Discussion Forums
The information categories discussion forum und message represent a discussion platform for participants.
The Description corresponds to a discussion forum and messages meta data.
In addition to the standard meta data discussion forum contains an attribute which configures attachments as followes. You can choose between no or unbounded sized attachment or declare the maximum size of an attachment.
A discussion within a discussion forum starts with:
| New Message | The input mask New Message / Answer is opened. |
A list of all messages within the discussion forum is generated by clicking:
| Threads | This display is the specific layout of the information category discussion forum. |
A message can be read and edited by clicking its name in the column Subject:
| <Message> | It is linked to the message's WebGenesis-entry. |
If the message has been answered to there are clickable numbers. Through these you get to the message's answers:
| 1 2 ... | It is linked to the answers WebGenesis-entry. There may be answers to answers. You can navigate to them as described above. |
Message and answers build a hierarchical tree structure where you can navigate to lower levels as described above. Navigation upwards is realized by clicking:
| Answered Message | It is linked to the next upper level, i. e. to the answered message or answer. |
Which functions can be executed depends on the access rights of the discussion forum or given message:
| Menu Edit>Access Rights | Accessibility of discussion forums and messages are administrated over WebGenesis access rights. |
Note:
- In order to find out which discussion forums are accessible for you, do a Detailed Search. Leave the field Terms empty and select "Forum" from the Categories:-drop down-list. You can search for the information category message as well in order to find out which threads are discussed right now.
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Enhance your discussion forum's efficiency and attractivity. Inform participants about topics in the discussion forum about content and targeted group on a higher level by using the Abstract:
- The theme of a discussion forum corresponds to the meta data field Text. If this field is empty automatically the content of field Abstract is used.
- Since discussion forums, messages and answers are realized as WebGenesis-entries you can apply on them all common activities of the authoring environment e.g. deleting, moving and copying. For doing this, you need the required access rights.
Layout
Site's structure is as followes:
| Title | e.g.: WebGenesis Discussion Forum | |
| Text | e.g.: Discussion forum about WebGenesis... | |
| Number | There are 2 messages. | |
| Page | Page: 1 2 3 ...
Per page, there are listed up to 20 messages. If there are more messages, WebGenesis creates new pages automatically. You can navigate to the new pages by clicking the page numbers. |
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| List of messages | The columns' semantics are as follows: | |
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Expands a message and all its answers (printable version or full page view) | |
 or  |
If existing, shows, that answers referring to the message exist. All titles to answers will expand by clicking the Plus sign. They will collapse by clicking the Minus sign. Answers to answers are marked up by a greater indent. | |
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If existing, shows, that there is a file attached to the message. | |
| Subject | Subject of message | |
| Author | Author of message | |
| # | Number of answers to message. | |
| Last Post | Last created or edited message or one of its answers. | |
| Note: | You can sort the list ascending or descending by clicking on their respective column header. Column and direction of the sort is indicated by the black triangle:  and  . |
| Use the context menu for messages or answers: Press "Alt" and click on the message or answer. |
The right context column contains:
- one part for searching messages and answers. Fill in your search words or strings, select whether to search in title, content or both and click on Search.
- a link New Message which leads you to the respective input mask.
- a link
Top which leads you to the start of the page. - a link
Print which leads you to a printable version.
New Message / Answer
If you follow the link New Message in a discussion forum, a new input mask appears. Enter Subject and Text for Message there. Additionally, you can attach a file of any data type the message. By clicking the button Send, the message is posted.
After a message is answered, it can be read by clicking its name in the column Subject. Where the link New Message was before, Edit now lets you edit the active message. The button Answer is displayed. If existing you can read answers to the message by clicking a number after Answers:. By clicking on the link Threads you return to the discussion forums overview.
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Creating, editing and answering of messages is based on the following described input mask:
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By clicking New Message a new empty input mask appears.
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By clicking the button answer a new input mask appears. By default subject and text field are already filled in. The subject field is filled with the abbreviation Re: ("in re", Latin for "in the matter of") and the subject of the original message. The text field is filled with the original text, with the character ">" before each line.
Note: Do not alter either subject field or cited message texts.
Now, you may type in your answer and attach one file.
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By clicking Edit a new input mask appears. The subject and text field are filled out with the original text. Now, you can edit your text.
Note: Existing attachments will be overwritten if you choose to attach a new file. If you want to attach more than one file, pack your files with common applications like WinZip or WinRar.
Input mask
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If you have been logged in, in the Overview your login-name is displayed in the Senders line.
If you have not been logged in, only Anonymous is displayed as sender's name. Anonymous senders are only possible in public discussion forums, i. e. rights for this entry are set Add and Modify for Any. Anonymous opinions are often ignored. This is why you should identify yourself within subject or text field.