Message Composer - CometChat Docs

Overview

MessageComposer is a Component that enables users to write and send a variety of messages, including text, image, video, and custom messages. Features such as Live Reaction, Attachments, and Message Editing are also supported by it.

iOS
Android

MessageComposer is comprised of the following Base Components:

Base Components	Description
MessageInput	This provides a basic layout for the contents of this component, such as the TextField and buttons
ActionSheet	The ActionSheet component presents a list of options in either a list or grid mode, depending on the user’s preference

Usage

Integration

The following code snippet illustrates how you can directly incorporate the MessageComposer component into your app.

App.tsx

import React from "react";
import { CometChat } from '@cometchat/chat-sdk-react-native';
import { CometChatMessageComposer } from '@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native';

function App(): React.JSX.Element {
    const [chatUser, setChatUser] = React.useState<CometChat.User| undefined>();

    React.useEffect(() => {
        CometChat.getUser("uid").then((user) => {
            setChatUser(user);
        })
    }, []);

    return (
     <>
        { chatUser && <CometChatMessageComposer
             user={chatUser}
        />}
     </>
   );
  }

Actions

Actions dictate how a component functions. They are divided into two types: Predefined and User-defined. You can override either type, allowing you to tailor the behavior of the component to fit your specific needs.

1. onSendButtonPress

The onSendButtonPress event gets activated when the send message button is clicked. It has a predefined function of sending messages entered in the composer EditText. However, you can overide this action with the following code snippet.

App.tsx

import React from "react";
import { CometChat } from '@cometchat/chat-sdk-react-native';
import { CometChatMessageComposer } from '@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native';

function App(): React.JSX.Element {
    const [chatUser, setChatUser] = React.useState<CometChat.User| undefined>();

    React.useEffect(() => {
        CometChat.getUser("uid").then((user) => {
            setChatUser(user);
        })
    }, []);

    const onSendButtonPressHandler = (message: CometChat.BaseMessage) => {
      //code
    }

    return (
     <>
        { chatUser && <CometChatMessageComposer
             user={chatUser}
             onSendButtonPress={onSendButtonPressHandler}
        />}
     </>
   );
  }

2. onError

This action doesn’t change the behavior of the component but rather listens for any errors that occur in the MessageList component.

App.tsx

import React from "react";
import { CometChat } from '@cometchat/chat-sdk-react-native';
import { CometChatMessageComposer } from '@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native';

function App(): React.JSX.Element {
    const [chatUser, setChatUser] = React.useState<CometChat.User| undefined>();

    React.useEffect(() => {
        CometChat.getUser("uid").then((user) => {
            setChatUser(user);
        })
    }, []);

    const onErrorHandler = (error: CometChat.CometChatException) => {
       //handle error
    }

    return (
     <>
        { chatUser && <CometChatMessageComposer
             user={chatUser}
             onError={onErrorHandler}
        />}
     </>
   );
  }

Filters

MessageComposer component does not have any available filters.

Events

Events are emitted by a Component. By using event you can extend existing functionality. Being global events, they can be applied in Multiple Locations and are capable of being Added or Removed. The list of events emitted by the Messages component is as follows.

Event	Description
ccMessageSent	Triggers whenever a loggedIn user sends any message, it will have two states such as: `inprogress`, `success` & `error`
ccMessageEdited	Triggers whenever a loggedIn user edits any message from the list of messages. It will have two states such as: `inprogress`, `success` & `error`
ccMessageLiveReaction	Triggers whenever a loggedIn clicks on live reaction

Adding CometChatMessageEvents Listener’s

JavaScript

import { CometChatUIEventHandler } from "@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native";

CometChatUIEventHandler.addMessageListener("MESSAGE_LISTENER_ID", {
  ccMessageSent: (item) => {
    //code
  },
});

CometChatUIEventHandler.addMessageListener("MESSAGE_LISTENER_ID", {
  ccMessageEdited: (item) => {
    //code
  },
});

CometChatUIEventHandler.addMessageListener("MESSAGE_LISTENER_ID", {
  ccMessageLiveReaction: (item) => {
    //code
  },
});

Removing CometChatMessageEvents Listener’s

JavaScript

import { CometChatUIEventHandler } from "@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native";

CometChatUIEventHandler.removeMessageListener("MESSAGE_LISTENER_ID");

Customization

To fit your app’s design requirements, you can customize the appearance of the MessageComposer component. We provide exposed methods that allow you to modify the experience and behavior according to your specific needs.

