martin announced a new desktop feature allowing users to access common chat channel actions via a sidebar context menu, including muting, settings, starring, and leaving channels. While NateDhaliwal praised the interface, Magie reported a critical bug where the “leave” action permanently removed chat groups instead of just closing them. martin acknowledged the issue and later confirmed a fix was merged post 7. Magie suggested differentiating the translation between “close” and “leave,” a change Moin noted was already addressed in a separate pull request. Further discussion highlighted a regression where removing a DM from the sidebar unexpectedly redirects to another channel, a behavior j.jaffeux and Moin identified as awkward and potentially buggy, with j.jaffeux promising to investigate. Finally, Don noted the feature appeared on mobile despite being desktop-only; martin clarified it is not intended for mobile and requires a UI rethink before implementation.
We’ve now made it easier to access common actions for chat channels on desktop with a sidebar context menu. This works for both public and direct message channels:
Previously, the only way to do access these actions (except for starring) was to visit the channel settings page, or the channel index in the case of leaving a channel:
Hi @martin
I noticed that the behavior changed for chat groups (not channels).
Before this update users could click on the small cross (“X”) to the right of the chat group name. That would close the group in the sidebar. But if the users searched for their group, they could find it again.
Now, clicking on the context menu and selecting the “x leave channel” makes the user actually leave the chat group unable to find it ever again.
On our side it leads to some problems and confusion. Users having lots of chat groups in their sidebar which they can’t close otherwise they will never find them again. Or accidentally leaving them.
Is this meant to be that way?
Hi @martin
Thank you so much for the update. It works.
Just wondering about the translation. Now both seem to have “leave channel”. Are they both using js.chat.channel_settings.leave_channel?
I think differentiating would be useful. So one can be “close” and the other can be “leave channel”.
Is there a reason why removing a DM chat from the sidebar opens another chat channel?
I understand that if you do that while the channel is open, a redirect to another channel is necessary. But in case there is not, it’s a little unexpected.
Ok maybe it’s a regression then, I don’t think the behavior of trying to load another channel when closing one in full page is new, but maybe we had a protection against this in drawer mode and lost it.
Actually, I find it even more confusing when I have used full-screen mode before. I understand why redirecting is important while the chat channel is open, but I had no chat on my screen. So why do I need chat after removing one from my sidebar?
This feature works great on desktop, but I noticed a layout issue on mobile.
The “three dots” icon (more options) is hidden by default on mobile. It only becomes visible after I tap on that specific area. I think it would be great to have a mobile version of this.
TBH this was not intended to be used on mobile, it’s desktop only for now. I’m not even sure how you are showing it there considering chat has a different UI on mobile.
Mobile will require a rethink of various menu actions, swipe behaviour, etc. etc. and we won’t be doing that anytime soon.
