NetDocuments ndThread
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Learn how to use ndThread in order to search for multiple communication methods with a single topic. The ndThread award-winning collaboration technology brings together key activities — conversations, documents, and more — into a unified, topic-based solution. Discover how ndThread’s technology drives productivity and enhances the workflow of teams. |
Product Information and Announcements Admin Topics |
User Topics
- User Requirements, Download, and Access
- ndThread Interface Overview and Navigation
- How to Use ndThread
- Support and Feedback
In the diagram, you can see different ways to access ndThread.
The following information is intended for end users.
User Requirements, Download, and Access
Requirements
ndThread is available in the browser, as a desktop application, and through native mobile apps. ndThread supports the following platforms:
- Operating System: Windows 10 or Mac OS X
- Browser: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, IE
- Devices: iOS and Android
Download ndThread
ndThread is an add-in to NetDocuments purchased separately. Please contact NetDocuments Sales for information to add this product to your subscription.
If your firm has not licensed ndThread, you will not be able to take advantage of the application. In this case, after logging in, the following message appears:
ndThread for Desktop - Windows and Mac
Download the ndThread installer from the links below and follow the instructions:
- ndThread for Windows (32- and 64-bit): https://apps.netdocuments.com/apps/ndThread/ndThread.exe
- ndThread for Mac/OSX (support for the most recent two versions of OS X): https://apps.netdocuments.com/apps/ndThread/ndThread.dmg
Silent installation is available for 1.0.38 and higher when using this command: ndThread-#.#.##.exe /S (for example, ndThread-1.0.38.exe /s). A list of the desktop registry settings is attached.
ndThread for Mobile - iOS and Android
Download the ndThread mobile application from the links below:
- ndThread for iOS: Download from iTunes
- ndThread for Android: Download from the Google Play store
Access ndThread
US (Vault): https://ndthread-us.netdocuments.com
Alternatively, on the NetDocuments corporate website (https://www.netdocuments.com/en-us/), select Sign In, and then under ndThread, select the host service.
The first time you access ndThread, a message prompt asks you to allow ndThread to access your NetDocuments account. Select Allow and proceed. You need to do this only one time.
In NetDocuments, the Threads tab appears for workspaces. You are able to access the thread for a particular workspace without going directly to ndThread.
When you first access the Threads tab, the following message appears. Select Allow and proceed with using the workspace threads.
ndThread Interface Overview and Navigation
Table of Contents
- Overview
- ndThread Desktop and Mobile Overview
- Workspaces Tab
- Direct Messages
- Admin Area
- Documents Page
- The Profile Menu
Overview
ndThread is an add-in to NetDocuments that unifies conversations, documents, and other activities into a single solution. ndThread provides two levels of communication:
- Workspace-level threads
- Direct messages to other users
ndThread also allows adding comments to documents or to specific document parts.
Main ndThread terms:
- Repository – This represents the place in NetDocuments where your firm stores all the documents and other created content. Each NetDocuments client has their own repository. Each repository typically consists of one or more cabinets.
- Internal and External Members – A member (or a user) is anyone who has a NetDocuments account.
- An internal member is a user who works for a firm that licensed a NetDocuments repository. For example, an attorney at a NetDocuments law firm client. Every person who works for a NetDocuments client is an internal member with access to that client’s repository.
- An external member is a user given access to a specific repository but who does not work for the client that licensed that repository. For example, the General Counsel at a company that is a client of a law firm that licenses NetDocuments.
- If external users are members of the cabinet where direct messages are stored, then internal users are able to initiate direct messages that include external users.
- If external users have access to a NetDocuments workspace, you are able to invite them to the ndThread workspace and allow to participate in threads.
-
- Threads shared externally include the
icon in the list of threads. This indicator also appears for documents shared externally. - The same user can be an internal member of one repository and an external member of another.
- Threads shared externally include the
- Workspace – A NetDocuments workspace is a storage area associated with a specific matter or project.
- A NetDocuments workspace has these key attributes:
- A unique association with a matter or project, like a client/matter number.
- The users and groups with access to the workspace, and the access rights.
- The structure of the workspace (filters, folders, etc.) and the content stored there.
