Forum Access

Forum Access is controlled via the security link on the Forum list on the Forum and Chat Management page. You can edit the settings for each forum to give access in a variety of ways.

Reading Restrictions

This allows you to set restrictions on your forums for who can view them.

Settings

• Invisible - makes the forum invisible to all (other than admins)
• No view restrictions - open forum
• Approved only - Full MBA - members need to apply to enter the forum
• Teaser (title) - Partial MBA - members can read the "last comment" column on the main page, but need to apply to enter the forum.
• Teaser (topic) - Partial MBA - members can enter the forum, but need to apply to enter the topics.

Exceptions

Beside each setting option (apart from no view restrictions) there is the option to set exceptions. Click [edit] to change the exception to the setting. You can set an exception based on post count

This allows you to set a criteria which will be an exception to the private setting.

To remove an exception, click edit, then choose the delete button.

For example...

1. if you set a forum to be Approved only with no exceptions, then all members* in your community will need to apply for access, unless you grant them access manually.

* admins have access to all forums at all times.

1. if you set a forum to be Approved only with an exception set for 100 posts, then all members with less than 100 posts need to apply. All members with 100 posts or more can enter the forum without applying.

2. If you set a forum to be invisible with an exception of 50 posts, and to be Teaser (topic) with and exception of 100 posts, then the forum is invisible to all members with less than 50 posts. Members with between 50 and 100 posts can enter the forum and read the topic titles, but need to apply to enter the topics. Members with 100 posts or more can enter and read with no restrictions.

Posting Restrictions

Once in the forum, you can also set restrictions on posting. The options for reply and lead are set separately, and are:

• all - no restrictions set
• restricted - you need to meet set criteria to post
• by approval - you need to apply to post

If you set lead or reply as restricted or by approval, you can also set exceptions in the same way as for reading permissions. Although it looks possible, you cannot set your forum up to allow members to lead, but NOT to reply. The permissions are hierarchical. If a member can lead, then by default they can also always reply.

Poster Permissions

These are your basic forum settings, allowing people to use signatures, smilies, edit their posts, etc.

Member exceptions

Special members are members who have been granted access to the forum that is different to the default access settings. You will also see members here who have been denied access. In the example below, each member has been set differently.

   * Member1 can only read the forum, s/he cannot reply or start new topics
   * Member2 can reply, but not start new topics.
   * Member3 has no access to the forum at all - even if it's a non restricted forum
   * Member4 can view, reply and start new topics
   * Member5 is a moderator in this forum. 

If the default access settings are changed, the members on this list do not change. To return a member to the default setting, click "Use Default Setting"

Some examples

Making an admins and mods only forum - First, create a new forum (or use an existing one) and make it invisible. As admins have access to all forums anyway, you don't have to do anything to add them to a private forum. But to add the moderators, simply view the mods page and select all. Then click edit members in the clipboard box. On the edit bulk members page find the forum, and click the button for lead. This will give your moderators VIP status in that forum. It will be invisible for all other members.

Creating a forum that becomes accessible when members reach 500 posts - Create a new forum and set it to be invisible. You will see this text appear:

"No exceptions set, this forum will only be visible to VIP-members. [edit]"

Click on the 'edit' link to set an exception. Enter 500 into the post count box and click 'save'. Now you have a forum that is invisible to anyone who does not have 500 posts.

Creating a forum that is open only to members of your board - Create a new forum and set it to be invisible. Click [edit] to edit the exceptions, and put "1" into the post count box. Now only people who have posted at least once on your board will be able to see it.