Style

Using Style you can customize the look and feel of the component in your app, These parameters typically control elements such as the color, size, shape, and fonts used within the component.

1. MessageComposer Style

To modify the styling, you can apply the MessageComposerStyle to the MessageComposer Component using the messageComposerStyle property.

App.tsx

import React from "react";
import { CometChat } from '@cometchat/chat-sdk-react-native';
import { CometChatMessageComposer, MessageComposerStyleInterface } from '@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native';

function App(): React.JSX.Element {
    const [chatUser, setChatUser] = React.useState<CometChat.User| undefined>();

    React.useEffect(() => {
        CometChat.getUser("uid").then((user) => {
            setChatUser(user);
        })
    }, []);

    const messageComposerStyle : MessageComposerStyleInterface = {
       sendIconTint: "red",
       inputBackground: "#f2c2e9",
       borderRadius: 20,
       textColor:"red",
    }

    return (
     <>
        { chatUser && <CometChatMessageComposer
             user={chatUser}
             messageComposerStyle={messageComposerStyle}
        />}
     </>
   );
  }

The following properties are exposed by MessageComposerStyle:

Property	Description	Code
border	Used to set border	`border?: BorderStyleInterface,`
borderRadius	Used to set border radius	`borderRadius?: string;`
backgroundColor	Used to set background colour	`background?: string;`
height	Used to set height	`height?: string;`
width	Used to set width	`width?: string;`
inputBackground	Used to set input background color	`inputBackground?: string;`
inputBorder	used to set input border	`inputBorder?: BorderStyleInterface;`
textFont	Used to set input text font	`textFont?: FontStyleInterface;`
textColor	used to set input text color	`textColor?: string;`
placeHolderTextColor	Used to set placeholder text color	`placeHolderTextColor?: string;`
placeHolderTextFont	Used to set placeholder text font	`placeHolderTextFont?: FontStyleInterface;`
attachIconTint	Used to set attachment icon tint	`attachIcontint?: string;`
sendIconTint	Used to set send button icon tint	`sendIconTint?: string;`
dividerTint	Used to set separator color	`dividerTint?: string;`
actionSheetSeparatorTint	Used to set action sheet separator tint	`actionSheetTitleColor?: string;`
actionSheetTitleColor	Used to set action sheet title color	`dividerTint?: string;`
actionSheetTitleFont	Used to set action sheet title font	`actionSheetTitleFont?: FontStyleInterface;`
actionSheetLayoutModeIconTint	Used to set action sheet layout mode icon tint color	`actionSheetLayoutModeIconTint?: string;`
actionSheetCancelButtonIconTint	Used to set action sheet cancel button icon tint color	`actionSheetCancelButtonIconTint?: string;`
voiceRecordingIconTint	Used to set voice recording icon color	`voiceRecordingIconTint?: string;`

2. MediaRecorder Style

To customize the styles of the MediaRecorder component within the MessageComposer Component, use the mediaRecorderStyle property. For more details, please refer to MediaRecorder styles.

App.tsx

import React from "react";
import { CometChat } from '@cometchat/chat-sdk-react-native';
import { CometChatMessageComposer, MediaRecorderStyleInterface } from '@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native';

function App(): React.JSX.Element {
    const [chatUser, setChatUser] = React.useState<CometChat.User| undefined>();

    React.useEffect(() => {
        CometChat.getUser("uid").then((user) => {
            setChatUser(user);
        })
    }, []);

    const mediaRecorderStyle: MediaRecorderStyleInterface = {
       playIconTint: "#6851D6",
       closeIconTint:"red",
       submitIconTint:"red",
    }

    return (
     <>
        { chatUser && <CometChatMessageComposer
             user={chatUser}
             mediaRecorderStyle={mediaRecorderStyle}
        />}
     </>
   );
  }

Functionality

These are a set of small functional customizations that allow you to fine-tune the overall experience of the component. With these, you can change text, set custom icons, and toggle the visibility of UI elements.

