Formatting your messages

Using rich markdown

In the web browser app or desktop app, you can use special characters when you compose your message in the input field to format your text.  

Bold

Use *asterisks* on either side of your message.  After you send the message, the text in between the asterisks is bold. 

Italics

Use _underscores_ on either side of your message.  After you send the message, the text in between the asterisks is italics. 

Code

Use `accent marks` on either side of your message.  After you send the message, the text in between the accent marks is shown as monospace.

Tip: If your text contains these special characters and you don't want to apply formatting, you'll need to use the escape character before the special character. For example, \_underscore_  shows the underscore characters and does not add formatting to the text in the message.

Code Block

You can share several lines of code in a block in your space. You can also use it to emphasize a quote.

1. Type three accent marks to make a code block that spans several lines.
2. Press Shift + Enter to add a line to the message.
3. Type or paste the content of your message.
4. Press Shift + Enter to add a final line.
5. Then, type three accent marks on the final line.
   
   
   
   
   
   

Code syntax highlighting

Our code syntax highlighting that supports 172 programming languages – from Access log and Augmented Backus-Naur Form to YAML and Zephir. For the full list, visit highlightsjs. Here's what you do.

1. Add three accent marks to indicate it's a code block, then add the programming language. Here's a JavaScript example:
   ```javascript
2. Press Shift + Enter for a new line.
3. Paste your code.
4. Press Shift + Enter for a new line.
5. Add three accent marks to close your code block.

Let's say you add this CSS code block into the message input field:

```css
@font-face {
font-family: Chunkfive; src: url('Chunkfive.otf');
}
body, .usertext {
color: #F0F0F0; background: #600;
font-family: Chunkfive, sans;
}

@import url(print.css);
@media print {
      a[href^=http]::after {
        content: attr(href)
    }
}
```

Here's what it looks like in the conversation.

Even if you are a non-techie, syntax highlighting can work for you too. You can use it to show your space the difference between text you want to add and text you want to remove.

1. Start with three accent marks. Then, type diff after the accent marks.
2. Press Shift + Enter for a new line.
3. On the second line, type the minus sign (-) followed by the text you want to remove.
4. On the next line, type the plus sign (+) and the text you want to add.
5. Press Shift + Enter for a new line.
6. Add three more accent marks.

This is what you type in the message input field.

```diff
-Old, boring text.
+New, interesting text!
```

And it looks like this in the conversation.

Nice right? It's desktop only for now, but we'll add it to mobile soon.

Links 

Add text that explains what your link is to your space members. For example, if you send a message that says [Watson Workspace](https://workspace.ibm.com), the transcript will show Watson Workspace underlined as a link to workspace.ibm.com.

Tip: In our web and desktop apps, we've added some nudges near the input field (when you're typing) to help you remember which special characters to use to achieve the desired formatting.