# How to add a hyperlink in a text message
## Environment
## Description
How to send a hyperlink in RadChat (Conversational UI).
## Solution
In order to display html/hyperlink, you can create a custom message and use a RadRichTextBox in order to show its contents. The first step is to inherit the **TextMessage** class as shown in **Example 1**.
**Example 1: Defining a custom message**
```C#
public class HtmlMessage : TextMessage
{
public HtmlMessage(Author author, string text, DateTime creationDate = default(DateTime)) : base(author, text, creationDate)
{
}
}
```
```VB.NET
Public Class HtmlMessage
Inherits TextMessage
Public Sub New(ByVal author As Author, ByVal text As String, Optional ByVal creationDate As Date = Date.MinValue)
MyBase.New(author, text, creationDate)
End Sub
End Class
```
After that we can inherit the **MessageTemplateSelector** in order to choose a DataTemplate for the messages.
**Example 2: Defining a custom MessageTemplateSelector**
```C#
public class CustomMessageTemplateSelector : MessageTemplateSelector
{
public DataTemplate HtmlMessageTemplate { get; set; }
public override DataTemplate SelectTemplate(object item, DependencyObject container)
{
var htmlTextMessage = item as HtmlMessage;
if (htmlTextMessage != null)
{
return this.HtmlMessageTemplate;
}
return base.SelectTemplate(item, container);
}
}
```
```VB.NET
Public Class CustomMessageTemplateSelector
Inherits MessageTemplateSelector
Public Property HtmlMessageTemplate() As DataTemplate
Public Overrides Function SelectTemplate(ByVal item As Object, ByVal container As DependencyObject) As DataTemplate
Dim htmlTextMessage = TryCast(item, HtmlMessage)
If htmlTextMessage IsNot Nothing Then
Return Me.HtmlMessageTemplate
End If
Return MyBase.SelectTemplate(item, container)
End Function
End Class
```
[Extract the xaml](https://www.telerik.com/products/wpf/documentation/styling-and-appearance/styling-apperance-editing-control-templates) of the default MessageTemplateSelector for the theme that you are using and define the look of the custom HtmlMessage. Then we can use the custom selector in the **ItemTemplate** of the **MessageGroup** element as shown in **Example 3**.
**Example 3: CustomMessageTemplateSelector in xaml**
```XAML
```
> The code shown in **Example 3** is for the purposes of the demo and you should make sure to extract the xaml of the default MessageTemplateSelector for the theme that you are using.
**Example 4** demonstrates how to add a message containing a hyperlink to the RadChat.
**Example 4: Adding a message**
```C#
public MainWindow()
{
InitializeComponent();
this.chat.CurrentAuthor = new Author("TestAuthor");
this.chat.AddMessage(new HtmlMessage(this.chat.CurrentAuthor, "Visit our homepage.", DateTime.Now));
}
```
```VB.NET
Public Sub New()
InitializeComponent()
Me.chat.CurrentAuthor = New Author("TestAuthor")
Me.chat.AddMessage(New HtmlMessage(Me.chat.CurrentAuthor, "Visit our homepage.", Date.Now))
End Sub
```
## See Also
* [RadChat Getting Started](https://www.telerik.com/products/wpf/documentation/controls/radchat/getting-started)
* [Data Providers](https://www.telerik.com/products/wpf/documentation/controls/radrichtextbox/import-export/features-data-providers)