App.tsx

import React from "react";
import { CometChat } from '@cometchat/chat-sdk-react-native';
import { CometChatMessageComposer, MediaRecorderStyleInterface } from '@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native';

function App(): React.JSX.Element {
    const [chatUser, setChatUser] = React.useState<CometChat.User| undefined>();

    React.useEffect(() => {
        CometChat.getUser("uid").then((user) => {
            setChatUser(user);
        })
    }, []);


    return (
     <>
        { chatUser && <CometChatMessageComposer
          user={chatUser}
          hideLiveReaction={true}
          disableTypingEvents={true}
        />}
     </>
   );
  }

iOS
Android

Below is a list of customizations along with corresponding code snippets

Property	Description	Code
User	Used to pass user object of which header specific details will be show	`user={chatUser}`
Group	Used to pass group object of which header specific details will be shown	`group={chatGroup}`
placeHolderText	Used to set composer’s placeholder text	`placeHolderText="your custom placeholder text"`
disableTypingEvents	Used to disable/enable typing events , default false	`disableTypingEvents={true}`
disableSoundForMessages	Used to toggle sound for outgoing messages	`disableSoundForMessages={true}`
text	Used to set predefined text	`text="Your custom text"`
voiceRecordingIconURL	Sets custom icon for voice recording.	`voiceRecordingIconURL="your custom voice recording start icon"`
recordIconUrl	Sets custom icon for voice recording start.	`recordIconUrl={{uri: <image url>}}` OR import customReadIcon from "./customReadIcon.svg"; ``recordIconUrl={customReadIconUrl}
pauseIconUrl	Sets custom icon for voice recording pause.	`pauseIconUrl={{uri: <image url>}}` OR import customPauseIcon from "./customPauseIcon.svg"; ``pauseIconUrl={customPauseIcon}
stopIconUrl	Sets custom icon for voice recording stop.	`stopIconUrl={{uri: <image url>}}` OR import customStopIcon from "./customStopIcon.svg"; ``stopIconUrl={customStopIcon}
deleteIconUrl	Sets custom icon for voice recording close.	`deleteIconUrl={{uri: <image url>}}` OR import customDeleteIcon from "./customDeleteIcon.svg"; ``deleteIconUrl={customDeleteIcon}
submitIconUrl	Sets custom icon for voice recording submit	`submitIconUrl={{uri: <image url>}}` OR import customSubmitIcon from "./customSubmitIcon.svg"; ``submitIconUrl={customSubmitIcon}
auxiliaryButtonsAlignment	controls position of auxiliary button view , can be left or right . default right	`auxiliaryButtonsAlignment={"left"}`
attachmentIcon	sets the icon to show in the attachment button	`attachmentIcon={{uri: <image url>}}` OR import customAttchmentIcon from "./customAttchmentIcon.svg"; ``attachmentIcon={customAttchmentIcon}
hideLiveReaction	used to toggle visibility for live reaction component	`hideLiveReaction={true}`
customSoundForMessage	Used to give custom sounds to outgoing messages	`customSoundForMessage="your custom sound for messages"`
liveReactionIcon	used to set custom live reaction icon.	`liveReactionIcon="your custom live reaction icon"`
AIIconURL	used to set custom AI icon.	`AIIconURL="your custom AI icon"`
hideVoiceRecording	used to hide the voice recording option.	`hideVoiceRecording={true}`
disableMentions	Sets whether mentions in text should be disabled. Processes the text formatters If there are text formatters available and the disableMentions flag is set to true, it removes any formatters that are instances of CometChatMentionsFormatter.	`disableMentions={true}`

Advanced

For advanced-level customization, you can set custom views to the component. This lets you tailor each aspect of the component to fit your exact needs and application aesthetics. You can create and define your views, layouts, and UI elements and then incorporate those into the component.

AttachmentOptions

By using attachmentOptions, you can set a list of custom MessageComposerActions for the MessageComposer Component. This will override the existing list of MessageComposerActions. Example

iOS
Android

App.tsx

import React from "react";
import { CometChat } from '@cometchat/chat-sdk-react-native';
import { CometChatMessageComposer, CometChatMessageComposerActionInterface } from '@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native';

function App(): React.JSX.Element {
    const [chatUser, setChatUser] = React.useState<CometChat.User| undefined>();

