Create chat rooms in Finalsite Chat

This article details how to create chat rooms manually in Finalsite Chat, including how to create rooms from the CMS module and how to configure membership and posting permissions.

In this article

• Manual rooms vs. dynamically synced rooms
• Who can create chat rooms
• Method 1: Create a chat room in the Mobile Apps module
• Method 2: Create a chat room in the mobile or desktop Chat feature
• Best practices for naming chat rooms
• Monitor and moderate chat rooms

Manual rooms vs. dynamically synced rooms

There are two ways group membership can work in Finalsite Chat, and it's important to understand the difference before creating rooms:

• Manual rooms (Methods 1 and 2 below) are static. Members are added at the time of creation. If the underlying group in Group Manager changes later, for example, if someone joins or leaves, the chat room will not update automatically.
• Dynamically synced rooms are created from groups set up under Academic Classes in Group Manager. When the group uses a dynamic filter, the chat room membership stays in sync automatically as the group changes.

For step-by-step instructions on creating dynamically synced rooms, see "Create and manage dynamic academic class chat rooms."

Who can create chat rooms

Method 1: Create a chat room in the Mobile Apps module

Use this method when creating rooms from the CMS desktop environment.

• Step 1: Log in and navigate to the module menu Mobile Apps module > Chat feature.
  
• Step 2: Navigate to Chats explorer + Create chat room in the top right corner.
  
• Step 3: In the Create chat room window, enter a Chat room name and set Posting permissions, which determine who can post messages in the room.
• Step 4: Click Create chat room to confirm. The new room will appear in the Chats area on the left.
• Step 5: Click Show members to manage membership, then + Add members. Members can be added two ways:
  • Constituent: Add users individually by searching for anyone who exists as a Constituent.
  • Group: Add everyone in a Group Manager group at once by selecting the group.
    

Method 2: Create a chat room in the mobile or desktop Chat feature

Use this method when creating rooms directly within the Chat interface on a mobile device or desktop browser.

• Step 1: In the Click or tap the Chats icon in the bottom toolbar.
• Step 2: District Admins, School Admins, and Chat Managers will see a + sign to the right of the Chat Rooms section. Tap or click it.

• Step 3: In the Create chat room window:
  • Enter a Chat room name. Spaces are automatically replaced with underscores (_).
  • Select Posting permissions: Everyone (two-way room) or School moderators only (one-way announcement room).
     

• Step 4: Click Next and select the participants who will be members of this room.

• Step 5: Click Create chat room. The new room will open where membership can be confirmed and the first message sent.

Best practices for naming chat rooms

Keep names descriptive but concise. Include enough context for members to recognize the room at a glance. For example, Math7-Smith or CrossCountry-Fall rather than Room1 or Group-A.

Use underscores instead of spaces. Spaces are automatically replaced with underscores (_), so writing names with underscores from the start makes it easier to see exactly how they will display. For example: After-School-Tutorial or Grade5-Parents.

Avoid special characters. Stick to letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores to prevent display or sync issues.

Reflect the audience or purpose. Including the grade level, subject, team name, or school year helps distinguish rooms, especially in large districts. For example: EnglishGrade9-2025 or SoccerVarsity.

For SIS-synced rooms, room names are built automatically from components configured in Chat settings (class name, grade level, school name). Contact Finalsite Support to adjust the format. See "Chat for school leaders: Configure your chat environment settings" for details.

Monitor and moderate chat rooms

Once rooms are created, communication can be monitored and moderated from the CMS.

• Configure room settings (posting permissions, member visibility) via Mobile Apps Chat Settings.
• District Admins and School Admins can view all room communication in the Chats explorer.
• Depending on permission levels, Chat Managers can assist with moderation.

For full details, see "Chat for school leaders: Manage your Chat feature in the module."

Related articles

• Create and manage dynamic academic class chat rooms
• Chat for school leaders: Assign chat roles, create rooms, and manage members
• Set up athletic team Chat Rooms from Athletics Manager
• Chat for school leaders: Configure your chat environment settings
• Chat for school leaders: Manage your Chat feature in the module