Sandes
Quick Reference Guide-Android
(Version 2.0.X)
Release Date: 20
th
January 2021
National Informatics Centre
Table of Contents
1 About Sandes............................................................................................................................. 1
2 Installation................................................................................................................................. 2
3 Splash Screen............................................................................................................................. 3
4 Phone Permissions ..................................................................................................................... 4
5 Login Screens ............................................................................................................................. 5
6 Phonebook Sync ........................................................................................................................ 8
7 Home Dashboard ....................................................................................................................... 9
7.1 Chats ................................................................................................................................ 10
7.2 Groups ............................................................................................................................. 11
7.3 Contacts ........................................................................................................................... 12
7.3.1 View Contact Profile ................................................................................................. 13
7.3.2 Adding Contact ......................................................................................................... 13
7.3.3 Removing Contact .................................................................................................... 14
7.3.4 Favourite Contact ..................................................................................................... 14
7.3.5 Remove from Favourite ............................................................................................ 14
8 Message Style, Colour, Tagging, Gimoji .................................................................................... 15
8.1 Message Style and Colour ................................................................................................ 15
8.2 Message Tags ................................................................................................................... 16
8.3 Gimoji .............................................................................................................................. 16
9 Option Menu for Messages/Files ............................................................................................. 17
9.1 Pinning a Message............................................................................................................ 17
9.2 Copying a Message ........................................................................................................... 17
9.3 Replying to a Message ...................................................................................................... 17
9.4 Forwarding a Message ..................................................................................................... 18
9.5 Sending Messages to Email .............................................................................................. 18
9.6 Upload PDF documents to Digilocker................................................................................ 18
9.7 Deleting a Chat ................................................................................................................. 21
9.8 Deleting a media file from user’s device ........................................................................... 21
10 Sharing files/Contacts/voice messages ..................................................................................... 21
10.1 Sharing from Gallery ........................................................................................................ 22
10.2 Sharing file ....................................................................................................................... 22
10.3 Using Camera ................................................................................................................... 22
10.4 Sharing a Contact ............................................................................................................. 22
10.5 Sending a Voice Message ................................................................................................. 23
10.6 Sharing a file on Sandes with other Apps .......................................................................... 24
11 Link Preview ............................................................................................................................ 24
12 Message Indicators ................................................................................................................. 25
12.1 One to One Message Indicators........................................................................................ 25
12.2 Group Message Indicators ................................................................................................ 26
13 List Messaging ......................................................................................................................... 26
14 Broadcast Message .................................................................................................................. 27
15 Groups ..................................................................................................................................... 28
15.1 Creating Groups ............................................................................................................... 28
15.2 View Group details ........................................................................................................... 29
15.3 Editing Group details ........................................................................................................ 30
15.4 Adding Member ............................................................................................................... 31
15.5 Removing Member........................................................................................................... 32
15.6 Making Admin .................................................................................................................. 32
15.7 Removing from Admin ..................................................................................................... 32
16 Audio Call ................................................................................................................................ 33
17 Video Call ................................................................................................................................ 34
18 Info Services (Chatbot) ............................................................................................................. 35
19 Search Facility .......................................................................................................................... 36
20 Invite Contacts to Sandes ........................................................................................................ 36
21 Account ................................................................................................................................... 37
21.1 Edit Status ........................................................................................................................ 37
21.2 Edit Profile ....................................................................................................................... 38
21.2.1 Edit Display Photo .................................................................................................... 38
21.2.2 Edit Date of Birth ...................................................................................................... 39
21.2.3 Edit Occupation Details ............................................................................................ 40
21.2.4 Edit Residential Details ............................................................................................. 41
21.2.5 Edit Other Profile details........................................................................................... 42
21.3 Notifications..................................................................................................................... 42
21.3.1 Mute Notifications.................................................................................................... 42
21.3.2 Optimise Notifications .............................................................................................. 43
21.4 Backup ............................................................................................................................. 44
21.5 Manage Contact ............................................................................................................... 44
21.6 App Settings .................................................................................................................... 44
21.7 Help ................................................................................................................................. 45
21.8 Logout.............................................................................................................................. 45
21.9 Delete Account ................................................................................................................ 46
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 1
1 About Sandes
Sandes is a messaging platform for Instant Communication for Government
users. Public users may also be able to use the App on invitation. Sandes
platform provides a Mobile App for Instant Messaging, a Portal for
Administration and Dashboard services as well as Sandes Web for accessing
the features on desktop or laptop.
