Configuring Community Forum Settings

Administrators can customize the home page of the Community Forum and configure email notifications to create a branded, engaging community experience. These settings control the visual appearance, user interface elements, and automated communication features that support active forum participation.

Requirements

To configure community forum settings, users must be assigned the following permissions:

• Administrator System Role permissions

Accessing Forum Settings Configuration

Navigation to Settings

1. Navigate to the Setup Home page and click Manage > Community Settings
2. Click Community Forum Settings
3. Select the Settings tab

The Community Forum Settings interface provides three main configuration tabs:

• Settings: Visual customization and email notification configuration
• Topics: Topic creation and management (see Creating and Configuring Community Forum Topics documentation)
• Categories: Category management (see Creating Community Forum Categories documentation)

Visual Customization Configuration

Banner Settings

Banner Display Control

• Show Banner: Enable this checkbox to display a banner on the top of the Forum home page
• When disabled, no banner appears on the forum home page

Banner Image Configuration

• Banner Image: Select a banner image from the Static Assets library
• Image Upload: Images can be uploaded using the modal menu interface
• Recommended Specifications: 1920 x 400 pixels for optimal display
• Fallback Behavior: If no image is selected, the hero image from the system theme will be applied

Banner Content Elements

• Banner Heading: Enter a custom banner heading that appears prominently on the banner
  • Supports custom labels for multi-language implementations
  • Example: "The Power of We" as shown in forum interfaces
• Banner Message: Enter a descriptive message that appears below the heading
  • Maximum 90 characters long for optimal display
  • Supports custom labels for multi-language support
  • Appears under the heading within the banner area

Visual Styling Options

• Text Color: Select or enter the HEX value of the text color for banner content
  • Ensures proper contrast against banner image
  • Standard format: #ffffff for white text

Banner Call-to-Action Buttons

First Button Configuration

• First Button Label: Enter the banner's first button label (maximum 30 characters)
• First Button URL: Enter the destination URL when users click the first button
• Multi-Language Support: Custom labels can be added for multi-language support
• Conditional Display: Button only appears if both label and URL are populated

Second Button Configuration

• Second Button Label: Enter the banner's second button label (maximum 30 characters)
• Second Button URL: Enter the destination URL when users click the second button
• Multi-Language Support: Custom labels can be added for multi-language support
• Conditional Display: Button only appears if both label and URL are populated

Additional Visual Settings

Custom Module Name

• Module Title Override: Enter a custom title to overwrite the default "Community Forum" module name
• Multi-Language Support: Custom labels can be used to publish the name in different languages
• User Interface Impact: Appears in navigation and module headers

Home Page Layout Selection

• Layout Options: Select from available forum layout configurations
• Topic List Grouped by Categories: Organizes topics by their assigned categories
• Other Layout Options: Additional layouts may be available based on configuration

Email Notification Configuration

Administrative Notifications

Internal Team Notifications

• Who should we notify in your organization?: Search and add users who will receive notifications when new forum posts or replies are posted
• Purpose: Allows internal teams to monitor forum activity and respond to user needs
• User Selection: Use the search interface to find and add specific internal users

User Subscription Email Templates

New Post Notifications

• Subscription Email Template: New post notification: Select the email template used to send notifications to subscribers when a new question is posted to a topic they follow
• Default Template: "FORUM Subscription: New post on topic"
• Subscriber Targeting: Sent only to users who have subscribed to specific topics

Solved Question Notifications

• Subscription Email Template: Solved question notification: Select the email template used to send notifications to subscribers when a question they follow is marked as solved
• Default Template: "FORUM Subscription: Question has been resolved"
• Resolution Tracking: Helps subscribers stay informed about solution outcomes

New Reply Notifications

• Subscription Email Template: New reply notification: Select the email template used to send notifications to subscribers when a question they follow receives a new reply
• Default Template: "FORUM Subscription: New reply to a post"
• Engagement Tracking: Keeps subscribers engaged with ongoing discussions

Direct User Notifications

Question Author Notifications

• New Reply Notification Email Template: Select the email template used to send notifications to the user who asked the question about new replies
• Default Template: "FORUM: New reply on a post"
• Purpose: Ensures question authors are immediately informed of responses to their posts

Static Assets Management

Image Upload Process

When configuring banner images or other visual assets:

1. Access Static Assets: Click the image selection field to open the Static Assets modal
2. Upload New Images: Use the upload interface to add new images to your asset library
3. Select Existing Assets: Choose from previously uploaded images in your library
4. Image Management: Organize and manage reusable visual assets for consistent branding

Asset Organization Best Practices

• Consistent Naming: Use descriptive file names for easy identification
• Optimal Sizing: Upload images at recommended dimensions to avoid scaling issues
• Brand Alignment: Maintain visual consistency across all forum assets

Configuration Best Practices

Visual Design Strategy

• Brand Consistency: Ensure banner elements align with overall portal branding
• User Experience: Design banners that enhance rather than distract from forum functionality
• Accessibility: Choose text colors and images that provide sufficient contrast
• Mobile Responsiveness: Consider how banner elements appear on different device sizes

Email Notification Balance

• User Preferences: Configure notifications that inform without overwhelming users
• Template Consistency: Use email templates that match overall communication style
• Internal Monitoring: Set up appropriate administrative notifications for community management

Multi-Language Considerations

• Custom Labels: Implement custom labels for organizations serving multiple language communities
• Content Localization: Ensure banner messages and button labels are appropriately localized
• Template Localization: Consider localized email templates for international user bases

Saving Configuration Changes

After completing all desired forum settings:

1. Review Settings: Verify all visual and notification configurations
2. Click Save: Apply changes to make them active for all forum users
3. Testing: Validate banner appearance and email notification functionality
4. User Communication: Inform users about significant changes to forum appearance or functionality

Community Forum Settings provide comprehensive control over the forum user experience, enabling administrators to create professional, branded community spaces that support effective user engagement and communication.

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