> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.owlery.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Comments and the Inbox

> Talk with your team and partners on loads, quotes, and appointments, and follow every conversation from one Inbox.

Every load, quote bid, and appointment has its own comment conversation, and the Inbox gathers those conversations into one list so you can follow them without opening each record.

**Where to find it:** the **Comments** button in a record's side panel, or the chat icon in the top bar for the Inbox.

## Where You Can Comment

Open a record and click **Comments** in its side panel. Each record has one conversation. On a quote, each bid has its own conversation, and each bid row shows how many comments it has.

| Record | In the Inbox |
| - | - |
| Load | Yes |
| Quote bid | Yes |
| Appointment | Yes |
| Order | No |
| Invoice | No |

Commenting on an exception adds the comment to the linked load, invoice, or order. It appears in the Inbox only when the exception is linked to a load.

## Write a Comment

Type in the comment box and press send. A comment needs some text or an emoji.

* **Formatting**: click **Aa** to show the formatting toolbar, or type `/` for headings, lists, checklists, tables, and more.
* **If sending fails**: your text stays in the box so you can try again.
* **Hootie**: when [Hootie](/shippers/hootie.md) posts for someone, the comment shows that person's name with a **via Hootie** label.

> [!WARNING]
>
> Comments can't be edited or deleted after you send them. Unsent text isn't saved, so closing the panel, switching records, or reloading the page clears it.

## Who Gets Emailed

Load, quote bid, and appointment conversations email a list of people whenever someone comments. Under the comment box, **Notifications will be sent to** shows who's on the list before you send.

| Conversation | Who's on the list |
| - | - |
| Load | The shipper's [default contacts](/shippers/contacts.md), the load's account managers, and everyone who has commented |
| Quote bid | The shipper's [default contacts](/shippers/contacts.md), the broker's account managers on that quote, and everyone who has commented |
| Appointment | The person who booked it, its [appointment update recipients](/facilities/appointment-emails.md), and everyone who has commented |

* **The list is set by the first comment**: anyone who comments later is added. Changing your contacts or account managers afterward doesn't change conversations that already exist.
* **You're never emailed about your own comment.**
* **The email links back to Owlery**: it shows the start of the comment and a **View full comment** button. Replying to the email doesn't post a comment. Reply in Owlery instead.

## Use the Inbox

Click the chat icon in the top bar to open the Inbox. It shows load, quote, and appointment conversations, sorted by the latest comment.

### Tabs

| Tab | What it shows |
| - | - |
| **My** | Conversations you've commented in or get emails for. This is the default. |
| **All** | Every conversation you have access to |
| **Quotes**, **Loads**, **Appointments** | One record type. You only see the tabs for pages you can open. |

### The Conversation List

Each row shows the record, its order number, the route (or the facility and time for an appointment), and the latest comment. Unread conversations are bold with a blue bar on the left.

The list doesn't update live. New comments appear the next time you open the Inbox.

### Read and Reply

Click a conversation to open it on the right. The first one opens automatically.

* Click **View Load**, **View Quote**, or **View Appointment** to open the record in a new tab.
* **Participants** at the bottom lists everyone who has commented.
* Reply from the box at the bottom of the conversation.

## Read and Unread

Read status is yours alone. Marking a conversation read or unread doesn't change it for anyone else.

* Opening a conversation in the Inbox marks it read.
* Posting a comment marks it read up to your comment.
* When someone else comments, it becomes unread again.
* To change it yourself, hover over a row and click the envelope icon, or click the envelope icon at the top of the open conversation.

## Who Can See a Conversation

If you can open a record, you can read and comment on its conversation. If you can't, you won't see it, even if you're on its email list. If you lose access to a record, its conversation leaves your Inbox.

Archived appointments can't take new comments.


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.