- Access the same workspace through ndThread to allow members of the workspace to participate in conversations about the associated matter. However, members who have access to the NetDocuments workspace need to affirmatively choose to participate (or accept an invitation to participate) in those workspace conversations that are available via ndThread.
- Initially, only internal members of a repository may participate in those workspace conversations available through ndThread.
- A NetDocuments workspace has these key attributes:
- Thread – A thread is a single, ongoing conversation related to a specific workspace. Although a workspace can have multiple threads, a Team thread appears by default with every workspace. Within conversations, you can highlight documents for review. There are two types of threads:
- Public – Every internal member of the workspace has access to a public thread associated with that workspace.
- Private – Limited to specific internal members of a workspace invited by the creator of the private thread.
- Direct Message – A direct message is an instant conversation between two or more internal members (up to 9 in total) that is not directly associated with a workspace.
- Message – A message is a discrete addition to a thread or direct message created by a user.
- Conversation - A conversation starts when you reply to the message in a thread or direct message. Multiple conversations can take place in the same thread. The list of conversations appears in the right pane of a thread or direct message.
- @mention – An @mention is the text you can add to a message by typing an @ followed by the user’s name. (You are able to @mention only the users who are participating in a specific conversation.) Use an @mention for two reasons: to call attention to someone specific, but also to trigger sending a notification to the user with the content of the message.
- Notification – A notification is a way to alert you about new messages in ndThread that you have access to, consistent with any notifications settings you configured.
- Comment – A comment is a note associated with a document stored in NetDocuments by a member who can view the document (limited to internal members). These comments do not change the document directly and relate to a specific version of the document. There are two types of comments:
- Global comments are relating to the document as a whole.
- Contextual comments are relating to a specific part of the document, like a highlighted sentence.
On the left side, find the main Navigation Bar where you can toggle between Workspaces and Direct Messages.
In case you have access to multiple NetDocuments repositories that have ndThread enabled, a repository selector appears above the main Navigation Bar. It allows you to limit the content of the threads and direct messages to a single repository. All workspace and user searches that you perform are limited to the selected repository.
In the repository selector, choose the needed repository from the drop-down list. ndThread highlights the repository selector with the orange color to indicate that you have unread messages in other repositories (besides the currently selected repository).
Workspace threads provide the ability to create and join threaded conversations within a specific workspace. Your threads are sorted alphabetically (except for the default Team thread, which always comes first).
Both in a workspace thread and in a direct message, type your text in the typing area on the bottom of the page and press Enter to send it.
(On a smartphone, click a paper airplane icon to send the message.)
Select the 
icon on the left side of the message pane to access the following options:
- Mention Someone - Mention other users who are members of the same thread (or direct message).
- Link to a Document - Add a link to an existing document (in the workspace thread).
- Upload Document - Add a new document.
A document uploaded to a workspace thread or to a direct message appears as a link with metadata.
In case you lose an internet connection, ndThread informs you with a corresponding message. To prevent any loss of data, ndThread blocks the access until the connection is restored.
ndThread Desktop and Mobile Overview
The best ways to access ndThread are from the desktop application and the mobile app:
- The desktop application provides robust notifications when new messages appear (compared to accessing ndThread in a browser). When you are at your computer, the desktop app is the ideal way to access ndThread.
- The mobile app provides access to ndThread on the go and includes push notifications about new messages.
ndThread for Desktop – Windows and Mac
The ndThread desktop application is available for both Windows and Mac.
For downloading, see Download links
- About ndThread - Redirect to the support page.
- Check for Updates - Update the current version of the desktop application to the latest one.
Note: You also receive notifications about updates available.
- Change Service - Log in to a different NetDocuments service.
- Reload - Reload in case there are any issues with the desktop application.
- Quit - Exit the desktop application.
If you click the 
icon in the upper-right corner of your screen, the application disappears from the taskbar but it is available in the system tray. That means desktop notifications still appear. In this case, you receive a corresponding notification.
icon, and then select Preferences.ndThread for Mobile – Android vs iOS
You have an opportunity to work on the go with ndThread mobile application. The ndThread mobile application is available for both Android and iOS. For downloading, see Download links.
The first time you access the ndThread mobile application, you need to select your host service (United States, Europe, or Australia). If you have not done this previously, a message prompt may appear asking you to allow ndThread to access your NetDocuments account. Select Allow and proceed.
