An Internet forum is an online discussion site used for conducting discussions on specific or general topics. Quite often discussion groups develop into virtual communities.
The system offers a simple way of creating your very own forums. This article will explain the basic steps of creating a forum yourself.
In order to accomplish that, go to “Tool List” >> “Forums” >> “Add/Edit Forum”. Fill out the required details and optionally select “Lock the forum to members only?” and “Add a members page to the forum?”.
Upon defining the relevant settings click on “Apply”.
In order to add the forum to your website's menus, go to “Manage Pages” >> “Add New” >> “Advanced Pages” >> “Add Forum” >> Select “Link to existing forum” and choose the desired forum >> On completion press “Apply”.
You can edit your forum and change its settings by going to “Tool List” >> “Forums” >> “Forum List” >> Click on “Edit” button.
If you wish to add managers to your forum, go to “Tool List” >> “Forums” >> “Forum List” >> Click on “Add/Edit Managers” button. The managers must be regular users at your forum first, for you to elevate their status.
In case you decide to delete your forum, go to “Tool List” >> “Forums” >> “Forum List” >> Click on “Delete” button.
Important note!
The forum is developed, conducted and managed externally, i.e. outside of your website manager. Enter your website via its address, as a regular visitor, then log in or register to the forum and begin posting messages. Login names are being saved in the “Members System”, which may be found under “Tool List”.
You may add forum managers by specifying their login names (“Forums” >> “Forums List” >> “Add/Edit Managers”). A manager can delete and move posted messages and his/her name will be clearly displayed at the top of the forum.
Often a site manager will also want to manage his forum. In order to accomplish that, the manager must first register as a user and then give himself the desired status, as explained above.
Registering visitors to a forum
Each guest wishing to add a message and participate in a forum must preliminarily register at the website. When the registration process has been completed, the guest agrees to the site's terms and conditions – an important point protecting the forum manager from any future complaints and claims of the forum members abused in one way or another by any messages posted in the forum.
Besides, a forum, which is not locked for members only, will very soon be discovered by companies dealing with spam distribution and flooded by endless commercials and ads that will undermine the primary purpose of the forum.