Forums

1. Overview forums

1.1 Create new forum

1.2 Edit forum

1.3 Delete forum

2. Overview forum groups

2.1 Create new forum group

2.2 Edit forum group

2.3 Delete forum group

3. Overview moderators

3.1 Assign moderator to a forum

3.2 Delete moderator from a forum

4. Manage messages (as moderator)

4.1 Check messages

4.2 Edit message

4.3 Delete message

5. Overview messages (for users)

5.1 Write new topic

5.2 Respond message

5.3 Quote message

5.4 Forward message

5.5. Search message

6. Subscribe forum

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Create communication platforms with the SITEFORUM Forum Management for visitors and users of your portal. Various forums can be created for various user groups depending on the user rights you assign. Offer your customers virtual rooms where discussions can take place and questions can be answered.

1. Overview forums

Unregistered visitors can read messages only, they cannot write ones. To write messages you have to be logged in.

To view forums you must be logged in as "Portal Master" or "Forum Manager."

1. Click the button Portal Manager to get to the administrative area.
2. Then click Sales & Support > Forums.

You get to the forum overview:

• Position Describes the position of the forums.
  Advice: By clicking the arrows you can change the positions.
• Forum/Description Shows the name and the description of the corresponding forum.
• Moderation type Shows the moderation type.
• Upload size Shows if you can upload files and which size they can have.
• Topics/Messages Shows the number of topics ahead of the slash and the number of messages behind the slash.
• Edit By clicking the icon you get to the editing mode.
• Delete? By clicking the icon you can delete the forum.

As far as groups exist already they are listed among each other.



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1.1 Create new forum

To create a new forum you must be logged in as "Portal Master" or "Forum Manager."

1. Click the button Portal Manager to get to the administrative area.
2. Then click Sales & Support > Forums.
3. Click the tab Create a new forum.

You get to the forum details.

4. Enter in the field Name a name for the forum.
5. Enter in the field Description a description.
6. Activate the option Message toolbar to activate the so-called "BB code" for the writing of messages.
   Advice: With the "BB code" you can format messages similar to a WYSIWYG editor, but the possibilities are not as extensive as with a real WYSIWYG editor.
7. Enter in the field File attachment the maximum file size for attachments in KB.
   To deactivate this option enter "0."
8. From the selection box Forum group choose a forum group to which you want to assign the forum.
   Advice: Each forum has to be assigned to a group. There is one forum group per default but you can create further forum groups, q.v. 2. Overview forum groups. You can assign a forum to a group later on as well.
9. Activate in the area Moderation type the desired moderation type:
   • Standard Messages become visible in the forum immediately. A moderator can then edit or delete them in the forum.
   • Post-Moderation Messages become visible in the forum immediately. Forum moderators receive an email notification as soon as a new message gets posted. They can then edit or delete messages in the forum.
   • Pre-Moderation New messages do not become visible immediately. Forum moderators receive an email notification and must approve the new message before it becomes visible.
10. Click the button Next ....

You get to the read rights.

1. Activate in the area Assign user groups the user groups which should be able to read the forum.
   Advice: Activate the option Select all to select all user groups at once.
2. Click the button Next ....

You get to the write rights.

1. Activate in the area Assign user groups the user groups which should be able to write in the forum.
   Advice: Activate the option Select all to select all user groups at once.
2. Click the button Save when ready.

The new forum is listed in the overview.

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1.2 Edit forum

To edit a forum you must be logged in as "Portal Master" or "Forum Manager."

1. Click the button Portal Manager to get to the administrative area.
2. Then click Sales & Support > Forums.
3. Choose the forum you want to edit.
4. Click the icon Edit.
5. Do the desired changes, q.v. 1.1 Create new forum.
6. Click either the button
   • Save to save the changes or
   • Next to edit read and write rights.

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1.3 Delete forum

To delete a forum you must be logged in as "Portal Master" or "Forum Manager."

1. Click the button Portal Manager to get to the administrative area.
2. Then click Sales & Support > Forums.
3. Choose the forum you want to delete.
4. Click the icon Delete?.
5. Confirm the erasing procedure by clicking the button OK.

The forum will not be shown in the list anymore.

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2. Overview forum groups

With groups you can sort and classify forums.

To view forum groups you must be logged in as "Portal Master" or "Forum Manager."

1. Click the button Portal Manager to get to the administrative area.
2. Then click Sales & Support > Forums.
3. In the navigation on the left, below Forums & Forum groups, click Forum groups.

You get to the overview of forum groups:

• Position Describes the position of the forum groups.
  Advice: By clicking the arrows you can change the positions.
• Name/Description Shows the name and the description of the corresponding group.
• Edit By clicking you get to the editing mode.
• Delete? By clicking you can delete the group.
  Advice: The default forum group cannot be deleted.

2.1 Create new forum group

To create a new forum group you must be logged in as "Portal Master" or "Forum Manager."

