Docs / Getting Started / Interface Overview

Interface Overview

This guide gives you a quick tour of the PioneerChat interface, so you can find your way around and start using all the features.

Main Layout

The PioneerChat interface consists of three main areas:

  • Sidebar (left) - Conversation history and account options
  • Chat Area (centre) - Your conversation with the AI
  • Input Area (bottom) - Where you type your messages

The Sidebar

The sidebar on the left side of the screen contains:

New Chat Button

Click New Chat at the top to start a fresh conversation. Your previous conversation will be saved automatically.

Conversation History

Below the New Chat button, you'll see your previous conversations listed with:

  • A preview of the conversation topic
  • The date/time of your last message
  • A usage indicator showing how much of the conversation context has been used

Click any conversation to continue where you left off.

Account Section

At the bottom of the sidebar, you'll find:

  • Settings - Adjust display preferences
  • About & FAQ - Link to help resources
  • Report a Bug - Submit technical issues
  • Logout - Sign out of your account

Your username is displayed to confirm which account you're signed into.

The Chat Area

The main chat area displays your conversation with the AI:

Messages

  • Your messages appear on the right with a different background colour
  • AI responses appear on the left
  • Timestamps can be shown for each message (enable in Settings)

Response Features

AI responses may include:

  • Thinking/Reasoning blocks - Expandable sections showing the AI's thought process
  • Tool use blocks - Shows when the AI is using tools like document analysis
  • Code blocks - Formatted code with syntax highlighting
  • Feedback buttons - Thumbs up/down to rate responses

Auto-Scroll

As the AI responds, the chat automatically scrolls to show new content. You can toggle this off if you want to read at your own pace.

The Input Area

At the bottom of the screen is where you compose your messages:

Text Input

Type your message in the text box. It will expand automatically as you type longer messages.

File Attachments

Attach files by:

  • Clicking the attachment icon
  • Dragging and dropping files onto the page
  • Pasting images from your clipboard

Attached files appear above the input box with options to remove them.

Prompt Templates

Quick-select buttons above the input let you use pre-made prompts for common tasks.

Model Selection

A dropdown allows you to select which AI model to use, if your organisation has multiple models available.

Reasoning Toggle

For supported models, you can enable "Reasoning" mode to see the AI's extended thinking process. This appears as a toggle button.

Status Indicators

Various indicators help you understand what's happening:

  • Generating... - The AI is processing your request
  • Processing... - Files are being analysed
  • Queued - Your request is waiting to be processed
  • Context Usage - Shows how much of the conversation limit has been used (50%, 80%, etc.)

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut Action
Enter Send message
Shift + Enter New line in message
Ctrl/Cmd + V Paste image from clipboard