Sandes can be customized to manage the various types of messaging and
other forms of communications in different Government Organizations.
Sandes can be adapted by both Central and State Government
Organizations for intra and inter organization communication.
Sandes Mobile App can be downloaded from the Download Centre of
Sandes Portal (https://gims.gov.in).
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 3
3 Splash Screen
Application launcher
splash screen will be
displayed when user
opens the application
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 4
4 Phone Permissions
After login, user needs to
allow phone permissions
for Sandes to access
functionalities such as
taking picture and
recording the video,
recording the audio,
accessing the contacts,
making and managing
phone calls, accessing
photos, media and files
on user’s device
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 5
5 Login Screens
User has to login using
Email/Mobile credentials
and the OTP generated.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 6
Enter the mobile number/email id and Tap on
located at the bottom of screen to receive the One Time
Password (OTP)
Option 1: Using mobile number to register
Option 2: Using email id to register
Enter valid
email id
Enter 10-digit
mobile
number
Enter OTP
Enter the OTP
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 7
User can Tap on Skip if
user doesn’t want to take
backup or is freshly
registered
If user has used the App before and already has a backup,
then user can restore using the backup file otherwise may
skip this step
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 8
6 Phonebook Sync
User can add the phone
book contacts in Sandes
by tapping Sync
User may also sync the
phone book again
periodically to sync any
newly registered contacts
from Account>Manage
Contact. Option is also
provided to add a
contact using email
id/mobile number.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 9
7 Home Dashboard
After login, user will be
navigated to the main
screen.
Tap on Chats to view
recent chats of the user
Tap on Groups to view
group list of the user
Tap on Contacts to view
Sandes contact list of the
user
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 10
7.1 Chats
The Chats tab displays
user’s recent chat
conversations. Start an
individual conversation
by tapping on a chat
thread.
All the chats are End-to-
End Encrypted.
Type a message and tap
to send it
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 11
7.2 Groups
The Groups tab will
display user’s groups and
list groups. Start group
conversations by tapping
on a group. Lists are
special types of groups
where user can send
messages without being a
member of that group.
Sender will not be able to
see the list group
conversations. All such
messages would be
delivered successfully to
the corresponding list
group members.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 12
7.3 Contacts
The Contacts tab will display
Contacts of the user who
are registered on Sandes.
Search for a contact by
name using the search
option provided.
Tap on a contact to start a
one-to-one personal chat.
Favourite contacts are
displayed on the top of
other contacts with a star
indication.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 13
7.3.1 View Contact Profile
7.3.2 Adding Contact
A user can add a contact to
the Sandes Contact list by
tapping on Manage Contact
option under the Account tab
and then tapping on Add
Contact option. Provide email
id/mobile number of the
contact to be added.
By soft pressing on a contact
name or profile image in the chat
window, user will be able to see
the user profile. Profile shows the
user’s primary information along
with user’s online status or last
presence.
Right side menu ⋮ in the chat
window is having the option to
mark a contact as favourite, clear
conversation or to mute the
notification sound of messages
from the contact.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 14
7.3.3 Removing Contact
7.3.4 Favourite Contact
7.3.5 Remove from Favourite
A user can be removed from
the contact list by hard
pressing on the contact
Favourite contacts are
displayed on the top of other
contacts with a star indication.
User can hard press on the
Contact and choose ‘Make
Favourite’ to mark contact as
favourite
User can hard press on the
Contact and choose ‘Remove
Favourite’ to remove contact
from favourite.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 15
8 Message Style, Colour, Tagging, Gimoji
8.1 Message Style and Colour
After typing in text input area,
selecting shows advanced text
styling options like Bold, Italic,
Coloured text etc.
Colour palette for user to type
messages in different colours
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 16
8.2 Message Tags
8.3 Gimoji
A message may be tagged before
sending. Any of the tags can be
selected from the tag section.
Messages tagged as Auto Delete
tag are deleted as soon as
recipient reads such messages.
Messages can also be tagged as
Confidential or Priority
Gimojis are stickers or images
useful in official chat conversations.
