Chat surfaces and status

A chat is more than its conversation. Around the transcript sit tabs, cards and strips that show what Oda is doing and what its work produced. This page maps those surfaces and how the DataMind Oda desktop app, the VS Code extension and the web app differ.

The side panel tabs

Open the side panel next to your chat to reach the surfaces beside the conversation:

• Browser: the browser you and Oda share, as a side panel tab in the desktop app; in the VS Code extension it opens in the editor area. See The browser in Oda.
• Terminal: your own shell, starting in the chat's workspace folder. See The terminal.
• Files: the chat's workspace folder as a tree (the panel guide reads Workspace files). Click a file to open it in a preview.
• Opening a file gives it a preview tab of its own: Markdown, code, HTML, PDF, Office documents and plain text all have a viewer. See Preview files in Oda.
• Activity: the work Oda is running and what it finished. See Activity.

The sidebar also carries your chats and, on the desktop app, a Scheduled section when your administrator allows scheduled tasks for the company. See Schedule recurring tasks.

The Chat and Trajectory tabs

A conversation shares its top with a pair of tabs: Chat, the conversation itself, and Trajectory, a replay of the same session with its turns, steps, tool calls and timings. On the desktop app and in the VS Code extension the Trajectory tab appears only while Developer tools is on; in the web app it is always shown. See The Trajectory tab.

Cards under a reply

Under the closing message of a turn, cards gather what the work produced:

• A changed-files card lists the files the turn changed; open it to review the changes. Workspaces, files and permissions shows the review flow.
• Delivery cards stand for the files Oda handed over, ready to open.

The cards are part of a standard chat; where this surface is turned off, replies end without them.

The stats strip and the turn rail

A chat shows a stats strip with its counts and timings, and a turn rail that outlines its turns, so you can jump back to one. The figures and the jumping are explained in Chat navigation and stats.

Goals and suggested tasks

• While a goal is running, a goal pill sits by the message box and shows its progress; when the goal is on hold or blocked, a notice appears at the top of the chat, and the goal's card sits in Activity. See How goals work.
• When Oda sees a fitting next step, a suggested task appears as a chip over the transcript and as a card; nothing starts on its own. See Suggested tasks.

Visuals in replies

Replies can carry live visuals: chart and kpi blocks render as theme-coloured charts and KPI cards (Charts and KPIs in chat), and mermaid blocks render as diagrams (Diagrams in chat).

Commands and dialogs

• The Like and Dislike buttons under replies and the /feedback command are left off in the desktop app and the VS Code extension; both appear in the web app. See Feedback.
• Share… on a chat row of the sidebar and in the chat header shares a read-only copy of the chat. See Chat sharing and branches.

Defaults on each surface

Some surfaces are placed or shown differently by default, depending on where you use Oda:

• In the VS Code extension the Terminal and Files tabs stay off, since VS Code provides its own terminal and file explorer.
• Skills are available in every chat on the desktop app and in the VS Code extension; in the web app, the chat's preset decides which skills appear.

Questions, answered

What can I open in the side panel?

Browser, Terminal, Files, file previews and Activity. In VS Code the browser opens in the editor area instead of a panel tab, and previews cover Markdown, code, HTML, PDF, Office documents and plain text.

What are the cards under Oda's reply?

The files the turn changed and the files Oda delivered. Open the changed-files card to review what changed.

What does the goal pill show?

It tracks the chat's goal while it runs, and a notice at the top of the chat explains a goal that is on hold or blocked. See How goals work.

What is a suggested task?

A follow-up Oda offers at the end of a turn, as a chip over the transcript and as a card. Nothing starts by itself. See Suggested tasks.

Why can't I rate a reply?

The Like and Dislike buttons and the /feedback command are left off in the desktop app and the VS Code extension; both appear in the web app.

When do I see the Trajectory tab?

In the desktop app and the VS Code extension, while Developer tools is on; in the web app it is always shown. See The Trajectory tab.

Can Oda draw charts in a reply?

Yes. Replies can carry chart, kpi and mermaid blocks that render as theme-coloured charts, KPI cards and diagrams. See Charts and KPIs in chat.