This article will help Portal users to communicate with other members by using the private messaging tool.  

Why use Private Messaging? 

• Facilitate direct communication: Easily connect with other users to discuss projects, ask questions or collaborate.  
• Enhance collaboration: Exchange knowledge and information without relying on external communication tools.  

Step 1: To access your private messaging area, sign in to the portal and click on your account avatar. From the dropdown menu, select "My messages" to open the page containing all your private messages. 

Step 2: If you select "New message", a pop-up window will appear, allowing you to choose the recipient and type your message content.

Step 3: To access Private Messaging Settings, click on the three dots icon in the top-right corner of the page. This will open a menu with various settings options. 
 

Step 4: You can choose to turn private message notifications on or off. 

Step 5: You can opt to receive email notifications for every private message or only when you're not actively viewing the thread. 

Step 6: Define the amount of time after leaving a thread before the system starts sending email notifications for new messages. 

Important note: You also can block specific users and even report them to the Portal’s moderators. This is possible via the red triangle icon located in the bottom right of a received message.