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OnStation Chat: How to View, Send & Manage Flag Conversations + Images

Using Chats in the OnStation App: Chats in OnStation make it easy to communicate with your team, share updates, and attach photos directly to a flag. Whether you’re in the field or reviewing a project, the chat feature keeps all communication tied to the exact map location where the work is happening.

OnStation chat can be accessed in two ways:

1. Accessing Chats From the Main Chat Icon

At the bottom of the OnStation app, you’ll find the Chat icon .
Tapping this icon opens a list of all flags shared with you that contain active chats.

Each chat preview shows:

  • The flag title
  • A short snippet of the most recent message in that chat

Just tap any chat in the list, and OnStation will open the chat record.

This makes it quick to jump right into any ongoing conversation without needing to find the flag manually on the map.

2. Accessing Chats From the Flag Record

You can also open chats directly from the flag itself.

  1. Open the flag
  2. Tap the Chat tab at the top of the flag details

This is helpful when you’re already reviewing a flag’s information and want to add comments, updates, or images in context.

Chat Records in the Portal

You can view chats when viewing flag records in the portal.

  1. Navigate to the OnStation Portal.

  2. Tap the Projects Tab.

  3. Select the project you'd like to work in.

  4. Select a flag to view.

  5. Tap the Chat tab to view chats on that flag.

 

Why Chats Are Great to Use in OnStation

Chats are more than simple messages—they’re a powerful tool for project communication and field documentation.

1. Attach Photos Easily

Chats are how you add images to a flag.
Within any chat, you can:

  • Take a photo directly
  • Upload from your gallery

These images become part of that flag’s communication history, making it easy to document:

  • Field conditions
  • Safety concerns
  • Completed work
  • Materials
  • Measurements
  • Before/after comparisons

2. Keep Flag Communication in One Place

Every message stays tied to the exact flag location.
No more guessing:

  • Which photo belongs to which spot
  • What update goes with what part of the project
  • Who said what and where

Chats create a clean, centralized conversation thread for each flag.

3. Improve Team Coordination

Since chats stay with the flag:

  • Crews, inspectors, supervisors, and staff all stay aligned
  • Anyone opening the flag can see the full conversation history
  • No need to chase texts, emails, or group messages

4. Notifications That Keep You Updated

OnStation notifies you when a new chat message appears on a shared flag.
While you can mute flag notifications, chat messages are still part of the activity for that flag and cannot be muted separately.

This helps ensure important conversations are not missed.

When exporting flags to PDF, chats are included in the record.

Chats are time/date stamped and include the users email for accurate record keeping and auditing purposes.

Summary

The Chat feature in OnStation provides:

  • Two ways to access conversations in the OnStation App (main Chat icon or flag record)
  • Direct photo capture and upload
  • Clear, location‑anchored communication
  • Better documentation and teamwork
  • Integrated notifications (with option to mute flag-level alerts)

Chats keep your field communication organized, accurate, and tied to the exact map data your project depends on.