In ndThread mobile application, the main Navigation Bar is hidden. To access it, tap the 
icon in the upper left corner of your screen.
Then, main Navigation Bar appears. The look-and-feel is the same as for the desktop application.
Workspaces Tab
ndThread workspaces are metacentric locations for conversations. They are related to NetDocuments workspaces. So, if you have access rights to the workspace in NetDocuments, you will be able to join it in ndThread. For each workspace in NetDocuments, there are either one or several threads.
To access the workspace threads, from the Navigation Bar, select the Workspaces 
icon.
The Workspaces tab provides access to the workspace threads and access to the document annotation feature. On the bottom of the Workspaces tab, there is a Workspace List.
Workspaces with messages you have not yet read appear in their own UNREAD section. Unread Workspaces appear at the top of the list with an orange color.
Favorites Workspaces appear at the top of the list, above the unread ones.
If you select a workspace in the list, all the threads for the selected workspace appear above it as well as a link to browse the documents in that workspace.
Each selected ndThread workspace includes two key features:
- A default Team thread, apart from other threads added after creation of the workspace.
- A link to documents.
If you are the first user to access the workspace Team thread, then a single message appears in the thread, indicating that you joined the workspace. (Every time a user joins or leaves a workspace, a message appears in the Team thread for that workspace.)
The following message appears when you invite a user to join a thread. This message cannot be edited or deleted.
You see existing messages if other users joined before. The number of users in the thread appears at the top:
The first number indicates how many members are online, and the second number is the total number of the thread members.
Hover over the 
icon at the top of any thread page or the Documents page to view information about the document.
To search, in the upper right corner of the page, select the 
icon, type the search terms, and then press Enter. The results are split between matching messages and matching workspace documents (matching only on document names).
Direct Messages
Direct messages provide the ability to communicate with other users individually or in groups, up to 9 people in total. You can interact directly with any user of NetDocuments.
To access the direct messages, select the Direct Messages 
icon on the Navigation Bar.
Your 20 most recent direct messages appear in the left pane of the Direct Messages tab.
When you switch between workspaces and direct messages, ndThread remembers the last workspace and direct message you selected.
You receive notifications about getting new direct messages in desktop and mobile applications. Additionally, the taskbar 
icon indicates the number of unread messages in a desktop application. The Direct Messages 
icon also shows the number of unread direct messages.
Unread Direct Messages appear in orange color.
Admin Area
Admin Area allows Cabinet Administrators to manage Workspace Threads.
To access it, select the Admin Area 
icon on the Navigation Bar.
Select a cabinet in the Cabinets list, and then type the name of a workspace you want to manage.
Select the workspace and hover over a thread.
You can download, delete or open in NetDocuments 
any Workspace Thread by selecting corresponding icons.
Documents Page (for Workspace)
You can find the Documents page under the list of all a workspace's threads.
The Documents page shows all filters, folders and saved searches in the workspace, similar to the workspace summary page in NetDocuments. You can preview PDF, Word, and PowerPoint documents. Samely you can upload and view email messages.
You can sort documents in different orders. Select the needed option from the drop-down list, sorting documents by name, ID or update date.
To add a new document to the page, click Add.
If you hover over a document name, the 
icon appears. Select it to view the link to the document.
To open the document, select the needed one from the list. The document view looks as follows:
In the upper right corner, there is a document version indicated. If you view an unofficial version, a corresponding indicator appears. Your comments are unique per each version.
To download the document locally, select the 
icon.
To open the document in NetDocuments, select the 
icon.
On the right of the document, there is a list of comments. Your comments can be global (referring to the document in general) or point (highlighting one specific piece of text).
Click Reply to answer a comment.
Below each point comment, there is a navigation number, e.g. 
. Select the number to go directly to the text it refers to.
The Profile Menu
Select the User Avatar icon at the bottom of the Navigation Bar to open the Profile menu.
The Profile menu provides the following options:
- Profile - Access your user profile.
- Preferences - Change notification settings.
- Start App Tour - Launch the application tour in case you want to revisit it.
- Help - Redirect to the support page.
- Logout - Log out of the application.
