# Channels

Channels are a means of **sending content to players** in an exercise. The channels in Colibri look and behave just the same as they do in Conducttr's teams-based licences. But there are some key differences to consider - chiefly that the player must interact with content in the channel to advance the exercise.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/GI2EmRTre6L8GuF9I9jl" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

## Primary channel

{% hint style="info" %}
The default channel in Colibri is Msngr. This is because the chat feed feels the most natural in most cases.
{% endhint %}

<details>

<summary>Examples</summary>

* Msngr
* Email

</details>

<figure><img src="/files/dKxwTJ0RzOiK0g5sGjGF" alt=""><figcaption><p>An example of the primary channel (Msngr)</p></figcaption></figure>

The **core narrative of your exercise should stay within one main channel** to avoid player overload (which can lead to confusion). Colibri is designed with this in mind, so connecting steps will attempt to force you to stay within the same channel (you'll have the use the "also publish" field to jump channels).&#x20;

The default channel is Msngr because the best primary channels are messenger-based. This allows you to use personas to interact with participants directly. Personas will deliver the necessary questions and players will make choices from these steps.

## Secondary channels

<details>

<summary>Examples</summary>

* MicroBlog
* Website/News
* Notification
* Media pop-up
* Phone call
* Walkie-talkie
* Diagrams
* Captions
* Portal
* Blog
* TV

</details>

<figure><img src="/files/8DddoXqiSnmBsJbDrsFW" alt=""><figcaption><p>An example of a secondary channel (MicroBlog)</p></figcaption></figure>

To publish content in another channel, you'll need to use the "also publish" field. These channels will then be considered your secondary channels. They can be used for:

* Realism
* Worldbuilding
* Foreshadowing
* Enhancing player engagement
* Delivering information in different ways

### :zap:Behaviours to note

Some channels have particular behaviours that are important to note.

#### Phone call

When designing with the phone call channel, you'll be offered two choices under *Call Answered* and *Call Rejected* in the `Interactions` tab:

<figure><img src="/files/NAztIlMGIhNeZI9DfVQV" alt="" width="287"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

This allows you to select different steps based on whether the player answers or rejects the call. You can use this to **create branching** in your exercise.&#x20;

{% hint style="info" %}
To learn more about branching, visit the page below:
{% endhint %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/xi8Mv59RxXnwTJz5adWX" %}
[Branching and Choices](/colibri/building-exercises/branching-and-choices.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

#### Media pop-up

<details>

<summary>What is a media pop-up?</summary>

This channel allows you to disrupt the exercise for participants in the form of a video that takes over the virtual desktop.

</details>

When designing with the media pop-up channel, you can set a timer for when the pop-up should end. This means you can finish the video playing earlier than it's actual length if you want to:

<figure><img src="/files/nmcqjXFP8gi2KdU0mlYk" alt="" width="284"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

You can publish new content when the video finishes (or video timer expires). Configure this in the `Interactions` tab:&#x20;

<figure><img src="/files/Tu0M21ItPiTGw3adAd3o" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Notification

<details>

<summary>What is a notification?</summary>

The notification channel allows you to send players a pop-up notification, regardless of what channel they're currently in. This disrupts the normal flow of the exercise and demands attention.

</details>

**Question**

If you use a question on the notification channel, you can't use the timer. This is because the player's click of the button will close the notification.

**Narrative**

Use the narrative option when you want to use a notification with no player interaction.&#x20;

Similar to the media pop-up channel, you can set the timer to 0 for it to run forever until the player closes the notification.&#x20;

#### Channels with no interactions

* MicroBlog
* Website/News
* Walkie-talkie
* Diagrams
* Captions
* TV

## Channel styling

Under `Configuration` > `Player desktop` in the Editor you can:&#x20;

* Choose whether to have all channels **open from the start or only visible after content** has been released
* Edit **font, size, and colour** of channel icon text (this includes the *Player name* text too)
* Customise channel **names and logos**
* Choose the **default channel** (where the player will start the exercise)

<figure><img src="/files/qKfj7Z16EOpi52FNto5e" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Click on a channel to customise the logo and channel name:

<figure><img src="/files/90lLoMbJ38CiDlZQtFnD" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
To find out more about styling your Colibri exercise, visit the page below:
{% endhint %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/7JWrOBqildUKbjYp7Yjp" %}
[Style](/colibri/building-exercises/style.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://helpdocs.conducttr.com/colibri/building-exercises/channels.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.