WhatsApp conversations

After an administrator pairs the WhatsApp plugin and sets sender policies, you can use Elowen in an allowed direct chat or group. Each WhatsApp chat has its own conversation. For the shared rules on identity and access, see Channels.

Start a conversation

1. Open the WhatsApp chat or group where the bot is available.
2. Send a message. In a group, the bot may require an @mention or a reply to its message; this depends on the configured mention setting.
3. Continue in the same chat to continue its conversation.
4. Send /new to start a fresh conversation in that chat. The WhatsApp chat itself remains unchanged.
5. Use /help to see commands available to you. Depending on access, commands can include /stop, /stats, /compact, and /project.

Answer questions

WhatsApp presents Elowen's questions as numbered text rather than native buttons. Reply with the number for an option. For a question that allows more than one choice, send comma-separated option numbers. If the question allows your own answer, reply with text instead. When several questions are asked together, each reply answers the first one that has not yet been answered.

Only the person asked can answer a question. A question remains available until Elowen accepts an answer or resolves it. If the question is cancelled, or the menu has expired, a later number will not answer it. The menu timeout applies to command menus; it does not set a deadline for a question. If delivery of your answers is refused, reply submit to try submitting again.

Some commands and shared settings require an administrator access policy for the chat. A platform policy does not replace your linked Elowen account: project access and tool permissions are governed by that account. For account and conversation sharing rules, see What is shared in a channel.

If the bot does not reply

Check whether the chat or group is allowed and whether your sender identity matches a policy. Ask the instance administrator to confirm that your WhatsApp identity is admitted and linked to an Elowen account. In groups, also check the mention setting and whether the group is allowed. Direct chats and group chats are subject to the configured sender policies.

If the plugin has just been enabled or reconfigured, wait for Elowen to restart before trying again. For pairing and access setup, see Connect a channel as an administrator.