    React.useEffect(() => {
        CometChat.getUser("uid").then((user) => {
            setChatUser(user);
        })
    }, []);

   const customAttachMentOptions  = ({
       user,
       group,
       composerId,
     }: {
       user?: CometChat.User;
       group?: CometChat.Group;
       composerId: Map<any, any>;
    }) : CometChatMessageComposerActionInterface[] => {

       let attachmentOptions : CometChatMessageComposerActionInterface[] = [];
       attachmentOptions.push(
         {
            id: 'location',
            iconUrl: Location,
            title: 'Share Location',
            iconTint: 'grey'
         }
       )
       return attachmentOptions;
     };


    return (
     <>
        { chatUser && <CometChatMessageComposer
          user={chatUser}
          attachmentOptions={customAttachMentOptions}
        />}
     </>
   );
  }

AuxiliaryButtonView

You can insert a custom view into the MessageComposer component to add additional functionality using the following method. Please note that the MessageComposer Component utilizes the AuxiliaryButton to provide sticker functionality. Overriding the AuxiliaryButton will subsequently replace the sticker functionality. In this example, we’ll be adding a custom SOS button. Example

iOS
Android

App.tsx

import React from "react";
import { CometChat } from '@cometchat/chat-sdk-react-native';
import { CometChatMessageComposer, CometChatMessageComposerActionInterface } from '@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native';

function App(): React.JSX.Element {
    const [chatUser, setChatUser] = React.useState<CometChat.User| undefined>();

    React.useEffect(() => {
        CometChat.getUser("uid").then((user) => {
            setChatUser(user);
        })
    }, []);

    const styles = StyleSheet.create({
       button: {
         height: 25,
         width: 25,
         borderRadius: 0,
         backgroundColor: 'transparent',
         paddingTop: 9
       },
       image: {
         height: 23,
         width: 24,
         tintColor: '#7E57C2',
       },
    });

    const customAuxiliaryButtonView  = ({
        user,
        group,
        composerId,
      }: {
        user?: CometChat.User;
        group?: CometChat.Group;
        composerId: string | number;
    }) : JSX.Element => {

       return (
         <TouchableOpacity style={styles.button} onPress={()=> {/* code */}}>
           <Image source={Location} style={styles.image} />
         </TouchableOpacity>
       );
    };


    return (
     <>
        { chatUser && <CometChatMessageComposer
          user={chatUser}
          AuxiliaryButtonView={customAuxiliaryButtonView}
        />}
     </>
   );
  }

SecondaryButtonView

You can add a custom view into the SecondaryButton component for additional functionality using the below method. In this example, we’ll be adding a custom SOS button. Example

iOS
Android

App.tsx

import React from "react";
import { CometChat } from '@cometchat/chat-sdk-react-native';
import { CometChatMessageComposer, CometChatMessageComposerActionInterface } from '@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native';

function App(): React.JSX.Element {
    const [chatUser, setChatUser] = React.useState<CometChat.User| undefined>();

    React.useEffect(() => {
        CometChat.getUser("uid").then((user) => {
            setChatUser(user);
        })
    }, []);

    const styles = StyleSheet.create({
       button: {
         height: 25,
         width: 25,
         borderRadius: 0,
         backgroundColor: 'transparent',
         paddingTop: 9
       },
       image: {
         height: 23,
         width: 24,
         tintColor: '#7E57C2',
       },
    });

    const customSecondaryButtonView  = ({
      user,
      group,
      composerId,
    }: {
      user?: CometChat.User;
      group?: CometChat.Group;
      composerId: string | number;
    }) : JSX.Element => {

       return (
          <TouchableOpacity style={styles.button} onPress={()=> {/* code */}}>
            <Image source={Location} style={styles.image} />
          </TouchableOpacity>
       );
    };



    return (
     <>
        { chatUser && <CometChatMessageComposer
          user={chatUser}
          SecondaryButtonView={customSecondaryButtonView}
        />}
     </>
   );
  }

SendButtonView

You can set a custom view in place of the already existing send button view. Using the following method. Example

iOS
Android

App.tsx

import React from "react";
import { CometChat } from '@cometchat/chat-sdk-react-native';
import { CometChatMessageComposer, CometChatMessageComposerActionInterface } from '@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native';
import SendIcon from './send-icon.png';

function App(): React.JSX.Element {
    const [chatUser, setChatUser] = React.useState<CometChat.User| undefined>();

