RCA ArrowChat — User Guide
Install it. Wire it. Put staff on the map. Then chat like you meant it.
Before you start
You need:
1. A Joomla 4 / 5 / 6 site (PHP 8.1+)
2. A licensed ArrowChat install unpacked under the site root (example: `/chat/` or `/messenger/`)
3. Super User (or equivalent) access to Extensions and Components
4. This package: `pkg_rca_arrowchat` from [recreatinganew.com](https://recreatinganew.com)
RCA does not ship ArrowChat. If ArrowChat is not installed first, stop and finish that.
Part 1 — Install (step by step)
1. Install ArrowChat
Follow ArrowSuites’ instructions. Confirm you can open ArrowChat’s admin URL and that the folder sits next to Joomla’s `index.php` (same site root).
2. Install the RCA package
System → Install Extensions → upload `pkg_rca_arrowchat_….zip`.
Joomla should install:
- System - RCA ArrowChat
- RCA ArrowChat (component)
- RCA ArrowChat Staff (module)
If the install banner looks wrong or language strings are missing, update to the latest package (install helper language packaging was fixed in 1.0.21).
3. Set the folder path
1. Components → RCA ArrowChat
2. Toolbar → Options
3. ArrowChat folder = your folder name only (e.g. `chat`) — not a full URL
4. Save
4. Choose friend mode + avatars
Still in Options:
- Friend list mode — All online · Friends · All online (no friend table)
- Avatars tab — turn on Joomla profile avatars if you want real photos instead of Gravatar
Save.
5. Write the bridge
Back on the dashboard:
1. Confirm status: folder found · `autoload.php` found
2. Click Write bridge
3. Confirm integration.php is OK and avatar resolver shows Yes if you enabled avatars
4. If options cache is missing: Regenerate options cache or open ArrowChat admin once
6. Enable the system plugin
System → Plugins → enable System - RCA ArrowChat.
7. Publish the staff module (optional but useful)
Content → Site Modules → RCA ArrowChat Staff
- Publish it
- Assign a position or turn on viewport dock so it floats top-right
- Set icon size / custom icon if you want
- Set Online / Busy / Away / Offline ring colors if you want
- Limit Access if only staff should see the dock
8. Smoke test
1. Clear Joomla cache
2. Log in as a normal user on the frontend
3. Confirm ArrowChat UI loads
4. Log in as a second user (or staff) — confirm presence / open chat
5. If avatars look wrong: Options → Write bridge again → hard refresh
Part 2 — Day-to-day
Change ArrowChat folder name later
Options → new folder name → Save → Write bridge → clear cache. Do not leave the old path in Options.
After you update ArrowChat itself
Re-check the dashboard. If ArrowChat replaced `integration.php`, click Write bridge again so RCA settings return.
Style the chrome
Edit your template `css/custom.css`. RCA keeps it last so your rules win. Staff module exposes CSS variables — override those instead of fighting inline junk.
Profile links from chat
Options → Profile URL pattern. Use `{id}` for the user id. Point it at your site’s profile URL format.
Part 3 — Use cases
Use case A — Community site, everyone can chat
Goal: Any logged-in member sees who’s online and can open chat.
Setup: Friend mode = All online users. Avatars on. Staff module optional. System plugin on.
You know it worked when: Two logged-in browsers see each other and can open a private chat.
Use case B — Real profile photos instead of Gravatar
Goal: Chat faces match Joomla profile / contact images.
Setup:
1. Options → Avatars = Yes
2. Pick the avatar source that matches your site
3. Write bridge (required after avatar changes)
You know it worked when: Chat faces are real photos, not generic Gravatar tiles. RCA dashboard shows avatar resolver = Yes.
Use case C — Hotline dock with status rings
Goal: Visitors see which agents are online and start a chat; avatars wear colored rings (online / busy / away / offline).
Setup:
1. Bridge + system plugin working (avatars optional but recommended)
2. Publish RCA ArrowChat Staff with viewport dock (or a header position)
3. Staff accounts stay logged in while on shift
4. Rings: leave module color defaults, or set Online/Busy/Away/Offline border colors
5. Clicking a staff avatar opens an ArrowChat session with that user
You know it worked when: The dock shows a count and avatars with the right ring color; click opens chat — not a dead link.
Use case D — Brand the dock to match the site
Goal: Staff icon matches your brand; layout fits a slim header.
Setup: Module → show icon → custom media file → icon size (e.g. 40–50px) → orientation horizontal or vertical. Override `--rca-ac-*` in `custom.css` if colors fight the template.
You know it worked when: The dock looks intentional, not like a leftover demo widget.
Use case E — Subdirectory or non-default folder name
Goal: ArrowChat lives in `/livechat/` (or anything that is not `messenger`).
Setup: Options → ArrowChat folder = `livechat` → Write bridge. Never rely on a hard-coded default — there isn’t one anymore.
You know it worked when: Dashboard shows folder + autoload OK and the frontend loads scripts from `/livechat/…`.
Part 4 — When it breaks
Symptom First move
No chat UI at all Plugin enabled? Folder path correct? `autoload.php` present?
Generic Gravatar only Avatars Options + Write bridge
Staff dock empty Users actually online? Module published? Access level?
Styles ignored Put overrides in template `custom.css`; clear cache
“integration.php missing” Dashboard → Write bridge
Options cache missing Regenerate on dashboard or open ArrowChat admin once
Still stuck? Email
What this guide is not
- Not an ArrowChat product manual (rooms, credits, ArrowSuites billing)
- Not permission to skip backups before you rewrite `integration.php` on production
Take a backup. Then Write bridge. Then test.