Adding topics
If you are authorized to create new forum topic, a Create topic button will appear above and below the topic list.
After clicking this button, you can enter the subject and the body of the new topic. You can use the content editor toolbar to format the body text, and add links and tables. Administrators in admin view can also insert pictures, files, or ArtText, and modify the underlying HTML. Once you are done composing the topic, click Create. The topic will now appear on the main forum page.
Normally, the topics you post will identify you using your first and last name. If member pictures are enabled, your picture will be displayed unless the picture field is restricted under your privacy settings. If you chose to hide your entire profile from others in your privacy settings – or if you are not a member – the topic will identify you as Anonymous. If you restricted access to both your first name and last name in your privacy settings, you will be identified as Anonymous member.
Replying to a topic
To reply to a topic, display the topic then click the Reply button.
After clicking this button, you can enter the body of your reply. You can use the content editor to format the text and add links. Once you are done composing your reply, click Post.
To comment on a particular reply within a topic, click the Quote link above the reply. This will include in your message the text of the reply that you are commenting on. Once you are done composing your comment, click Post.
Attaching files to topics and replies
When adding or replying to a forum topic, members can attach documents and images. The supported document types are: TXT, PDF, DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PTT, PPTX, ZIP, CSV. The supported image types are: JPG, JPEG, GIF, PNG, TIF, TIFF.
To attach a file to a forum topic or reply, click the Choose files button beside Attachments.
You can attach up to 20 files, with a single file size limit of 20 MB.
Once you choose your files and post the topic or reply, they will be displayed at the bottom of the topic or reply. Image files will be displayed as thumbnails, and document files will be displayed using their file names.
To remove an attachment – before posting or while editing the topic or reply – click the X beside the file name for documents, or hover over an image and click the X.
Subscribing to a forum
Members can subscribe to your forum, or to individual topics within the forum, so that they receive email notifications of updates.
The email notifications will not include any files attached to forum posts.
After receiving the notification, a member can visit the forum to view the new topics or replies.
Only members can subscribe themselves to a forum or forum topic – the subscription cannot be set up by an administrator. However, once the member has subscribed, either the member or an administrator can set the frequency of the email notifications. Members are not subscribed by default to any forums.
Administrators cannot customize the forum notification email.
Subscribing to the entire forum
To subscribe to the entire forum, a member visits the forum page and clicks the Subscribe to forum link above the topic list.
The member will subsequently receive email notifications of updates to any of the topics in the forum, with links to the new or updated topics.
To unsubscribe to a forum, the member clicks the Subscribed (Unsubscribe) link that appears in place of the Subscribe to forum link, or clicks the Unsubscribe link in the email.
Subscribing to a forum topic
To subscribe to just one topic in a forum, the member views the topic then clicks the Subscribe to topic link above the topic messages.
The member will subsequently receive email notifications of replies or updates to this forum topic alone, with the full text of the reply or update.
To unsubscribe to a forum topic, the member clicks the Subscribed (Unsubscribe) link that appears in place of the Subscribe to topic link, or clicks the Unsubscribe link in the email.
Frequency of email notifications
By default, email notifications of forum updates are sent on a daily basis. Either the member or an administrator can change the frequency of the email notifications from daily to weekly or immediately.
Daily forum notifications contains a summary of the previous day's updates. Weekly forum notifications are sent on Sunday night/Monday morning, and contain a summary of the previous week's updates. For more information on the timing of forum notifications, see Automatic emails schedule.
The forum date, time, and format shown to the public is also based on your organization's timezone and date/time format.
and date/time format.
Changing forum subscription settings
Either the member or an administrator can change the member's forum subscription settings.
By members
To change their forum subscription settings, members follow these steps:
- Go to their profile.
- Click the Email subscriptions link
- Click the Edit profile button.
- In the Forum subscriptions section, members can unsubscribe their existing subscriptions and change the frequency of forum update notifications.
- To unsubscribe to a forum or forum topic, members uncheck the checkbox beside the forum or topic name.
To change the frequency of the update notifications, members click the dropdown and choose one of the following options:
Daily
A summary of forum updates for each day is sent the following day.
Weekly
A summary of forum updates for each week is sent on Sunday night/Monday morning.
Immediately
Notifications are sent immediately after an update is made (though the actual delivery could be delayed a few minutes or longer depending on the email server load).
- Once finished making changes, the member clicks the Save button.