To send a Gimoji, tap on a sticker
in the GIMOJI section in the
message options.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 17
9 Option Menu for Messages/Files
9.1 Pinning a Message
9.2 Copying a Message
9.3 Replying to a Message
Use Reply option to reply to a
message from the chat screen.
Messages can be pinned to the
top of chat window using this
option.
Message may be copied using this
option. User can then paste these
messages in any chat window.
The user can select a conversation
by a long press on it to reveal
actions like Pin, Copy, Reply,
Forward, Send Email, Delete or
Archive chat
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 18
9.4 Forwarding a Message
9.5 Sending Messages to Email
9.6 Upload PDF documents to Digilocker
Click on the Send Mail icon to
send the selected messages to the
email Id provided in user’s Sandes
profile.
1. Select the PDF document in the
chat window
Click on the Upload icon in the
control panel. This will open a new
window in user’s default browser
Sandes Application allows a user to upload PDF documents
shared in Sandes to the personal DigiLocker accounts.
Following steps demonstrates the procedure for uploading a
document to DigiLocker.
Use Forward option to forward a
message from the chat screen to a
user/group.
Forwarded messages will be
displayed with a “Forwarded” tag.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 19
4. Grant Permissions for
Sandes Account
Click on the Allow button. User
will be redirected back to
Sandes Application after
completing Upload.
3. Login to Digilocker
Next, user will be redirected to
the Digilocker portal. Sign in to
Digilocker using credentials or
by entering user’s Aadhaar
number/Mobile number.
2. Link to Digilocker
Click on Continue to link Digilocker
account with Sandes.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 20
5. Uploading file
User will be displayed the screen
on the left while File is being
uploaded on Digilocker
Confirm
Android phones by certain
manufacturers/OS versions will
ask permission from user to move
back to Sandes application.
Click on OK
6. Uploading complete
On successful uploading of file on
Digilocker, user will get a
notification
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 21
9.7 Deleting a Chat
9.8 Deleting a media file from user’s device
10 Sharing files/Contacts/voice messages
User can delete message from
the chat window. Tapping on
Delete, user has 2 options:
Deleting from chat window and
Archiving the message to the
email provided in the user’s
profile. In both the options, the
message will be deleted from
the chat window.
Tap on icon to enable share
options. User can share
files/contacts or voice messages
Long press on the media file in
individual/group chat window
and tap on Delete. Check the
checkbox displayed to delete
the media file from chat
window of individual/group
chat as well the user’s device.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 22
10.1 Sharing from Gallery
10.2 Sharing file
10.3 Using Camera
10.4 Sharing a Contact
Contact button in the filesharing
control can be used to select and
share contact. Tapping on the
Contact icon will open the contact
list.
By selecting the contact from the
list, a preview will be displayed to
the user.
User can use this option to share
any file from Gallery
Tap on Camera Option to capture
an Image and then share it
User can use this option to share
any Excel, Word, PowerPoint
Presentation, Image, Audio or
Video file
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 23
10.5 Sending a Voice Message
User can then send that contact
by tapping the send button .
Recipient can add this contact to
his mobile Phonebook or Sandes
contact list
Audio button in the filesharing
control can be used to record
and share audio messages.
Clicking on the audio icon will
open the audio record controls.
Soft Pressing the mic icon will start
recording audio.
On completing the recording, the
media player control displayed can
be used to preview the audio
message before sending to other
users/groups
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 24
10.6 Sharing a file on Sandes with other Apps
11 Link Preview
There is a feature named
link preview, which helps
the user to preview the
meta data information of
a web hyperlink being
shared. Same preview
will appear in the chat
conversation as well.
User can share a file on Sandes
with other Apps. Go to individual
or group chat window and hard
press the file. Tap on ⋮ from the
top right-hand side and then tap
on Share. Select the App you
want to share this file with.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 25
12 Message Indicators
12.1 One to One Message Indicators
Message indications are provided to the sender to know
the status of the messages.
Pending for sending to server
Reached Server
Delivered to Recipient
Seen by Recipient
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 26
12.2 Group Message Indicators
13 List Messaging
Send messages to public
groups without being a
member. Sender will not be
able to see the group
conversations. The messages
will be delivered to the
corresponding list group
members.
