> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://chatbase.co/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Suggested Messages

> Display clickable reply suggestions to help users navigate conversations more efficiently.

The **Suggested Messages** action allows you to display clickable reply options to users during a conversation. Suggestions can be generated automatically by AI or manually configured to guide users toward specific actions and workflows.

Suggested messages help reduce user effort, improve engagement, and create a more structured conversational experience.

## Configuration

### Action name

Provide a descriptive name for the action.

This name is used internally to identify the action and is not visible to users.

### When to use

Define when the action should be triggered and what type of suggestions should be shown.

The instructions provided in this field help the AI determine:

* When the action should appear
* What suggestions should be displayed
* How suggestions should relate to the current conversation

The more specific your instructions, the more relevant the generated suggestions will be.

### Auto generate suggested messages

When enabled, Chatbase automatically generates suggested messages based on:

* The conversation context
* The user's latest message
* The instructions provided in the **When to use** field

This option is recommended when you want suggestions to adapt dynamically to each conversation.

### Manual suggested messages

When **Auto generate suggested messages** is disabled, you can manually configure up to **4 suggested messages**.

Each suggested message:

* Can contain up to 40 characters
* Appears as a clickable option for users
* Can be edited or removed at any time

Manual suggestions are useful when you want complete control over the options presented to users.

### Disable input field

When enabled, users cannot type custom responses while suggested messages are displayed. Instead, they must select one of the available options before continuing.

This setting is useful for guided workflows where users should follow a predefined path.

## Channels

You can control which channels can use this action from the **Channels** section.

Currently supported channels include:

* Chat widget
* Help page

Disable a channel to prevent the action from appearing there.

## Best Practices

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Keep suggestions concise">
    Use short, action-oriented messages that are easy to understand and select.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Be specific in your instructions">
    Clearly describe when the action should appear and the type of suggestions that should be generated.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use manual suggestions for guided flows">
    Manually configured suggestions are ideal when users should follow a specific journey or workflow.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Restrict input only when necessary">
    Enable the input restriction setting only when users must select from the available options.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>