Basics: Discussions in the Content Server

Discussions offer a forum for colleagues to share knowledge, accumulate ideas, and truly work as a team. Their purpose is unlimited. People use discussions for troubleshooting, team decision-making, brainstorming, FAQs etc.

A discussion is a “container”, much like a folder. Discussions contain topics, and topics contain one or more replies nested below the topic. Access permissions specify who can see a discussion, who can add to a discussion, and who has full add/delete ability over the discussion.

Creating and Displaying a Discussion

Post a new Topic

1. Navigate to the discussion where you want to post a topic (e.g., Demodiscussion).

2. Click the name of the discussion

Discussions via email Just as you Email Enable a folder, you can Email Enable a discussion in order to participate in the discussion via email. When enabled, individuals can subscribe to the discussion and receive and post topics and replies via email. In order to participate via email, the discussion will first need to be Email Enabled by the discussion administrator.

When posting a reply, your email program’s Reply function is used to reply to an eLink discussion. Messages received from an eLink enabled discussion have a unique reply to address which Content Server uses to post the reply.

But to be clear: Discussions over email require a mail server. They can be enabled with Functions > Email Enable. Now Users can subscribe directly to the ELink page.

This discussions via email are quite interesting for geographical dispersed users and companys. For a further discussion of eLink see further articles.

Click on the Post Topic link.

Subject - Name of the discussion. If it is left blank, the first 70 characters of the comments will be used to create the subject.

Comments - Body of the discussion.

Add Content Server Attachment - Allows you to add an item from Content Server and displays a paper clip icon beside the item.

Add Desktop Attachment - Allows you to add a file from a local or shared drive.

4. In the Subject field enter the topic name (e.g., Trump miscalculated on 51. State).

5. In the Comments field enter the body of your message (e.g., Canadians voted against him).

6. To add a Content Server attachment, click the Browse Content Server button, navigate to the document to attach, and then click the Select link to the left of the desired item.

7. To add a Desktop attachment, click the Choose File button to select the file to add, and click the Open button.

8. Click the Submit button to post the topic.

You are returned to the discussion page.

9. In the Show field click the All radio button to display all the topics.

Post a reply

Click the Post Reply link in the upper right.

Fill in your Reply.

Press Submit

In SmartUI

Hedre is the discussion, created earlier.

Kick on it and you'll see it switching back to the Legacy GUI:

How to manage your discussion

• Post the purpose of the discussion as its first topic, along with a welcome message to the audience.
• Include in the first posting any rules or naming conventions for topics.
• Review and consider closing inactive discussions by changing their permissions.
• Use shortcuts or a Custom View page to provide a quick pick of discussions, and/or list discussions as featured items for quick access.