’re following:

1. Check your notification center (bell icon in the top navigation)
2. Look for comment-related notifications in your notification list
3. Click on the notification to navigate directly to the relevant record

Managing Comment Notifications

To control when you receive comment notifications:

1. Access your user settings from your profile menu
2. Navigate to notification preferences
3. Configure comment notification settings for different scenarios:
   • When mentioned in comments
   • When comments are added to records you’re assigned to
   • When comments are added to records you’re following