Tapping on Message Info icon
gives the relevant information
(delivered/read) to the sender
of the message
Shows list of users who have
seen the message and those to
who have received the
message
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 27
14 Broadcast Message
Broadcast messaging can be used
to deliver information to multiple
recipients at once. By clicking on
the New Broadcast icon from the
Groups tab, user can select the
contacts to whom user wants to
broadcast the message.
After selecting the contacts, click
the and then give name and
description (optional) to Broadcast
list. Click on ‘Create Broadcast
Group’ to open the chat window
for Broadcast message. By sending
a message, the broadcast list will
be created. User can use this list in
future to communicate with the
users in this list.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 28
15 Groups
15.1 Creating Groups
A new group can be created in
the Sandes application by
selecting New Group option
from menu available in the
groups tab. A new popup
window will appear with list of
the Sandes contacts of the user.
Select multiple contacts from the
Sandes contact list, for adding to
the group. Once the members
are selected, tap on the TICK
button available in the bottom of
the screen.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 29
15.2 View Group details
After selecting members, the user
needs to provide a group name
and a description (optional) for
the group to be created. Tap on
‘Create Group’ By default, the
creator of group becomes Admin
of group and others will be
members.
After successful creation of group,
user will be navigated to the chat
screen of the newly created
group.
From the group tab, tap on
group name to open group chat
window. Soft press on group
name from the top to display the
details of group along with list of
group members as shown.
Members who have Admin
marked next to their name are
Group Admins. By tapping on a
group member name, user can
start personal chat with that
specific group member.
.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 30
15.3 Editing Group details
Only Group Admin can edit name
and description of group, change
or delete image or cover image of
the group and manage members.
Soft press on group name from
the top of group chat window to
display the details
Tap on icon to open the action
menu as shown to make the
changes in group details
.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 31
15.4 Adding Member
Admin of a group can select
members from the Sandes
contacts to add to the group
New members can also be
added to the group using their
email id. Use the Add Members
by Email option.
A pop-up window is opened on
which the email ID of the Sandes
registered user can be entered.
On clicking OK, the user will be
added to the group
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 32
15.5 Removing Member
15.6 Making Admin
15.7 Removing from Admin
Long press on the member from
the group member list to view
the Action drop-down menu.
On Tapping ‘Remove from
Group’, a pop message as
shown is displayed. Click on Ok
to remove the member from the
group
Tap on Grant Admin Right to
make member as Admin of
group
Tap on ‘Remove Admin Right’ to
remove Group Admin rights of
user. Now this user will be able
to chat as a member of group
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 33
16 Audio Call
Tap the audio call icon to initiate
the audio call.
Tap the end call button to
disconnect the call.
Tap the icon to toggle
between speaker mode and
handset mode
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 34
17 Video Call
Tap the Video call icon to initiate
the Video call.
In an ongoing call, tap the camera
icon to toggle between front and
back camera. Tap on the mic icon
to mute the call.
Tap the end call button to
disconnect the call.
Tap the icon to toggle
between speaker mode and
handset mode
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 35
18 Info Services (Chatbot)
User can use the Sandes Chat Bot
service to View the Registered
Dashboards, Register, Schedule,
Unschedule any Dashboard URL
and View Weather Information.
To see all valid commands, please
type HELP in the Info Service Chat
window.
Tap on ⋮ and then tap on Info
Service option to access the
Chatbot window
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 36
19 Search Facility
20 Invite Contacts to Sandes
User can use Search option for
searching a keyword from the
Contact list/groups/ messages
A verified user can now invite
anyone to Sandes App. Tap on ⋮
from top-right corner and then tap
on ‘Invite Contacts’ option.
A list of user’s contacts on their
Phonebook is displayed. Tap on
against the contact to be
invited.
To invite a contact using their
email id, tap on against
the ‘Invite by email’, enter the
email id when prompted and tap
OK.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 37
21 Account
21.1 Edit Status
Account tab is used for editing
profile details and customizing
user settings such as Notifications,
Backup, Manage Contact, App
Settings, view Help section, Logout
from App and Delete Account.
Tap on the display photo in the
Account tab. Next tap on down-
arrow near the Status field to
open the status drop-down. Tap
on the desired status to select
and update it.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 38
21.2 Edit Profile
21.2.1 Edit Display Photo
Tap on near the display picture.
