Configuring the Community Forum and Topics

Configure the Community Forum and Topics to customize how the Community Forum will appear to users. Topics are configured upon their creation, but settings can be changed through administrative interfaces when needed. This configuration affects both the overall forum presentation and individual topic behavior.

Requirements

Community Forum Configuration

To configure the Community Forum, users must be assigned a security role with the following permissions:

• Administrator System Role permissions

Community Forum Topics Configuration

To configure Community Forum Topics, users must be assigned a security role with the following permissions:

• All Entities, Forum: Read
• All Entities, Forum Post: Read and Edit
• Tab Settings, Forum: On
• App Settings: App with the Forum Tab must be Visible

Community Forum Configuration

Overall Forum Settings

The Community Forum can be customized to provide a branded, welcoming experience for all users.

To Configure the Community Forum:

1. Navigate to the Forum Tab
2. Click Settings
3. Configure the forum-wide settings:
   • Name: Enter a name for the Community Forum that will appear as the forum title
   • Home Page Message: In the rich text editor, enter a welcome message for the forum home page
     • Content Support: Include text, images, or other media to create an engaging welcome experience
     • User Visibility: This message appears to all users when they access the forum
4. Click Save

Topic Configuration

Individual Topic Settings

Each forum topic can be configured independently to serve specific community needs and organizational requirements.

To Configure Community Forum Topics:

1. Navigate to the Forum Tab
2. Click the Topic you want to configure
3. Click the gear button (settings icon)
4. Click Edit
5. Configure the topic settings as detailed below
6. Click Save

Topic Configuration Fields

Basic Topic Information

• Name: Enter a descriptive name for the Topic that clearly indicates its purpose and content focus
• API Name: Enter an API reference name for the Topic (typically auto-populated from the Name field but can be customized for integration purposes)

Topic Visibility and Access

• Status: Control topic accessibility:
  • Draft: Select if you do not want other users to access the Topic (useful for preparation and testing)
  • Published: Select if you want other users to access the Topic based on sharing permissions

Organizational Settings

• Category: Select a category under which the Topic will appear
  • Categories improve organization and navigation
  • See Creating Community Forum Categories documentation for category management details
• Custom Order: Enter a number value to specify the order in which this Topic appears on the Community Forum home page
  • Lower numbers appear first in the topic list
  • Useful for prioritizing important or frequently accessed topics

Feature Configuration

• Social Sharing Enabled: Check this option if you want social sharing buttons to appear on Community Forum posts within this topic

  • Enables users to share forum content on external social media platforms
  • Consider privacy and content appropriateness before enabling

• Used for Updates and Announcements: Check this option for official communication topics

  • Employee-Only Posting: When enabled, only employee users can create posts in this topic
  • Restricted Functionality: Portal community users cannot make posts and users cannot mark replies as answers
  • Use Case: Ideal for company announcements, policy updates, and official communications

Administrative Information

• Description: Enter a description for the Topic for internal administrative purposes
  • User Visibility: This description is not visible to portal users
  • Administrative Use: Helps administrators understand the topic's intended purpose and management considerations

Configuration Best Practices

Forum-Level Settings Strategy

• Clear Naming: Choose forum names that reflect your community's purpose and brand
• Welcoming Messages: Create home page messages that orient new users and establish community tone
• Brand Consistency: Ensure forum naming and messaging align with overall portal branding
• User Guidance: Include navigation hints or community guidelines in welcome messages

Topic Configuration Patterns

Support Topics

• Status: Published for user access
• Category: Support or Help categories
• Social Sharing: Usually disabled for privacy
• Announcements: Disabled to allow user questions

Announcement Topics

• Status: Published for visibility
• Category: Company or News categories
• Social Sharing: Consider enabling for broader reach
• Announcements: Enabled for employee-only posting
• Custom Order: Low numbers for high visibility

Discussion Topics

• Status: Published for community engagement
• Category: Subject-specific categories
• Social Sharing: Enabled for collaboration
• Announcements: Disabled for community participation
• Custom Order: Based on priority and usage patterns

Integration Considerations

Topic Sharing Coordination

• Configure topic settings before establishing sharing permissions
• Ensure status is set to "Published" before sharing with users
• Coordinate category assignments with overall forum organization

User Experience Impact

• Navigation: Custom ordering affects how users discover topics
• Participation: Status and announcement settings control user interaction capabilities
• Content Discovery: Category assignments help users find relevant discussions
• Social Integration: Social sharing settings affect content reach and engagement

Ongoing Configuration Management

Regular Review Processes

• Usage Monitoring: Track topic usage to inform configuration adjustments
• User Feedback: Gather input on forum organization and navigation effectiveness
• Content Evolution: Adjust topic settings as community needs change
• Performance Optimization: Review custom ordering based on actual usage patterns

Change Management

• Impact Assessment: Consider user impact before making significant configuration changes
• Gradual Implementation: Test configuration changes with limited audiences when possible
• User Communication: Inform community members about significant forum changes
• Documentation: Maintain records of configuration decisions for future reference

Effective Community Forum and Topics configuration creates an organized, user-friendly environment that supports active community engagement while meeting specific organizational communication and collaboration needs.

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