Configuration
Configuration for RCA ArrowChat splits across the three package components, with path and identity settings centralized in the component and frontend load controlled by the system plugin. The system plugin deliberately has no path field; that is intentional so you set the ArrowChat folder name once in component Options.
How the three package components divide the work
System - RCA ArrowChat
The system plugin loads ArrowChat on the frontend when it is enabled under System, Plugins. It reads the ArrowChat folder name from component Options, not from plugin parameters. It keeps your template css/custom.css last in the CSS cascade so chat chrome overrides belong in custom.css instead of desperate inline hacks.
RCA ArrowChat component
The component owns the administrator dashboard, component Options, status lights for folder, autoload.php, integration.php, options cache, and avatar resolver, and the Write bridge action. Open it from Components, RCA ArrowChat. Treat the dashboard status list as your honest preflight before you blame the template for missing chat.
RCA ArrowChat Staff module
The staff module shows online staff in a viewport dock or inline list with colored rings for online, busy, away, and offline. Configure it under Content, Site Modules, RCA ArrowChat Staff. Presence data comes from ArrowChat; if nobody is online in ArrowChat’s world, the dock looks empty no matter how carefully you tuned colors.
Component Options you must understand
ArrowChat folder
Open Components, RCA ArrowChat, toolbar Options. Enter the folder name relative to site root only, for example chat, messenger, or livechat, not a full URL. There is no hard-coded default messenger path anymore. An empty path means the plugin will not guess. After any change to folder, friend mode, or avatars, open the dashboard, click Write bridge, and clear Joomla cache.
Friend list mode
All online users shows everyone online in the buddy list and suits open community chat. Friends shows only friends when your site exposes friend data the bridge can read. All online with no friend table shows the online list without depending on a friend-table join when joins fail or you do not want that dependency. Pick one mode, save Options, click Write bridge, clear cache, and test with two accounts that should and should not see each other.
Avatars and Profile URL pattern
On the Avatars tab, turn on Joomla profile avatars when you want real photos instead of Gravatar. Choose an avatar source that matches how your site stores photos; Auto prefers available Joomla profile or contact images when configured. Set Profile URL pattern with {id} where the user id belongs in your site’s real profile URL. A wrong pattern sends chat profile links into nowhere useful. After avatar changes, click Write bridge and hard-refresh the frontend.
Write bridge and dashboard status
Write bridge writes or rewrites ArrowChat’s integration.php from RCA’s template with friend mode and avatar settings baked in. If a previous integration.php exists, it is backed up first. Without Write bridge, ArrowChat may still load while Joomla identity, friends, and avatars ignore what you configured in Options. Folder found and autoload.php found should read OK before you expect chat. If options cache is missing, open ArrowChat admin once or use Regenerate options cache on the RCA dashboard.
Staff module styling and access
Set Online, Busy, Away, and Offline ring colors in module parameters, or override staff module CSS variables in template custom.css. Limit module Access when only staff or support roles should see the dock. Style chat chrome in custom.css; the system plugin already loads it last by design.