Maximize Collaboration with Loop Components in Microsoft Teams

Discover how Loop components can enhance your team's communication and productivity in Microsoft Teams chats.

Introduction:

Microsoft Teams has introduced a new feature called Loop components, which allows users to collaborate in real-time on various elements, such as tables, task lists, or paragraphs. As the first feature of the Microsoft Loop app to become available in Teams, Loop components are designed to help you get tasks done faster by collaborating on agendas, tracking action items, or taking notes collectively. In this blog post, we'll explore Loop components, their benefits, and how to use them effectively in your Teams chats.

1. Sharing and Editing Loop Components Across Chats:

In Microsoft Teams, Loop components can be shared in different chats, allowing recipients to edit from their current locations and see updates instantly, regardless of where the changes were made. This feature promotes seamless collaboration between team members and ensures that everyone stays on the same page.

2. Auto-saving Loop Components to OneDrive:

When you create a Loop component in a Teams chat, it is automatically saved as a .fluid file in your OneDrive account. This makes it easy to continue collaborating on the component in a larger visual space at Office.com, where you can add as many components as you like.

3. Availability of Loop Components:

Loop components are available on Teams apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, ensuring that you can access and collaborate on these components across multiple platforms and devices.

4. Managing .fluid Files in OneDrive:

Loop components are stored as .fluid files in the creator's OneDrive, making it easy for users to create, discover, and manage these components alongside their Office documents. Users can search for content within .fluid files from Office.com and OneDrive and restore previous versions of the files if needed. However, moving a .fluid file from OneDrive to a SharePoint site will cause the live component to fail to load in Teams chat.

5. Sharing and Permissions for .fluid Files:

By default, Loop components follow the organization's existing permissions, but users can adjust permissions before sending to ensure everyone has access. When opening components from Teams chat in Office.com, you'll find share functionality similar to other Office documents.

6. Working with .fluid Files in Other Applications:

Currently, .fluid files can only be opened as links in your browser (such as Office.com) or as Loop components in Teams chat. If downloaded, you'll need to upload them back to OneDrive or SharePoint before opening them again.

7. eDiscovery Support for .fluid Files:

.fluid files are available for search and collection in eDiscovery (Standard) and for search, collection, review, and export in eDiscovery (Premium).

8. Disabling Loop Components:

If Loop components are disabled from the admin switch, users will no longer be able to create new .fluid files, and existing interactive Loop components will render as hyperlinks instead. However, users can still edit the files by opening them in a separate browser tab.

9. Known Issues and Limitations:

There are a few known issues and limitations with Loop components, such as unsupported features in Teams channels and federated chats, guest collaboration limitations, and search results only returning links to the components on office.com. It is essential to be aware of these limitations when working with Loop components in Teams. More on this URL here.

Conclusion:

Loop components in Microsoft Teams offer a new and efficient way for teams to ideate, create, and make decisions together. By integrating these components into your workflow, you can enhance your team's communication and productivity, ensuring that everyone stays connected and up to date. Get started with Loop components today to experience the benefits of real-time collaboration in your Teams chats.