I’ve posted relevant solution earlier, but the code was lost due to forum migration.
So, reposting:
Here is what you can do without any theme code edits.
Add a new link to your menu, call it Chat and make it point to #chat (address is important).
Then add a “Custom liquid” section into your Footer section group and paste this code:
<script>
document.addEventListener('click', e=> {
let target = e.target.closest('[href$="#chat"]');
if (target) {
e.stopImmediatePropagation();
e.preventDefault();
let chat = document.querySelector('inbox-online-store-chat');
if (!chat) return;
let buttonSelector = chat.getAttribute('is-open') == 'true' ? ".chat-app--close-button" : ".chat-toggle";
chat.shadowRoot.querySelector(buttonSelector)?.dispatchEvent(new Event('click'));
return false;
}
});
</script>
<style>
inbox-online-store-chat#ShopifyChat[is-open="false"] {
transform: translateX(-100vw);
}
</style>
The code will listen to click on any link not only menu, so you can output your own button somewhere…
And here is the preview link: BBK Market