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Mentions and reply language

In short: In a chat opened from a map, type @ to tag a node, cluster or link by name, so the assistant knows exactly which one you mean. Every chat has a reply-language button: choose one of 20 languages for that chat, or Use my preference. Press Enter to send and Shift + Enter for a new line. Replies arrive in one piece, not word by word.

Tag map elements with @​

Mentions work in chats that sit next to a map: Chat with this map, Chat about this on a selected node, edge or cluster, and answer chats opened from the Map queries bar while a map is showing. They aren't available in the Research Assistants tab or in Quick Chat, because there is no map on screen.

  1. Open a map and click Chat with this map, or select an element and click Chat about this ….
  2. In the message box, type @ followed by the start of a name.
  3. A list of up to 8 matches appears. Each match is labelled with the map's own word for it, for example "Author", "Research Group" or "Topic".
  4. Use ↑ and ↓ to highlight a match, then press Enter or Tab, or click it.
  5. Finish your question and send it.

Press Esc to close the list without picking. If you type only @, a hint explains what you can name.

  1. Type @edge followed by the start of the first node's name.
  2. Pick the first node.
  3. Type -, then the start of the second node's name. Only nodes linked to the first one are offered.
  4. Pick the second node.

Names in replies​

When a reply names a node, cluster or link from the map, the name becomes a link. Click it to show that element on the map. The chat stays open so you can keep reading. If the element is hidden by your current filters, SciNodes tells you.

Choose the reply language​

  1. Click the language button (globe icon) next to the message box. It shows the current reply language.
  2. Choose Use my preference to follow your account setting. The row shows which language that is.
  3. Or choose one of the 20 languages. The choice applies to this chat only.

Hover over the button to check: "Replying in Spanish for this chat" means the chat has its own language; "Replying in Spanish — your Assistant language preference" means it follows your preference.

To change the language every new chat starts in, open User Preferences → Assistant language. This is separate from your Explainer language, so map explanations and chats can use different languages. See Translation and languages.

The 20 languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, Russian, Korean, French, Malay, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Urdu, Tamil, Gujarati, Assamese, Malayalam, Sinhala and Konkani.

The SciNodes interface itself stays in English.

Sending and receiving messages​

KeyAction
EnterSend the message
Shift + EnterStart a new line
↑ / ↓, Enter or Tab, EscMove through, pick from or close the @ list
  • While a match is highlighted in the @ list, Enter picks the name instead of sending.
  • Replies arrive whole when they're ready. Until then you see "Assistant name is thinking".
  • You can't send another message while a reply is on its way. Your draft stays in the box.
  • Replies can include headings, lists and tables.

Troubleshooting​

  • Typing @ shows no list. The chat isn't next to a map. Open the chat from the map with Chat with this map or Chat about this ….
  • "No … linked to … matches that" You're tagging a link, and no node linked to the first one matches what you typed. Check the name, or tag the two nodes separately.
  • "Could not change the reply language." The change wasn't saved. Try again.

FAQ​

Does the reply language translate my publications?​

No. It only sets the language of the assistant's replies. To translate a publication's title and abstract, see Translation and languages.

Can I write my question in another language?​

Yes, you can write in any language. The reply language button decides which language the assistant answers in.

Why can't I use @ in the Research Assistants tab?​

Mentions need a map on screen to look names up. Open the chat from the map instead.

Can I use SciNodes in a language other than English?​

The interface is English only. Explanations and chat replies are available in 20 languages.