1. Click the button Portal Manager to get to the administrative area.
2. Then click Sales & Support > Forums.
3. In the navigation on the left, below Forums & Forum groups, click Forum groups.
4. Click the tab Add new group.
5. Enter in the field Name of forum group a name for the group.
6. Enter in the field Description a description.
7. Activate in the area Assign usergroups the user groups which should be able to read the group.
   Advice: Activate the option Select all to select all user groups at once.
8. Click the button Save when ready.

The new forum group is listed in the overview.

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2.2 Edit forum group

To edit a forum group you must be logged in as "Portal Master" or "Forum Manager."

1. Click the button Portal Manager to get to the administrative area.
2. Then click Sales & Support > Forums.
3. In the navigation on the left, below Forums & Forum groups, click Forum groups.
4. Choose the forum group you want to edit.
5. Click the icon Edit.
6. Do the desired changes, q.v. 2.1 Create new forum group.
7. Click the button Save when ready.

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2.3 Delete forum group

To delete a forum group you must be logged in as "Portal Master" or "Forum Manager."

1. Click the button Portal Manager to get to the administrative area.
2. Then click Sales & Support > Forums.
3. In the navigation on the left, below Forums & Forum groups, click Forum groups.
4. Choose the forum group you want to delete.
   Advice: The default group cannot be deleted.
5. Click the icon Delete?.
6. Confirm the erasing procedure by clicking the button OK.

The forum group is not listed in the overview anymore.

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3. Overview moderators

With moderators you can manage the publishing and editing of messages.

To view moderators you must be logged in as "Portal Master" or "Forum Manager."

1. Click the button Portal Manager to get to the administrative area.
2. Then click Sales & Support > Forums.
3. In the navigation on the left, below Moderators, click Overview.

As far as moderators exist already you get the following table:

• Name Shows the name of the moderator.
• Email Shows the email address of the moderator.
• Forum Shows the forum the moderator is responsible for.
• Moderation type Shows the type of moderation.
• Delete? By clicking the icon you can delete the assignment between moderator and forum.

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3.1 Assign moderator to a forum

To assign a moderator to a forum you must be logged in as "Portal Master" or "Forum Manager."

1. Click the button Portal Manager to get to the administrative area.
2. Then click Sales & Support > Forums.
3. In the navigation on the left, below Moderators, click Assign moderators.
4. From the selection box Moderator (eMail) choose the moderator.
   Advice: Moderators are users with a moderation role. To assign a moderator role to a user, q.v. Support End User > Marketing & CRM > Access rights.
5. From the selection box Forum choose the forum you want to assign.
6. Click the button Save when ready.

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3.2 Delete moderator from a forum

To delete the assignment between a moderator and a forum you must be logged in as "Portal Master" or "Forum Manager."

1. Click the button Portal Manager to get to the administrative area.
2. Then click Sales & Support > Forums.
3. In the navigation on the left, below Moderators, click Overview.
4. Click the icon Delete.
5. Confirm the erasing procedure by clicking the button OK.

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4. Manage messages (as moderator)

As a moderator you watch the assigned forums and you control, edit and delete messages.

4.1 Check messages

• If you are assigned to a forum as Post-Moderator you get an email if a new message was written. The message is published immediately.
• If you are assigned to a forum as Pre-Moderator you get an email if a new message was written. The message is not published until you accept it.

Now you have the possibility to check the message, to accept or to remove it. Please do the following:

1. Log in with your login data.
2. Click the button Portal Manager to get to the administrative area.
3. Then click Sales & Support > Forums.
4. Click the link Moderate below the name and the description of the forum.

Check the message.

5. Click the link Accept message to publish the message in the forum.
6. Click the link Edit and accept message to edit the message and to publish it afterwards, q.v. 4.2 Edit message.
7. Click the link Delete message to delete the message, q.v. 4.3 Delete message.

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4.2 Edit message

To edit a message please log in with your login data.

1. Click the menu Forum.
2. Choose the desired forum.
3. Click the name of the forum.
4. Click the topic whose message you want to edit.
5. Click the link Edit.
6. Do the desired changes.
7. Click the button Save when ready.

The edited message is shown in the overview.

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4.3 Delete message

To delete a message please log in with your login data.

1. Click the menu Forum.
2. Choose the desired forum.
3. Click the name of the forum.
4. Click the topic whose message you want to delete.
5. Click the link Delete.
6. Confirm the erasing procedure by clicking the button OK.

The message is not shown in the overview anymore.

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5. Overview messages (for users)

Users can view forums and write messages, dependant of the permissions. Not-registered visitors can only view forums which are assigned to guests also, they cannot write any messages.

General information about messages in forums:

• Only users with regular status can compose messages in a portal forum.
• Users can see whether new messages are available in the forum by using the overview.
• Anonymous guests can only read messages in forums that are accessible to guests.
• Messages consist of a topic, composer, content, and an optional file attachment.
• Messages can be checked by a moderator, before they are published.
• A counter can be used to count how often a message has been viewed.
• Messages can be forwarded via email.
• Forum Managers can delete messages at any time.
• Every subject of a message or subject of an answer to a message is a link to the content of the message.