    React.useEffect(() => {
        CometChat.getUser("uid").then((user) => {
            setChatUser(user);
        })
    }, []);

    const styles = StyleSheet.create({
       button: {
         height: 25,
         width: 25,
         borderRadius: 0,
         backgroundColor: 'transparent',
         paddingTop: 9
       },
       image: {
         height: 23,
         width: 24,
         tintColor: '#7E57C2',
       },
    });

    const customSendButtonView  = ({
      user,
      group,
      composerId,
    }: {
      user?: CometChat.User;
      group?: CometChat.Group;
      composerId: string | number;
    }) : JSX.Element => {

       return (
          <TouchableOpacity style={styles.button} onPress={()=> {/* code */}}>
            <Image source={SendIcon} style={styles.image} />
          </TouchableOpacity>
       );
    };



    return (
     <>
        { chatUser && <CometChatMessageComposer
          user={chatUser}
          SendButtonView={customSendButtonView}
        />}
     </>
   );
  }

HeaderView

You can set custom HeaderView to the MessageComposer component using the following method In the following example, we’re going to apply a mock chat bot button to the MessageComposer Component using the HeaderView property. Example

iOS
Android

App.tsx

import React from "react";
import { CometChat } from '@cometchat/chat-sdk-react-native';
import { CometChatMessageComposer, CometChatMessageComposerActionInterface } from '@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native';

function App(): React.JSX.Element {
    const [chatUser, setChatUser] = React.useState<CometChat.User| undefined>();

    React.useEffect(() => {
        CometChat.getUser("uid").then((user) => {
            setChatUser(user);
        })
    }, []);

    const viewStyle: StyleProp<ViewStyle> = {
       flexDirection: 'row',
       alignItems: 'flex-start',
       justifyContent: 'center',
       padding: 5,
       borderColor: 'black',
       borderWidth: 1,
       backgroundColor: 'white',
       borderRadius: 10,
       margin: 2,
       marginLeft: 7.4,
       height: 30,
       width: '95.5%',
    };

    const customHeaderView = () => {
       return <View style={viewStyle}>
                 <Text style={{color: "#6851D6", fontWeight: "bold"}}>Chat Bot</Text>
              </View>
    }


    return (
     <>
        { chatUser && <CometChatMessageComposer
          user={chatUser}
          HeaderView={customHeaderView}
        />}
     </>
   );
  }

TextFormatters

Assigns the list of text formatters. If the provided list is not null, it sets the list. Otherwise, it assigns the default text formatters retrieved from the data source. To configure the existing Mentions look and feel check out CometChatMentionsFormatter

ShortCutFormatter.ts
App.tsx

import { CometChat } from "@cometchat/chat-sdk-react-native";
import {
  CometChatTextFormatter,
  SuggestionItem,
} from "@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native";

export class ShortCutFormatter extends CometChatTextFormatter {
  constructor() {
    super();
    this.trackCharacter = "!";
  }

  search = (searchKey: string) => {
    let data: Array<SuggestionItem> = [];

    CometChat.callExtension("message-shortcuts", "GET", "v1/fetch", undefined)
      .then((data: any) => {
        if (data && data?.shortcuts) {
          let suggestionData = Object.keys(data.shortcuts).map((key) => {
            return new SuggestionItem({
              id: key,
              name: data.shortcuts[key],
              promptText: data.shortcuts[key],
              trackingCharacter: "!",
              underlyingText: data.shortcuts[key],
            });
          });
          this.setSearchData(suggestionData); // setting data in setSearchData();
        }
      })
      .catch((error) => {
        // Some error occured
      });

    this.setSearchData(data);
  };

  // return null in fetchNext, if there's no pagination.
  fetchNext = () => {
    return null;
  };
}

import React from "react";
import { CometChat } from "@cometchat/chat-sdk-react-native";
import { CometChatMessageComposer } from "@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native";
import { ShortCutFormatter } from "./ShortcutsTextFormatter";

function App(): React.JSX.Element {
  const [chatUser, setChatUser] = React.useState<CometChat.User | undefined>();

  React.useEffect(() => {
    CometChat.getUser("uid").then((user) => {
      setChatUser(user);
    });
  }, []);

  const shortcutFormatter = new ShortCutFormatter();

  return (
    <CometChatMessageComposer textFormatters={[new ShortcutFormatter()]} />
  );
}

​Overview

​Usage

​Integration

​Actions

1. onSendButtonPress

2. onError

​Filters

​Events

​Customization

​Style

1. MessageComposer Style

2. MediaRecorder Style

​Functionality

​Advanced

​AttachmentOptions

​AuxiliaryButtonView

​SecondaryButtonView

​SendButtonView

​HeaderView

​TextFormatters