Configuring the Forum Module

The Forum module provides a community tool for creating and managing topics of discussion and replies.  Due to its sophisticated functionality, it requires a little more configuration than some of the simpler modules.

Use what you learned in Add Module to Page to add a new Forum Module to your Page.

Step By Step: Configure Forum Settings

Your Module is initially created with no content.  Only the empty Container is visible, with its Title and Action Buttons visible.  Before your website visitors can take use your new Forum, there are a few Settings that must be configured.

1.   Select Configuration from the Module Actions Menu.

On the Configuration page you'll see that there are lots of things that can be configured in your Forum but we'll accept the default settings for most of them.  We'll just touch on a couple of areas.

2.  The General Settings group is open by default.

Place your cursor in the Forum Name field and enter a word or short phrase to name your Forum.  Each set of forums can have a unique name.  Then select a forum Skin or "Theme" and a default Timezone for displaying date and time of posts.

When you select the Skin, also uncheck the Enable per user skinning checkbox.  This ensures your Forum will look the same for every user.

3.   (Optional Step) Scroll down to the Notification Email group and click on the expand button.  The settings in this group will affect email notifications that are sent from your Forum.  Notifications can be sent for new posts, replies, etc at the website visitors preference.

Uncheck the Show Sender Address checkbox.  Then place your cursor in the Automated Address field and enter the appropriate "from address" that should be used for notifications sent by email.

4.   (Optional Step) Scroll down to the Post Attachments group and click on the expand button.  The settings in this group will affect the type, size & location where files can be uploaded through your forums.  We'll disable this feature for now.

Uncheck the Enable File Attachment checkbox.  This will restrict forum users from attaching files to their posts.

5.   When you have finished, be sure to click Update at the bottom of the page to save your changes.  This is how your updated module would look to a website visitor.

Notice that the Forum Title has been updated and that the Skin is gray.

Step By Step: Create Groups/Forums

Now its time to create some Groups and Forums for your website visitors to participate in.

1.   Select Manage Forum from the Module Actions Menu.

2.   Place your cursor in the Add New Group field.  Type a name for a group of forum topics and click the Add button.

3.   Click the Expand button next to your new Group.  Then place your cursor in the Forum List field and type a name for a new Forum topic.  Click the Add button to create the new forum.

4.   Once your forum has been added, click the Forum Home button at the bottom of the Module to return to the main view.  This is how your updated module would look to a website visitor after adding a couple of additional Groups and Forums.

Step By Step: Authorize Users to Post in Your Forum

At this point, website visitors can read your forums, but they cannot post in them.  One final step is required... you have to give permission to a group of users so that they can post messages.

1.   Select Settings from the Module Actions Menu.

2.   On the Module Settings page, scroll to the Permissions area in the Basic Settings group.  Check the Edit Module permissions for the role that represents website visitors who should be able to post in your Forum.

3.   When you have finished, be sure to click Update at the bottom of the page to save your changes.