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5.1 Write new topic

You can write a topic in a forum as registered user only.

1. Log in with your login data.
2. Click the menu Forum.
3. Choose the forum you want to write in.
4. Click the name of the forum.
5. Click the link Create new topic.
6. Enter in the field Subject the subject of your topic.
7. Enter in the field Content the content of your topic.
   Advice: Use the "BB code" to format your message, similar to a WYSIWYG editor. Mark the text and click the desired icon.
8. Choose optional in the area Attachments an attachment you want to attach to your message.
   Attention: This option is not active in every forum.
   
   1. Click the button Browse.
      Advice: Mind the given file size.
   2. Choose the file in the new window.
   3. Mark the file by clicking it once.
   4. Click the button Open.
      The second window closes.
   5. In the first window click the button Upload.
      The file is shown in the table below the buttons.
9. Click the button Save when ready.

Your message is added to the forum.

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5.2 Respond message

You can answer a message in a forum as registered user only.

1. Log in with your login data.
2. Click the menu Forum.
3. Choose the forum which contains the message you want to answer.
4. Click the name of the forum.
5. Click the topic you want to answer.
6. Click the link Answer.
7. Enter in the field Content the content of your answer.
   Advice: Use the "BB code" to format your message, similar to a WYSIWYG editor. Mark the text and click the desired icon.
8. Choose optional in the area Attachments an attachment you want to attach to your message.
   Attention: This option is not active in every forum.
   
   1. Click the button Browse.
      Advice: Mind the given file size.
   2. Choose the file in the new window.
   3. Mark the file by clicking it once.
   4. Click the button Open.
      The second window closes.
   5. In the first window click the button Upload.
      The file is shown in the table below the buttons.
9. Click the button Save when ready.

Your answer is listed to the forum.

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5.3 Quote message

You can quote a message in your answer as registered user only.

1. Log in with your login data.
2. Click the menu Forum.
3. Choose the desired forum.
4. Click the name of the forum.
5. Click the topic which contains the message you want to quote.
6. Click the link Quote.
7. Enter in the field Content below the quoted text the content of your answer.
   Advice: Use the "BB code" to format your message, similar to a WYSIWYG editor. Mark the text and click the desired icon.
8. Choose optional in the area Attachments an attachment you want to attach to your message.
   Attention: This option is not active in every forum.
   
   1. Click the button Browse.
      Advice: Mind the given file size.
   2. Choose the file in the new window.
   3. Mark the file by clicking it once.
   4. Click the button Open.
      The second window closes.
   5. In the first window click the button Upload.
      The file is shown in the table below the buttons.
9. Click the button Save when ready.

Your answer with your quotation is listed to the forum.

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5.4 Forward message

You can forward a message as an email as registered user only.

1. Log in with your login data.
2. Click the menu Forum.
3. Choose the desired forum.
4. Click the name of the forum.
5. Click the topic which contains the message you want to forward.
6. Choose the message you want to forward.
7. Click the link Forward.
8. Enter in the field Comment email head: a text to comment the email.
9. Enter in the field email Recipient the email address of the recipient.
   
10. Click the button Forward message.

The recipient gets the message as an email.

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5.5 Search message

You can find all messages in a forum with the help of the search functionality.

Please do the following:

1. Log in with your login data.
2. Click the menu Forum.
3. Click the link Search messages next to the link My Personal Tools.
4. Enter in the field Subject a keyword of the topic.
5. From the selection box AND/OR on the right choose the type of assignment with the next field.
6. Enter in the field Message the keywords of the message.
7. From the selection box AND/OR on the right choose the type of assignment with the next field.
8. Enter in the field Sender is the author of the message.
9. From the selection box Search in choose the forum.
10. From the selection box Search results choose the number of search results per page.
11. Choose in the area Date from from the selection boxes Month, Day and Year the start of the time range.
12. Choose in the area Date to from the selection boxes Month, Day and Year the end of the time range.
13. Click the button Search.

All found results are shown. The results of the search can extend over multiple pages. In that case use the arrow symbols to view other pages. Click on the subject of messages to display the content.

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6. Subscribe a forum

You can subscribe a forum as registered user only.

Please do the following:

1. Log in with your login data.
2. Click the link My Personal Tools.
3. Click the link Subscriptions.
Advice: If you don't see Subscriptions then the link is hidden. To show it again, q.v. Support End User > Intranet & Groupware > My Personal Tools.
4. Click the tab Forum.
5. Activate the option Activate personal settings to activate personal settings.
6. Enter in the area Enter offset (in hours) the start time of the subscription.
7. From the selection box Specify intervall the intervall.
8. Activate in the area Discussion subscription the forums you want to subscribe.
9. Click the button Subscribe when ready.

You will receive a confirmation after a successful procedure.

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