How to Use ndThread
User Topics
- First-Time User Tour
- Create and Join Workspace Threads
- Rename and Delete Threads
- Leave Threads
- Invite Other Users to a Workspace
- Favorite and Leave Workspaces
- Direct Messages
- Documents in a Thread
- Edit, Delete or Copy a Message
- Pin a Message
- Markdown
- Other Features
- Log Out
- Registry Settings
First-Time User Tour
When you access ndThread for the first time, a pop-up message appears offering to show a quick tour through the most important features.
To proceed with the tour, click Next. You can also click Skip, and then come back to the tour later. To view the user tour later, go to the Profile menu and select Start App Tour.
ndThread shows the pop-up message with the first-time user tour once per user.
Create and Join Workspace Threads
Make sure to join ndThread workspaces that correspond to the NetDocuments workspaces in which you are actively involved.
Note: If you have CollabSpaces enabled, you can create threads inside them, invite users from the CollabSpace to join a thread, and view documents.
On the Navigation Bar, select the 
icon to open the Workspaces tab.
Unless your colleagues invited you to a workspace, this message appears on the Workspaces tab:
Select the Join Workspaces button.
Alternatively, to join the workspace:
- Go to the Workspaces tab and click the
icon. - In the search box, type search terms (client, matter, or matter number).
- Press Enter. The NetDocuments workspaces you have access to appear as search results.
- Select Join next to every workspace you want to access in ndThread so that you can participate in conversations about those workspaces.
- Select Close.
When you join a workspace, by default you have access to all the public threads in that workspace. Select any of the workspaces you joined, and the selected workspace appears above the list of workspaces.
A public Team thread is created by default for all workspaces. Any internal user who has access to the workspace can access the Team thread too.
Select the “#/#” information at the top, and the list of users appears on the side, including the online and offline ones:
You can create new public or private threads inside the selected workspace by clicking the 
icon and selecting Create a Thread.
To create a private thread, select Private check box, then in a drop-down list select users who can access this thread and click Create.
If you want to join or re-join the thread, click the 
icon to the right of your selected workspace, then select Join a Thread. A list of the public threads in the workspace appear:
If you join a conversation that exists for some time, you are able to see the whole history of conversations no matter how big it is.
The thread creator or admin can remove internal users from a thread or workspace:
- In the upper-right corner, select the Thread Details icon.
- Go to the Users tab, hover over a user, and select the Options icon.
- Choose Remove from Thread or Remove from Workspace.
Rename and Delete Threads
You are able to change the name of a thread in case you are a thread creator or a Cabinet Administrator.
Note: You are not able to rename the Team thread.
Hover over a thread, select the 
icon, and then select Rename:
You are able to delete a thread in case you are a thread creator or a Cabinet Administrator.
Note: The Team thread is impossible to delete.
Hover over a thread, select the icon, and then select Delete:
Leave Threads
For some workspaces, the number of available threads may grow quite large or there may be some threads that you do not want to participate in. For those situations, you are able to leave a thread that you don’t want to appear on your list or do not want to receive notifications. Hover over a thread, click the icon, and then click Leave Thread:
Invite Other Users to a Workspace
If some of your team members did not join the workspace conversation, invite them by selecting the 
icon to the right of the selected workspace and select Invite Users to Workspace. Then, choose users who have access to the NetDocuments workspace and add them to the ndThread workspace. You add them to every public thread in the workspace by default.
Alternatively, when searching the needed user, press the Up and Down arrow keys to move through the matches and press the Enter key to select a user.
Favorite and Leave Workspaces
You usually access some workspaces more often than the others. In that case, you have the ability to mark a workspace as a favorite. Hover over the workspace name, click the icon, and then select Favorite Workspace. Favorited workspaces always appear at the top of the workspaces list.
To remove a workspace from the favorite list later, hover over the workspace name, click the icon, and then select Unfavorite Workspace.
If you do not want to participate in the workspace anymore, click the icon, and then click Leave Workspace. The workspace no longer appears in your list of ndThread workspaces and you do not receive further notifications from of any of the threads in the workspace.
Direct Messages
To start a conversation with another user, go to the Navigation Bar, select the Direct Messages 
icon, and then select the icon. In the search box, type a user name, select the needed user, and then click OK.