User may select the image from
Gallery or click a photo with phone
Camera.
For uploading through Camera:
User may tap on and then click
a photo from Camera. Next tap on
and then on
Tap on the display photo given
in Account tab and then tap on
to open the Edit
Profile tab.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 39
21.2.2 Edit Date of Birth
After selecting the image from
Gallery or clicking from Camera,
user may crop the photo by first
selecting the portion of image to
be displayed by dragging the
controls and then tapping on Crop
option from the top. User may also
flip the image horizontally or
vertically by tapping on and
selecting the appropriate option.
Tap on to upload the image as
display photo.
Tap on near the date of birth
field to open the Calendar. The
current date of birth as entered
by user is highlighted. To
change this field, tap on the year
displayed to open the year
drop-down and then select the
desired year. Select the month
by tapping on < or >. Then tap
on the desired date from then
calendar and tap OK. Tap on
from the top right corner.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 40
21.2.3 Edit Occupation Details
Government Employees
Tap on Update near the
Occupation Details field to open
the options. Select the radio
button against the desired
occupation. Tap on from the
top right corner.
After selecting the “Government”
radio button, Govt employees
may select whether they are
employees of Central or State
Govt, Panchayat, ULB or
Judiciary by tapping on the
appropriate option.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 41
21.2.4 Edit Residential Details
Govt. employees need to
provide further details of their
employment such as Ministry,
Organisation, Department and
Designation. They may add any
Remarks which is optional field.
Next tap on from the top
right corner.
Tap on Update near the
Residential Details field. Select
the Country, State and District
from the drop-down. Tap on
from the top right corner.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 42
21.2.5 Edit Other Profile details
21.3 Notifications
21.3.1 Mute Notifications
There is an option to mute
notification from all Individual/
group chats by clicking the “Mute
Notification” option provided
under Notifications tab of Settings.
This will mute the notification
sound from all the chats.
User may edit their other profile
details such as their name, gender
(using the drop-down). User can
also change their mobile number
and email id as well using the OTP
received. To finally update the
details, tap on from the top
right corner.
Users registered with mobile
number cannot change it and
users registered with email-id
cannot change it in their profile.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 43
21.3.2 Optimise Notifications
Tap on ’Optimize Notifications’
from Settings> Notifications option
to open the settings to whitelist
Sandes. This varies from
manufacture to manufacturer and
sometimes settings vary from
model to model.
Sandes needs to be excluded from
battery optimization settings of the
phone to allow running in the
background. Otherwise services
will be killed by OS. Also, user
needs to set Auto start permission
for Sandes to run after a phone
restart.
Tap on Allow on both screens to
always let the App run in
Background
Running App in Background and Battery Optimisation are
phone specific settings so user may need to find out on the
mobile device and configure accordingly.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 44
21.4 Backup
21.5 Manage Contact
21.6 App Settings
There is an option to enable or
disable Auto-download of files in
chat. Go to Settings and Tap on
App Settings to view this option.
When Auto-download is disabled,
then files received in Individual/
Group chats will not be
automatically downloaded on the
user’s device. User can choose a
file from the chat window and click
on download icon displayed on it
to downloaded it individually on
the device.
Backup can be sent to customized
folder with permission.
User may use this option to Add a Contact to the Sandes
Contact list or Sync the Sandes Contact list with the
Contacts available on the Mobile Phonebook
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 45
21.7 Help
21.8 Logout
Tap on Help option from Account
tab or tap on ⋮ from top of screen
and then tap on Help option to
view the various Help options
available to user
About Sandes: Provide details on
release notes and versions
Quick Reference Guide: Provide a
quick reference guide about the
application
FAQ: Provide answers to
frequently asked questions
User may use this option to Logout from the application.
Sandes QRG-Android v2.0.X Page 46
21.9 Delete Account
User may use this option to
delete the account from
Sandes App. Tap on Account
tab and then tap on Delete
Account option.
Select the appropriate reason
for deleting account and then
tap on Delete Account. The
user’s account will be deleted,
and user will not be able to
access the Sandes App. If the
user wishes to use the Sandes
App again, user has to register
again on the App and provide
the details at the time of
registration.
