1. Using Procurement
  2. Create Online Messages

Create Online Messages

You conduct online discussions within the context of a negotiation. An online discussion can include one or more conversation threads, which any of the participants can initiate.

You can start communications with other internal users as soon as a draft negotiation is created and then throughout the award cycle. After a negotiation is published, you and other internal users can exchange messages with supplier users who are participating in the negotiation.

You create messages on the Online Messages page. Once you access the negotiation, you can navigate to the Online Messages page from any page by selecting the Messages button.

Creating a Message or Reply

The Online Messages page shows you your message information for this negotiation. The region displays a breakdown of the conversations that exist for this negotiation. Each conversation appears as a folder. You can expand the folder to show all its messages and replies. If you select a message, its text appears in the details region in the lower half of the page.

To create a new message:

  1. Select the Create option from the Actions menu or click the create icon.

  2. On the Create Message dialog box, specify the scope of the message using the two list of values menus.

    To include the supplier in the message, select Supplier from the first menu, otherwise select Internal.

    To send the message to a single participant, select that participant from the second menu. Note that if you select a single participant, you set the conversation status to private. If you select All Participants, you set the conversation status to public.

  3. Enter the name of the subject of the message. This becomes the name of this conversation thread and appears as a new folder in the message hierarchy.

  4. Enter your message in the text box. You can use rich text formatting and you can include attachments.

  5. When you're finished, click the Send Instant Message button.

To create a reply:

  1. Highlight the message you want to reply to.

  2. Select Reply from the Actions menu. Since you're replying to an existing message, when the Reply to Message dialog box appears, note that the subject for the reply has already been entered.

  3. Enter your message in the text box and send the message when you're finished.