Chat overview
How chat sessions work in AskPhi, including their relationship to files.
A chat session in AskPhi is a conversation about a single file. Every message you and the AI exchange is saved inside that session. You can have many sessions per file — for example, one for "Sales review" and another for "Top customers".
Anatomy of the chat screen
| Area | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Left sidebar | New Chat button, search box, chat history grouped by date. |
| Top of main | Currently empty — the conversation starts at the top of the thread. |
| Main thread | Your messages on the right, AI replies on the left, oldest at top. |
| Bottom input | Text box, model selector, send button. |
Where sessions live
| Location | What's there |
|---|---|
| Sidebar → Chat History | All your sessions, grouped by Today, Yesterday, Last 7 Days, Last Month, Older. |
| Chat home → Create Session card | Appears when a file is selected; the form to create a new session. |
/chat/<session_id> URL | Direct link to a single session. |
What you can do
- Start a chat session tied to a file.
- Send messages and choose an AI model.
- Read AI replies, including charts.
- Search past chats, rename them, or delete them.
Real-time replies
AI replies arrive live over a real-time connection. You'll see a typing indicator while the AI is thinking, then the reply appears in place. If your network blocks real-time traffic, replies may take longer or require a refresh — see System requirements.