---
title: "Tips & Features"
description: "Cross-cutting features like @mentions, connections, reactions, and real-time updates."
---

> Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.projectyl.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Tips & Features

## Slash commands

Slash commands are one of Projectyl's most powerful features. Type `/` in any text input — chat messages, task descriptions, document editors, or comments — to open the command menu.

### Quick mentions

Reference other entities directly in your text. When inserted, these become clickable links that navigate to the referenced item.

| Command       | Shortcut | What it does                                                 |
| ------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **People**    | `@`      | Mention a team member. They'll receive a notification.       |
| **Tasks**     | `/task`  | Search and insert a link to any task in the current project. |
| **Targets**   | `/tar`   | Search and insert a link to any target.                      |
| **Documents** | `/doc`   | Search and insert a link to any document.                    |

### Action commands

| Command           | Shortcut | What it does                                                             |
| ----------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Format**        | `/fmt`   | Access text formatting options.                                          |
| **New**           | `/new`   | Create a new task, document, or target without leaving the current view. |
| **Start Meeting** | `/meet`  | Start a meeting session.                                                 |

### Composer toolbar

In chat, the message composer includes a toolbar with quick-access buttons:

| Icon         | What it does                                                                         |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| 📎 Paperclip | Attach a file                                                                        |
| 🖼 Image     | Upload an image                                                                      |
| **@**        | Open the people mention picker                                                       |
| **#**        | Open the channel reference picker — search and link to other channels in the project |
| 😊 Emoji     | Open the emoji picker                                                                |
| **/**        | Open the slash command menu                                                          |

> **Pro tip:** You don't need to click the toolbar buttons — just type `@`, `#`, or `/` directly in your message to trigger the same menus.

### Where slash commands work

Slash commands and @mentions are available in:

- Chat messages (project channels and direct messages)
- Task descriptions and comments
- Document editor
- Target descriptions and comments

This means you can reference a task from a chat message, link a document from a task description, or mention a teammate in a comment — all without leaving what you're working on.

## @Mentions

Type `@` followed by a name to mention:

- **Users** — Notifies the mentioned person and highlights their name in the text.
- **Tasks** — Creates a clickable link (e.g. `@PROJ-123`).
- **Documents** — Creates a clickable link to the document.
- **Targets** — Creates a clickable link to the target.

Clicking any mention navigates you directly to the referenced entity.

## Connections

Tasks, documents, and targets automatically track **cross-references**. Any time you mention one entity from another (via @mention or slash command), Projectyl records the connection.

The **Connections** tab on any entity shows:

- **References** — Entities that this item mentions.
- **Referenced by** — Other entities that mention this item.

This builds an organic web of relationships across your project without any manual linking.

## Emoji reactions

Add emoji reactions to chat messages and task/target/document comments. Click an existing reaction to toggle your own. Reactions show a count of how many people have reacted.

## File attachments

Upload files to tasks and chat messages. Supported actions:

- Upload via drag-and-drop or the file picker (use the 📎 icon in chat, or the attachments section in task details).
- Download attached files.
- Remove attachments.

Attachments are available on tasks, targets, documents, and in chat messages.

## Real-time updates

Projectyl uses a polling architecture to keep your data fresh:

- **Global polling (60s)** — Activity summaries and unread counts.
- **Active view polling (20s)** — Data for the page you're currently viewing.
- **Chat polling (3–5s)** — Messages in the active chat channel.
- Polling pauses when the browser tab is hidden and resumes when you return.
- Only one browser tab actively polls — other tabs receive broadcasts to avoid duplicate requests.

## Task update dot

A **green dot** on task cards (visible in List view) indicates unseen changes or new comments since you last viewed the task. Open the task to clear the indicator.

## Deadline colour coding

Task due dates are colour-coded throughout the app:

- **Red** — Overdue (past the due date).
- **Orange/Yellow** — Due soon (approaching deadline).
- **Default** — No urgency or no date set.

## Task keys in Git

When using the [GitHub integration](/guides/github), include task keys like `PROJ-42` in your branch names or PR titles. Projectyl automatically detects them and links the PR to the corresponding task. See [GitHub — Automatic PR Tracking](/guides/github#automatic-pr-tracking) for details.

Source: https://docs.projectyl.app/guides/tips/index.mdx