Send your first message
Sign in to Tale, start a chat, choose a model, and check the response.
3 min read
Start here when you have access to a Tale workspace and want to get your first answer. You will send a short prompt, read the response, and find the conversation again.
Before you begin
You need your instance address, an account, and a workspace with an AI provider connected. Ask the person who manages your workspace for access. To install your own instance, follow the self-hosted quickstart; for a managed instance, follow Cloud onboarding.
An account lets you sign in. Your organization is the workspace that holds your team’s members, projects, and configuration. Your role controls which actions you can take there.
Start a conversation
Sign in and start a chat
Open your instance and sign in with the method your administrator provided. If you belong to several organizations, choose the one where you want to work. Open Home, then choose New chat, the pencil at the top of the Home list.
Check the model and write a prompt
Use the model control below the message field to inspect the available models. It may show Auto; you can choose a specific model when you want to control which one answers. The available choices depend on your workspace’s connected providers and access rules.
The message field and model control are in the same composer. For a first test, use a self-contained request: “Write a three-item checklist for preparing a team meeting. Keep each item to one sentence.” This does not depend on uploaded documents or connected tools.
Send and read the answer
Select Send message or press Enter. Your message appears in the conversation, followed by the assistant’s response. A thinking indicator may appear before the answer. Wait for the response to finish before evaluating it.
Check whether it followed the requested length and format. Ask a follow-up such as “Add who should prepare each item.” The same conversation retains the context of your earlier messages.
Find the chat again
Home lists the conversation under Today; choose it to reopen it. A new chat starts a separate conversation; it is useful when you change subjects. For names, history, and response controls, read Chat basics.
If you cannot get an answer
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| You cannot sign in | Check the instance address and sign-in method with your administrator. |
| No models are available | Ask an administrator to check AI providers and your model access. |
| A provider or model error | Try another available model and report the displayed error to the administrator. |
| A usage limit message | Ask the administrator to review the relevant policy. |
| An answer without your documents | This first prompt did not supply a source. Follow chat attachments or knowledge to add one. |
Continue with using Tale with your team or writing effective prompts.