Alternatively, when searching the needed user, press the Up and Down arrow keys to move through the matches and the Enter key to select a user.
To remove a direct message from the list, hover over the direct message and select the (x) button. You do not delete a direct message. It disappears from the list only. If you need to find that direct message later for any reason, select the Start a Direct Message button and then type in the name of another user who participated in that message.
Documents in a Thread
Uploading a Document
In the typing area, click the 
icon, and then select Upload document. Select the needed document, and then click Open.
Alternatively, you can drag the needed document to the typing area.
In the Upload dialog box, type a document name, and click Save.
The uploaded document is saved directly to NetDocuments. To add or change metadata, hover over the document and select Open .
To access the documents, go to a workspace list and select the needed workspace. Then, select Documents and click to open the document you need.
Sending NetDocuments Links
If you copy and paste a NetDocuments link into ndThread, a file component is displayed similarly to how it works for ndThread documents and document links.
Commenting on a Document
Select the document you need to preview.
Then, highlight the text you want to comment on by clicking it. In a pop-up dialog box, type your comment and click Post.
Select a comment in the document and then ndThread shows that comment in the right pane.
If you add comments to a document version, you have a possibility to lock the version of the document first to ensure that any comments added to specific parts of a document continue to point to the same location.
A locked version has a lock icon next to the document name on the Documents page, in a document link in a thread, and in the document preview.
Edit, Delete, or Copy a Message
After adding a message, you can copy a link to the message, edit it, or delete it later by hovering over it and selecting the needed icon.
You are able to edit and delete only the messages you added. An edited message appears with an edited note.
A deleted message is replaced with [Deleted message].
Pin a Message
You can pin any message or reply to reference it later. This feature may be useful for saving important announcements, files, and messages. Pinned messages are visible and accessible to all users with permission to access the thread.
To pin the message, hover over the message, and select the Pin 
icon. The message’s background will change color, indicating that the message has been pinned.
Your pinned messages appear in the Thread Details pane 
in the upper-right corner. Select the Pins section to reveal pinned messages.
There are to ways to remove a pinned item:
- In ndThread, hover over a pinned message and select the Remove Pin
icon. - In the ndThread Details pane, in the Pins section, select the Remove Pin
icon next to the message you want to unpin.
Markdown
ndThread allows formatting your text in messages to make it bold, italic, etc. See the guidelines below:
-
*italic* (or highlight the text and press Ctrl+i for Windows/Command+i for Mac)
-
**bold** (or highlight the text and press Ctrl+b for Windows/Command+b for Mac)
-
~strikethrough~
-
> multiline
-
> blockquote
-
`inline code`
-
```block code
Other Features
- To view a user's details, select the User Avatar
icon. - To upload a different profile picture, select Browse... and choose an image stored on your computer. If you do not upload your picture, the avatar is default.
- To remove your avatar, select the
icon and confirm your action. - To search for messages, click the
icon in the upper-right corner and enter a keyword. Your search results are divided into messages and documents.
- To edit the last message you sent, press the Up Arrow key on the keyboard.
- To mention a user in a conversation, enter @ and select the needed user from the list. Alternatively, go to the
icon in the typing area, and select the Mention Someone button.
- Enter @all to notify everyone in the thread.
- To export a workspace thread or a direct message to CSV or PDF, select the
icon in the upper-right corner. Selecting Export as CSV or Export as PDF downloads the corresponding file to your computer. - To add a link to an existing document, go to the icon in the typing area, and select the Link to a Document button.
- To add a new document, go to the icon in the typing area, and select the Upload Document button.
- To add an emoticon, click the
icon in the typing area and choose the needed one. - You can also paste a link to a website, and then ndThread shows some helpful context about the website:
Log out
To log out of ndThread, go to the Profile menu and click Logout. The following message with two options appears:
To fully log out, select Click here to log out of NetDocuments.
Support and Feedback
If you have any feedback, questions or report issues, please contact us at support@netdocuments.com or call at the closest customer support center:
- US customers, call 801-226-6882 or 866-NETDOCS (638-3627).
- EU customers, call +44(0) 2034.556770.
- AU customers, call +61 2 8310 4319.
We thank you for your input and feedback and appreciate you using NetDocuments and associated product features. We value you as a customer.
The NetDocuments Team