Posted on 15 October 2004 at 11:52:31 by Mr.Spock. |

But, how *** can I define my first forum!

The most popular thing is to put to work a discussion forum. Where users can post topics, and reply it!

But, how *** can I define my first forum!

Easy, just follow the steps bellow:

1. Log in as the administrator of the site
2. Click on the forum link on the main menu
3. On the 'Forum Path' Box you have to see right-aligned menu
   Search | Console [On] | Administration | Top 10
4. Even you can thing, you have to click on {Console [On]} link. The {Administration} link is for other purposes
5. If all is ok you have to see (under the 'Forum Path' Box) the 'Add - Forum' Form.
6. You have to fill both fields like this:
   Forum Name : [General]
   Forum Description : [General purpose discussion forum]
7. And click on the {Add} button.
8. Eureka, you have been created your first forum.

But your work is not finished here. You have to define at least one section! Why? Because we told you...
By definition a forum is a set of sections! A section is a set of topics. And finally a topic is whatever a user want to ask/comment or just warn/advertise.

So, let's go to define our first section. Of course, under our first forum.

First, you have to notice a new box is showed: 'General - Edit | Delete' Box. So click on {General} link to display the General Forum Box. Now you can see more new things:

1. The Forum path has changed: Forum > General
2. A new Subscription tool bar has showed
3. The 'Add Section' Form has showed
4. The 'Administration - Administrators' Form has showed
5. And finally but not least, the Forum leyend has showed.

Ok! At this moment you can forget all this new things. We have to focus our attention to the 'Add Section' Form, of course.

1. There you have to fill both fields like this:
   Section Name : [Congratulations]
   Section Description : [Fell free to put your comments about the site here [FEU].]
   
   Orignal isnt it?
2. And clik on the {Add} button.

Hmm? But, how can I post my first topic???

Relax, we are close to end this 'all-or-nothing' forum guide. You are asking how to post a new topic.
Right, you have to click on the {Congratualtions} link that appears on the 'Sections of General Forum' Box...
It will show you the 'Topics for Section Congratulations' Box. There you have to notice that the toolbar under the 'Forum Path Box' has changed. Yeah! It show two new buttons: [New Topic] and [New Poll]

Hmmm? If  you are the kind of people that click any all new button that appear in front of you...This is the time to click on the [New Topic]  button! It will show you the 'New Topic' Form.
There is where the users will edit new topics! Users have to fill at aleast the Title and the Message fields. The rest are optional.

For example:

1. Fill the Fields like this:
   Title : [Wow! Congratulations]
   Message : [Wow! Congratulations, Finally We have our owned Forum!]
2. You can choose the 'humor' of this topics, for instance the 'happy face'
3. You can click the icons of the Smileys, it will put emoticons on the message text box. But you have to keep [Smileys] checkbox checked.
4. If you want to sign the message with your signature, you don't need to write it on the message box, just check the Signature checkbox
5. 'Email Notify me of Replies' is a fast way to subscribe to this topics...Brrrrr to hard for the first lesson!
6. 'Advertise this Post with a News' will create a templated news. But to work this feature needs additional steps! So please DON'T try it now!
7. Finally, 'Tacked' will put this topic the first on the section topic view, even if the user sorts the list for date.
8. Ok! Now yuo can click on the {Post} button to post this new topic; or click on {Preview} button to see it before to post it!

If there is no error you have to see the post end page. There you can jump to the section, or to the topic, or wherever you want. So enjoy it!

Uhf! I think that's all for the first lesson.